Chapter 6-

-110 Days Later-

Nora's blood pressure didn't improve, instead, every time she ate more food or drank a lot of fluids she would become sick or complain of pain in her stomach. The family went back to the doctors but they explained it was happening because her body isn't used to the more food and fluids. So, they went back home and Nora began eating half the amount her doctor said she had to.

On another note, Nora hasn't seen or heard the man who helped her through her panic attack but, for some reason, knew he was watching her.

Anyway, the girl was brushing her hair after getting out of the shower and dressing. She let her damp hair air dry while she finished her English SpringBoard homework. The girl was halfway through her argumentative essay when there was a knock on her door.

"Come in" the, now, 15-year-old called.

The door opened and Milagro ran in, "Starla, mama y papa wants you in the kitchen! It's important!"

Nora stood and followed the excited girl. Once they went to the designated area, Nora gasped at the sight.

Four presents were neatly stacked next to the table, a strawberry cake on the center of the island and fourteen small candles with a bigger fifteenth candle.

The girl gaped at the setting.

"I know you said that you didn't want a Quinceañera but... we wanted to celebrate your birthday someway and-" Jaime got cut off when Nora ran forward and hugged her foster family.

(AN: I'm just gonna skip all sappiness and get to the present opening)

After they sang Happy Birthday and ate some cake, Nora was handed a neatly wrapped present from Milagro. The 15-year-old undid the packaging and opened the small, light pink box. The older girl couldn't help but smile as she pulled out a pair of rose pink cat earrings. The birthday girl pulled her little sister into a hug.

"Los amo" Nora said.

Milagro beamed and helped Nora put them on (Nora used to have her ears pierced but lost the earrings when her biological family was went camping). Once they were on she opened the rest of her presents and thanked her family.

She got:

Rose pink cat earrings- Milagro

An Ocean blue phone- Jaime

A new notebook with a white board and dry erase markers- Alberto

A Picture (framed) of her Biological family- Bianca

Nora stared at the picture of her family, tears in her eyes, before hugging Mrs. Reyes and murmuring 'thank you' over and over again. After Nora's tears dried, Bianca pulled an envelope from her purse.

"This is a present from all of us" the woman explained and handed the orange-brown paper to the girl.

Nora opened it and pulled out the paper from within. The more she read it the more her eyes widened. She looked at the smiling, and hopeful faced, family before glancing back at the paper. She looked between them a few times before finding her voice.

"You want to adopt me?"