7 Years Earlier...

"Sweetheart sit tight, shouldn't be much longer." The woman seated behind the desk expressed to me in between phone calls. I simply nodded as I waited.

My palms were sweaty. I couldn't be still. I didn't want my brother seeing me like this.

Seated in a freezing lobby near a tall window in this familiar group home. I waited for his arrival. He and my grandmother, whom I've never met her.

My brother and I have been separated long enough. I'm ten years old, my brother's sixteen. We've been in the system for six years. He's my only family.

You'd think we'd become estranged. When it's all you know, you do everything you can to hold on. Phone calls and letters were never enough. I did see Mikey a few times over the years. That was with the help of a lot of people.

God I'm not sure of who you are, but I am curious. I want to believe in you but my reality and circumstances leads one to believe differently. How can you allow these things to happen to me? I tried to be good. I really did. It seems like all I have are bad memories.

"Rai...! Rai lets go! I'm taking you to pack your shit!" My brother stormed through the doors, breaking my thoughts.

"I'm right here Mikey." I mumbled faintly above a whisper. He walked over to me staring at all the bruises. The look on his face shook me to my core. I Immediately wanted to disappear. I was embarrassed and ashamed.

He let out a deep breath before leaning down and pulling me up towards him. I was engulfed in one of the tightest hugs ever, but not too tight. My arm was in a sling.

He finally emitted a loud grunting sob. All I could do was hold on to him as the tears flowed down my face.

"Come on, I'm getting you out of here, I don't know if they told you but I found grandma. She got everything straightened out-." He pulled away from me. I cut him off by stating that I already knew.

My attention went to this beautiful woman standing behind my brother. I assumed to be my grandmother, so youthful. I couldn't stop myself from staring.

She waited, giving Mikey and I a moment before walking over to the receptionist desk.

"Ex- excuse me I'm here to sign my granddaughter out, she has a scheduled release dated today. Here is my ID, my name is Laurie Marie Jackson. I'll be signing out Raina Lorrin Jackson." She nervously turned to my brother introducing him. "This is my grandson Michael Kyree Jackson."

This strange woman, —my grandmother kept looking at me. I noticed her puffy red eyes and tear stained face. Her hands shook.

She's beautiful. The most amazing skin, so deep and defined. I want to say it's a dark caramel color with a deep chocolate undertone. It's like she has a natural bronzer. Nothing like I've ever seen before.

Although I get compliments on my skin, similar to hers. I think my tone's a little deeper. My brother on the other hand had a light and tawny complexion. However, just by looking at the three of us we shared one thing in common. The shape of our eyes. They squint when we smile.

I continued gazing at her. I could tell my grandmother was either in to dance or some type of athletics because her legs and arms were toned.

Her black hair was thick and silky. She could definitely compete with the best of them. Perhaps anyone half her age.

"Rai... Rai." Mikey apparently repeated getting my attention.

"Huh, I'm sorry what did you say?" I didn't hear what was being discussed. I was lost in my thoughts once again.

"Let's get your stuff so we can go."

I gave a small smile, nodding goodbye to the receptionist before turning away.

They gathered my things I had waiting near where I was seated. In total it was two small boxes and a big black suitcase.

While loading everything into the back of my grandmothers all black Mercedes G Wagon, I studied the vehicle.

I had never been in something so expensive. Being inside only furthered my curiosity. I wondered how was she so well off, did she not know about us? If she did, how was she able to live such a life and leave us behind. I'm not trying to sound entitled but at some point someone has to be the adult.

I don't know much about my parents other than the fact they're dead. —I know it's such a cold way to put it, but it's just facts. I don't feel anyway about it. I was four when they were gunned down. I don't know what happened, why they were shot or by whom. I do know they were together when they died.

My brother was ten years old at the time. He doesn't talk about it. Not sure why we were placed in the foster system. We clearly have family. I'm eager to ask questions.

I wasn't sure where we were headed. The long quiet ride was turning out peaceful. Oddly enough the further we were the more my breathing normalized.

I notice my grandmother sneaking glances through the rear view. She was curious too. Maybe she didn't know about us. That's the vibe I was getting. She wanted to speak but didn't know what to say.

Silence remained, until about four hours into the trip. She finally spoke to me. My brother was asleep. I could see the exhaustion on his face. It was inevitable.

"Hi." She hesitated. I gaped into the mirror giving her my attention. My seat was directly behind hers. Mikey in the passenger seat.

"Would you like to stop and grab something to eat? Stretch your legs maybe?" Her soft voice spoke above a whisper.

"No thank you." I gave her an unstable smile. My stomach unleashed an enormous grumble.

"Are you sure? We can do a drive thru? Whatever you want to get." The warmth of her voice soothed me.

I thought again realizing I hadn't eaten. It was my choice. I was eager leave. Nothing else mattered.

"Ok and it doesn't matter to me where. T-thank you." I mumbled, almost stammering my words.

"No problem. We still have a bit of a drive before we reach Atlanta." She focused on the road.

I nodded again. So that's where we were going. I had never been outside of South Carolina.

We made a stop to Chic Fil A. As soon as the food entered the car my brother woke up. We laughed at him.

That chicken sandwich was heaven. With every bite I further realized, not eating was a terrible idea. I've never devoured food so quickly. It was hitting the spot.

We ate in silence, followed with light awkward conversation for the rest of the trip.

Pulling up to my grandmothers home was like looking at a dream. It was definitely something out of a luxury home magazine.

A huge driveway with a waterfall out front. It was dark but I could see everything clearly, light fixtures were all around. The house was grand. A mediterranean styled house, like on tv. Palm trees, hydrangeas and neatly trimmed shrubs complimented the round about.

"Why don't I give you both a tour, we can come back out for the bags?" She suggested, gaining a simple head nod from us. We were stunned, this was a drastic change.

She took us around to see the house. We ended the tour in her back yard. The scenery was even more amazing. Streaming lights decorated along the deck. A large pool, perhaps never used. Everything was meticulously placed and neat.

She has an outdoor Alfresco pizza oven for Christ sake! My foster parents were nowhere near like this. This is beautiful, my new home.

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