SIXTY
It feels like a dream.
She pinches her arm.
It's not a dream—probably.
She's still dressed in the dress suit the matron got for her, and she's still sitting between Mrs. Tsubasa and Mrs. Maria, and they're all still waiting for the matron to finish explaining the contents of the documents they have to sign. She's still waiting for the moment she gets adopted.
Even so, it still feels like a dream.
Maybe that's just the cynicism in her; maybe it's too good to be true.
But, she knows she's a kid. It's a kind of self-awareness that her father had marveled at—because Carol had been all about being an adult. That means it's okay for her to hope, to believe in happy endings.
Or, at least, happy middles.
"Now that that's out of the way, let's get to the good part," the matron says, cutting into her thoughts.
Pointing to a column of signature lines, the matron adds, "This is the last part, actually. At this point in the process, all that's left is your legally-binding signatures indicating that you agree to the terms outlined in the contract."
She clears her throat, then reads from the contract in an official voice:
"Until the child, one Elfnein Malus Dienheim, turns eighteen and becomes a legal adult, do you, Tsubasa Kazanari and Maria Cadenzavna Eve-Kazanari, agree to be the child's legal guardians and caretakers? If so, date and sign your legal name."
Mrs. Tsubasa and Mrs. Maria sign, then they all turn to face her.
Mrs. Maria smiles reassuringly at her.
The matron continues, "Until you, Elfnein Malus Dienheim, turn eighteen and become a legal adult, do you accept Tsubasa Kazanari and Maria Cadenzavna Eve-Kazanari as your legal guardians and caretakers? If so, date and sign your legal name."
She takes the pen offered to her by the matron and carefully, slowly signs her name in simple cursive along the signature line. She glances at the signatures above to double-check the date—and to see proof that she's theirs now.
She gives the pen back to the matron.
"As witness, I, Matron Yang Xiao Long, do here proclaim that the proceedings were carried out according to the law and date and sign my legal name to officially seal case number 060," the matron declares, signing her name with a flourish.
Clapping her hands, the matron tells them, "That's it! Of course, we'll send a representative to check in on you for the first three months, but you've been licensed to adopt, so as long as you are good caretakers, there's nothing for you to worry about."
She stares at the matron, eyes wide, because she can't believe that that's it.
That's it.
She has parents now.
Mrs. Maria is the first to stand up—there are tears in her eyes, but she's smiling so tenderly, and she asks, "Can I hug you, Elfnein?"
Her words seem to have taken a vacation, and she's afraid that if she opens her mouth she'll start crying, too, so instead she raises her arms in that universal supplication for a hug.
And then she feels so tiny but so, so safe in Mrs. Maria's arms.
She can't help it.
She starts crying.
It's not Papa's embrace, but it's hers nonetheless.
Then, Mrs. Tsubasa envelopes them both; also hers.
When they're done crying, Mrs. Maria offers her a little blue handkerchief embroidered with her name, Elfnein, in white script. She tears up again, just a little bit.
"Thank you, Matron Xiao Long," she hears Mrs. Tsubasa murmur, her voice scratchy.
It reminds her to thank the matron, too. "Thank you," she pipes up, speaking from Mrs. Maria's shoulder.
"Yes," Mrs. Maria says, "I can't express how thankful to you we are."
The matron waves her hand, "Aw, don't worry about it. What's important is that the kid's got a home now. That's all the thanks I need." She smiles, adding, "I'll miss you, Elfnein, but I'm sure you'll be very happy with your family."
With that, Mrs. Maria leads them out of the office, her hand clasping Elfnein's firmly.
They give one last goodbye to the matron and then it's just the three of them.
Elfnein gives a small wave to her favorite tree while Mrs. Tsubasa loads her suitcases in the car, and then—then:
"Ready?" Mrs. Maria asks her.
She takes a moment to look around the orphanage one last time; nodding as she turns away, she says, "I'm ready."
"Welcome to the family, Elfnein," Mrs. Tsubasa says.
a/n: Well, that's all for Arc I!
I've changed my mind - Arc II will begin updating on January 4th, because that's when my winter break is officially over. I look forward to seeing everyone then! Important: it will be a separate story, so as to keep the story from becoming intimidatingly bulky.
Please review ^^ Reviews make me very happy; even just a single line tells me that my work is appreciated. And, if you've constructive criticism, all the better.