Chapter One – The Day Before My Twelfth Birthday
Minneapolis, MN 1995 – Emma's Group Home
It was the day before Emma's twelfth birthday and she was not as excited as most girls her age would be. Partly because this would mark twelve years of being alone. Her parents had abandoned her on the side of the road. She didn't realize it yet, but her life was about to change once again. She had waited twelve long years for someone to claim her, to adopt her and she was losing hope that it would ever happen. One of the other girls ran up to Emma, "Emma!" she called out excitedly. "I have the best news. I've been chosen." Emma put a fake smile across her face." That's great Judy," said Emma trying to display excitement for Judy. She was happy for the girl but at the same time wished it was her instead. "What is it Emma?" asked Judy. "it's nothing." Emma responded. With that Judy ran off in the other direction to share her good news with the others. Emma walked down the hall to her room or rather the room she shared with Gretchen Sanders. She knocked on the door and waited for a response. After a minute or so she creaked open the door slowly and went in closing the door behind her and went and sat on her bed. Emma reached under her pillow and pulled out her diary and began to write in it.
Dairy Entry, October 22nd 1995
What can I say? Tomorrow is my twelfth birthday and I have never felt more alone or unwanted in my life. I fear that I may never have a family, I don't even have a friend. What is it about me? Why am I unlovable?
Suddenly Emma concentration is disturbed by a knock at the door. She closes her diary, and places it back in her hiding spot under her pillow. She gets up off the bed and heads towards the door. "Emma." Said the voice of the other side of the door. Emma knew who it was before opening the door. She sighs a deep breath before opening the door. "Ms. Fisher," Said Emma looking straight at the woman with blonde hair standing before her. "Have you been up here all day?" asked Ms. Fisher. "I…" Before Emma could defend herself, Ms. Fisher intervened. "if you continue to hide away up here you will never be adopted or make any friends." Emma turns around as to hide the tear escaping her eye, "I know it's just…" Emma paused. Ms. Fisher steps in again with her advice. "Making excuses won't change the outcome. Now get ready for supper." Says Ms. Fisher before walking off and leaving Emma alone.
Emma closes the door and gets herself together and then heads down to the dining room for supper. She sat through dinner quietly, that was until Judy showed up to gloat some more about her having been chosen by a family. "That is, it, I CAN'T TAKE IT ANY LONGER!" said Emma who then stormed off back to her room. Later that night she crawled out of bed and sneaked down to the kitchen, the way she had every year to get a cup cake and a candle. She then sat at the table and lit the candle and made her wish. *I want to have a family. * she blew out her candle and went up to bed in anticipation of her wish finally being answered.