Hello! Thank you for reading this. I decided to write this to commemorate the series finale last Wednesday. This is my first time writing a story, so any constructive criticism is welcome! don't be afraid to call me out on anything! Hope you enjoy!


"Mary Sue, would you mind coming downstairs? Lucy and I have to talk to you about something."

Skye bit her lip. She knew this was coming. She steeled herself as she sat up from the rickety bed in the corner of her still blank room- she hadn't bothered putting anything up last month when she got here, figuring this wouldn't last long.

"Coming," she replied, trying to keep any emotion out of her voice. It wasn't like she hadn't been expecting this. This had been her 24th foster home in 15 years- well, 16th if you don't count group homes- so it wasn't like she hadn't been expecting this.

She had liked this one though. The Fletchers didn't hit or yell, she only had to share her room with Olivia, the Fletchers shy but not unkind 13 year old daughter, and her responsibilities were fair.

That's why she knew it wouldn't last.

"Mary? Come downstairs, please." Mr. Fletcher's voice grew a bit louder and more stern. They were nice, but they wouldn't stop using her legal name. Oh, how she hated Mary.

She opened the door of the empty room and walked down the carpeted stairs. She formed her face into a mask before walking into the dining room, not bothering to sit in the chair across from Robert and Lucy Fletcher, nor bothering to say anything. She knew it was safer when you didn't say anything.

"Mary," Mrs Fletcher began, her voice strained with a bit of regret Skye hadn't expected, "You have been a wonderful addition to our household. You have been very respectful and responsible, and have been a great role model to Olivia."

Skye tried to keep her breathing even and face clear from the sadness that was now choking its way up her throat. She wished they would stop the farewell speech and just tell her she was hitting the road. Every nice thing she figured they would say to clear their conscience just made it harder for Skye to keep herself from wondering if she could've tried harder. If it could've worked out.

"Unfortunately though, something has come up. Rob's job is requiring us to move to Texas, and we are really very sorry to tell you this, but we just won't be able to get the paperwork filled or the financial aspects taken care of to take you with us."

Skye could feel her heart rate building as she looked at the woman who couldn't even make eye contact with her. They had actually considered taking her with them. They had actually cared. They just couldn't. Tears pricked her eyes as she couldn't help but think the universe despised her. They had actually wanted her! They had wanted her, but they couldn't take her with them. She had dreamed of being wanted for years, but now it just drove the knife in further.

"I understand," she eventually croaked out. "I'll go gather my things."

She felt like a ghost as she walked back up the stairs numbly, shoving her few possessions into the trash bags she hadn't yet thrown away from her arrival. The few delicate things, like the crappy laptop she had won in a bet against Paisley Carver in 9th grade, she placed in her backpack, where she could hide them from the other kids and the nuns when she got back to St. Agnes.

After packing up, she sat on the floor in front of the old wooden dresser, feeling trapped in this endless, terrible cycle for the next 15 minutes before her social worker, Mrs. Hill, arrived.

"Mary Sue!" Skye heard Mrs Fletcher call up to her immediately after the doorbell rang. "Mrs. Hill is here!"

Skye put her backpack on and grabbed her garbage bag before walking downstairs carefully, trying not to let anger and defeat cloud her thoughts in front of the two adults that had given her at least a temporary safe haven.

"Thank you for letting me stay with you," she said robotically, "I hope you do well in Texas."

Without waiting for a response, Skye walked past Mrs. Hill and tried the back door of the familiar, dark blue car, which thankfully was unlocked. Placing her garbage bag on the floor next to her and backpack in the other seat, she waited for Mrs Hill to come back and drive her to what she had so affectionately called St. Agony in her head.

Thankfully, she didn't have to wait long before she saw Mrs hill walking towards the car. She got in and looked back at Skye, who had redirected her gaze towards the window.

"I'm sorry this one didn't work out, Skye."

Mrs. Hill had always been very serious, but she was also one of Skye's favorite Social Workers, not only because she used the name that Skye had preferred, but because she was driven and focused on placing the kids under her care into good homes.

Skye decided against replying, not wanting any emotion to leak into her voice. Instead, she just sat there and watched the house she had spent the last month in grow smaller as Mrs. Hand began to drive away.

The rest of the drive was blanketed in silence, which Skye was thankful for. She needed to get her feelings under control, still feeling the stab of being desired, being wanted, being cared about, only to have it taken away the same moment she had been told.

As St. Agnes came into view, she took a deep breath, only releasing it once the car stopped. She tried to ignore thinking about all the stares that were waiting for her when she walked inside, the fact that she was getting old and may never even see another home again, the fact that she was going to have to switch schools again.

She grabbed her backpack and trash bag before exiting the car, making her way to the doors of the orphanage. She held the door for Mrs. Hill before walking in, preparing herself for the old familiar halls.

"Mary Sue! Excellent! Just who I needed to see," Sister Agatha said with a hurried expression on her face. Of all the things Skye had been prepared to hear, that had not been one of them.

"What?" Skye replied, furrowing her eyebrows. "What are you talking about?"

"A very important person is coming to look at the older kids today. He placed a request for a female earlier this week, but Martha just got adopted last week and Sheila just got placed at a home long term. With most of the other young ladies having been placed at the fair last month, we've been worrying- but here you are! oh, Lord, we may be saved yet!"

Skye was incredibly confused. Very important person? Looking for a teenager? Maybe she wouldn't be staying for long. She didn't know how to feel about being re-homed on such short notice, but it wasn't like she had much of a say, so she remained quiet.

Sister Agatha grabbed her trash bag and reached for her backpack, which Skye held closer to her. The Sister looked offended at this, but she didn't comment.

"Please go have a seat in the main office, Mary Sue. He should be here any moment!" Sr. Agatha gave no pause before rushing back down the hall, preparing and tidying as she went.

Skye had never seen the Sister this frantic. A really important person, huh? This could be interesting, she thought, but tried her best not to get her hopes up. Silently, she waved at Mrs Hill, who she assumed would be staying in the main hall, and walked into the main office.


Hope you liked it so far! Leaving a review would really brighten my day!