The Transition

Charlotte

I looked at the people on the street, uncertainty overwhelming me. Cold hands, I had no idea what to expect out there now that my life would completely change. I was leaving the orphanage where I grew up, the only home I knew.

I was abandoned as a child, only four years old, and never adopted. I don't remember my family from before. My mother left me with a note saying it would be better for me to be in that place. Now, at eighteen years old, the time has come to follow a new path, make choices, and face consequences.

I adjusted the backpack on my shoulder carefully. All my belongings were in that bag. I walked to the nearby subway station, confident because I already knew the way. The nuns had helped me in this transitional moment, arranging a nanny job in the house of a powerful lawyer.

I went to the indicated address with trepidation, not knowing Manhattan. I always stayed in the Bronx, where I lived and studied, and didn't usually venture out to other places. I arrived at the address the nuns had given me, rang the doorbell of the elegant house on Park Avenue, and was greeted by a serious staff member.

Abigail, the housekeeper, introduced me to the other nanny and explained that we would take turns taking care of Eloá and provide support when needed. I would be responsible for the six-year-old girl's care at night. In the early evening, already in my uniform, I was called in to replace Nicole who was leaving.

"I've taken care of Eloá's hygiene, you just need to give her dinner," Nicole instructed me, friendly.

"I want to eat now, Nicky," Eloá requested, hugging the nanny.

"Not yet, Eloá," Nicole replied, stroking the child's hair. "It's almost time."

I furrowed my brow, remembering the orphanage with its strict rules.

"There is a schedule board with all of Eloá's timings over there," she pointed to a corner of the room, "and you need to strictly follow this timetable!"

"Understood."

I walked over to the board and saw that there was a specific time slot for everything, even the duration of the child's bath. Eloá seemed calm, and I noticed her attachment to Nicole, who responded affectionately.

Standing there, I awaited instructions from Nicole when a tall, slender, blonde woman with blue eyes, just like Eloá, entered the room and looked disapprovingly at Nicole, who was holding the girl in her lap while talking to me.

"What are you doing?" she asked rudely, making a disapproving face that I didn't understand.

"Sorry, Mrs. Martina," Nicole immediately apologized, getting up from the armchair and putting Eloá down.

"I won't allow you to hold my daughter! She's not a baby anymore and shouldn't be treated as such," she complained, almost shouting. "Shouldn't you be doing some activity now?" She crossed her arms, visibly upset.

"I was just going over a few things with Charlotte, and I was going to let her feed Eloá," Nicole explained.

"Then you can leave," she pointed to the door. "I'll take care of the girl myself."

Nicole nodded, lowered her head, and left the room without saying goodbye.

"Are you the one recommended by the nuns?" she turned to me with a disgusted expression.

"Yes, ma'am."

"The schedule is on the board. Follow everything strictly. No improvising, thinking you know what's right," Martina spoke rudely, rolling her eyes.

"Okay."

"It's not 'okay' with me," she reprimanded me. "Answer only with 'yes, ma'am.'"

"Yes, ma'am," I nervously replied.

I couldn't afford to lose that job. I listened attentively as she explained the schedule again, reinforcing what I had already heard from the housekeeper and the other nanny. Martina seemed strict and rigid, despite looking younger than thirty. I felt pressured by her demands.

As she spoke, Eloá waited silently until her mother finished her explanations. Without affection, Martina left the room.

I sighed in relief, and Eloá did the same, bringing a smile to my lips, but I didn't comment. That job was important, and I would do everything as the homeowner wanted.

I glanced at the watch on my wrist, a gift from the nuns, and realized it was time for Eloá's dinner.

I quickly took Eloá to the kitchen, where she had her meal in silence under my supervision. Then, I changed her clothes into pajamas and put her in bed. As I was about to grab a book from the shelf, she interrupted me.

"My mother doesn't want anyone to read to me."

"Does she read you a story before you go to sleep?"

"No. She says I have to sleep alone because she doesn't always have time to read to me."

"But I can read to you," I offered.

"My mother doesn't want anyone to read to me," she repeated, lying in bed, looking sad.

I felt sad too, seeing how such a young child, only six years old, seemed resigned to it, reminding me of my own experience in the orphanage where we didn't always have someone to give us special attention due to the large number of children. However, I couldn't understand how a child who was an only child was treated that way. I didn't say anything because I didn't want to get on the wrong side of my employer.

I sat in the armchair, observing Eloá and pondering over it until Abigail, the housekeeper, appeared at the door with a serious expression, calling me to follow her.

"Is everything okay with the child?" she asked.

"Yes."

"You can go to sleep, but you need to stay attentive to the girl," she instructed. "Nicole will arrive tomorrow at nine, and you can rest in your room."

I followed her instructions and was already lying on a bed in a small room adjacent to Eloá's, more resembling a closet than anything else when I heard some commotion and quickly got up to check what was happening.

I was startled to see a handsome man in a suit sitting in the armchair next to Eloá's bed, gently stroking her hair.

"Good evening, sir," I said hesitantly, but I felt the need to find out who he was. It was part of my job.

"Oh, hello," he replied, seeming friendly. "You seem surprised," he commented, noticing my surprise at finding someone courteous in that house.

"I was startled by your presence, sir," I ended up confessing.

"I apologize, then."

He caressed Eloá's hair once more and approached me.

"Let me introduce myself." He extended his hand to shake hands. "I'm Oliver Mackenzie, Eloá's father."

I was even more surprised by the difference in behavior between Eloá's parents, but I shook his hand and accepted the greeting.

"And you must be Charlotte," he stated, partly asking, in the face of my silence.

"I'm sorry, Mr. Mackenzie. I'm Charlotte, Eloá's new nanny."

"It's a pleasure to meet you, Charlotte. You were highly recommended by Sister Catarina." He let go of my hand and returned to the armchair. "How is Eloá today?"

"She 's calm, sir."

"I would like you to tell me a bit more than that," he said, although it was a veiled order, he spoke in a gentle manner. "Tell me more about my daughter's day. I've been in meetings all day and couldn't give my little one any attention."

I complied with his request but explained that I had only been with Eloá for a short time and wouldn't have much to report.

"And Nicole? Did you meet her?" The way he asked about Nicole seemed a bit strange, but I couldn't exactly explain why.

"She left as soon as Mrs. Martina arrived," I replied with just that.

He looked at me analytically but didn't say anything.

"I'll spend some time with my daughter, but feel free to rest if you wish."

I understood that he wanted to be alone with his daughter and excused himself, heading to the adjacent room, but I could only fall asleep when I realized that Mr. Oliver had left Eloá's room.

My first night in a different place, after fourteen years of living in the orphanage, was strange, and I had difficulty falling asleep, waking up several times. However, this was my new life, and it was much better than the uncertainty of the streets, I thought to comfort myself.