Chapter 3 Orphanage

Julio POV

This darkness makes me feel cold, and the pain in my head has calmed. As I try to open my eyes, the light shines on me, and slowly adjusting to the room's brightness, I see the same woman with the black blazer sitting on the small chair at the end of my bed, getting up. She looks my way with a sad smile.

"Good morning. Where is the doctor?" She gets up and hits a button on my side.

"She is now on her way; you have been sleeping for a while. How are you feeling?" Knowing the doctor is on her way, I nod, placing my hands on my lap. I try to think of my past, but I come out empty-handed.

"I feel odd. Why can't I remember where I came from? Or what I was doing. Do you know?" When she turned back to do her paperwork, I looked into her eyes, and she answered.

"I'm afraid all I know is that you were dropped off here, you were drugged, and thank God there aren't any sexual** reports from you, but you are now under my care so that you will be safe. Before the doctor arrives, I need you to sign these forms for you to be legally aware that you will be under my care from the time you are discharged from the hospital." I look at the papers individually when the woman gets annoyed at me.

"I ask you to sign them; I don't have all day for you to work on reading." I frown and raise my eyebrows at her words while I keep reading.

"How do you expect me to sign if I don't read it? Will you take good care of me, or is this just a job?" She frowns at my questions when the door opens to show the doctor.

"Everyone alright?" The black blazer lady rolls her eyes at me and smiles at the doctor. I start reading the papers and only sign one out of the four, giving it back to her. She sees that I only signed one and gives it back to me.

"You need to sign them all, kid; this ain't a one-way street; it's all or being out in a homeless house." The Doctor clears her throat, and we both look at her.

"With all respect for Jackson, we must accept his choices, minor or not; he has his state of mind. All in all, we have to respect his choices." I smile at her answers; I couldn't have said it better myself. I fold my hands, and the doctor approaches me, bending down to talk.

"Julio, you need to take care of yourself from here on out, okay?" She takes a small card and places it in my hand. I look at it and put it on my underwear before Jackson returns.

"If you ever need me, that's my number, okay?" I nodded at her to keep it a secret. She gets up and turns on the light in the bathroom after removing the IV, patches, and stickers from my body.

Showering, I get the towel to dry myself when I hear Jackson talk to the doctor.

"He needs to sign all the documents for the child services to do their job; he is only nine years old, and until he is 18, he has no choice but to do as he is told," Jackson says, annoyed when the doctor answers her.

"Jack, if I need to complain about your actions, I will. He is a smart boy but has no memory of what happened. Bring him back in 6 months per a doctor's order; if you fail, I will take this to the Department of Healthcare. Am I clear?" Drying myself, I put my clothes on quickly, hearing Jackson walk towards my door.

Shutting off the water, she opens the door. I jump from the sudden action; she looks at me, annoyed, and the doctor yanks her away from the door.

"What was that all about, Jackson?! He was getting dressed, and you just opened his door! That's an invasion of his privacy! I'm calling your boss; this is inexcusable. Leave my hospital right this instant!" With one last yank from Jackson, she leaves the room.

Walking out, I see the doctor call someone. I go back inside to brush my teeth, wash my hair, and put on my socks and shoes. The doctor finishes her call and sits beside me on the bed.

"Her boss will be taking you to the orphanage. I can't do more than this for now, but if she or anyone else does that, you call me. Am I clear?" I nod at her, and she sighs heavily.

"Julio, the orphanage is not a pleasant place; it's full of kids like you who do not have their parents; they sometimes get adopted by a family or orphanage home families. Be the best boy you can; things will hopefully become a bit easier." She gives me a side hug, and an older lady enters the room with a black shirt and long black pants and waves at me.

"Julio? Hello, I'm your new case manager. My name is Trinity. Ready to go to your new home?" I bite my lips and nod at her. This will be a difficult time in my life.

Walking out of the hospital, we walk to a parking lot up front, She opens the back seat, and I get in. Driving out, she looks through the rearview mirror as I look out the glass window.

"Julio, You will stay in this house for just a week. In a week, we will have parents who want to adopt kids to raise. You are placed on that list because you have memory difficulties. They will be informed, and I will ensure you return to see the Doctor for your treatment. Have you eaten anything?" I shake my head 'no.'

Well, neither have I; let's eat here. What would you like?" I have never eaten here; it's a burger place.

"A cheeseburger? With coke. Please?" She smiles through the rearview mirror and gets our orders.

After eating, we arrive at a big brick building, easily 14 stories high. She walks up the stairs. I walk and open the door as she has a lot of books on her. She smiles at me for helping her. Upon entering, there is a small living room to the left side, a receptionist in the middle, and a waiting room on the right. Trinity opens a door behind the receptionist's desk, places her documents in that room, and walks out in flip-flops.

"Come with me to your room. Tomorrow, you will go with Harold to buy some needed stuff with the money the child services department provides you with. Okay?" I nod at her as she walks to our left. There is a small elevator, and she hits the last floor on top.

"Those who live here are usually four in one room, but you won't have a roommate; the room you have is unoccupied by children. How does that sound for the moment?" I nod again.

I wouldn't say I like everything happening; I can't remember why I'm here, where my parents are if I have any, or why I am in a room with no one. This is a nightmare that I have no way out of. The doors open to the floor, where two kids make out from the open door frame.

"Hey! What is the meaning of this?" Trinity screams at the kids, who rush into the room and close the door.

"Stay here and hit that button for me, Julio." I hit the button that opens the doors of all the rooms on this floor and hears a beeping sound. Looking at Trinity, I see a beeper attached to her hips.

She takes the two kids to the room and asks me to walk with her. Arriving at the door in the middle, she stops with the other two.

"This is your room; you will get what you need tomorrow at 8 a.m., okay? I will pass by with Harold to get you. Good night, Julio." I smiled at her and nodded.

"Good night, Trinity." I enter, and she closes the door. I walk to the small bed and see it's 6 p.m. I cry to sleep, as I have no idea what this life of mine has become.