Chapter 1

I couldn’t believe that I had finally made it to graduation. We all stood up as our valedictorian Temperence came on to the stage. When she got closer to the microphone, she tapped it twice I could only assume to make sure it was working. We all sat down before she started her speech, she cleared her throat, “Hi class of 2030, for those of you that don’t know my name is Temperence Smith. I moved here a few years back and not knowing anybody at first, I kept to myself for many years. Until I finally made some friends, because of them I am standing in front of you today they encouraged my studies. I stand before you today to say that even though we are graduating, our lives have only just begun. From this day forth we will all take our own paths into adulthood. Congratulations class of 2030!!!!” We all stood up give her the biggest round of applause that we could. Once we were done our principal stood up and walked to the microphone. One by one he started calling out names one thing I was grateful for was the fact that my last name was part of the top of the pack. Victoria Ambers, I rose from my seat and started walking on stage. I could see my parents clapping their hand and I just smiled at them. I walked up to my principal and shook his hand before accepting my diploma. I walked over to the other side of the stage and back to my seat. This continued for another half hour before they were done handing out diplomas. Once the principal was done, he turned towards the microphone, “Let’s give a big round of applause to our class of 2030!!” Again, the crowd starting cheering and clapping my classmates and I stood up throwing our hats off and up in the air. Once everything calmed down, we all went to our families. I walked up to my father who was smiling from ear to ear. “I am so proud of you my little bug, you did it and early to. What do you want to do for your birthday tomorrow?” I just shrugged my shoulders my mother just laughed, “We will figure it out!!” We started to walk away when I heard someone calling my name. So, I turned around and saw that it was Temperence, she launched herself into my arms. “OMG Victoria I can’t believe we did it, I told you that you would graduate before your birthday!!” I just smiled, “What are we doing for your birthday tomorrow?”

I just shrugged my shoulders, she just laughed, “We should throw a party Victoria and it’s not every day that my best friend gets to turn eighteen.” I just laughed at her, “That should be fine my parents just asked what I wanted to do for my birthday.” She gave me a hug, “Ok I will go inform everyone see you tomorrow night.” I just laughed turning my head heading back to my parents. Once we made it back to my parents’ car. We sat in silence the entire way home, once we got home, I ran up to my room to change.

“Victoria, can you come here?” My mother yelled up the stairs I hate when she does that!! I ran back down the stairs and my mother and father were sitting in the living room. “What’s up you yelled?” They exchanged a glance before my mother spoke, “Victoria sit down your father and I have something we need to tell you!” That was concerning usually that meant something bad. So, I walked over to the couch and sat down between them. “What’s going on?” My father was the first to speak, “Bug you know your mother and I love you with all our heart, that is why we hid this from you until you graduated!” As soon as my father finished his sentence my mother began, “Now I don’t know if you remember but when you were younger you asked why you didn’t look like us?” I nodded my head, “We told you that it was because you looked like your father’s mother when she was younger right!!” I nodded again making sure they knew I was listening.

They exchanged another glance before my father got up and went to the bookshelf pulling a book I hadn’t noticed before, walking back over to the couch he sat it in his lap. “Bug, we adopted you when you were just a baby!” My eyes went wide, I went to say something but before I could my father raised his hand, “ We knew that you wouldn’t believe what we were saying so here is this.” he handed me that book, I looked at the cover and noticed that it was a photo album one I had never seen before I lifted it up to turn it over and a piece of paper fell onto my lap. I picked it up unfolding it and there in front of my eyes there were adoption papers. I opened the book and could see that there was my original birth certificate. But my parents’ names were not listed on it. Instead, there was a woman named Victoria Flame and under father it said unknown.

I looked at them with tears in my eyes, “Why did you wait so long to tell me?” My mother was crying at this point, so my father spoke “We didn’t want to interrupt the life you had grown accustomed to, we knew that one day you would have questions, but your mother and I had agreed to tell you the day you graduated we didn’t want to interrupt our time with you. I just got up and before heading to my room I turned to them, “Did you know my biological mother?” They both shook their heads no, so without saying another word I just walked back upstairs and flopped down on my bed. How could they lie to me all this time? I went to the wall pressing my hand in to reveal the private phone my father installed for me. “Victoria Amber I spoke” waiting a moment for it to register my name, “Identity confirmed” I waited another moment, “ Call Temperence” the video phone started dialing, Temperence appeared before me, “ Victoria what’s wrong you look like you have been crying?” I just shook my head, “Can you come get me now please?” She said yes and we hung up I pressed the button in the wall again making sure it was closed before grabbing my coat once I heard Temperence pull up, I climbed down the lattice outside my room running to her car. Once in I just told her to drive, she didn’t ask anything just sped off. She drove to our secret cave we found a few years after she got here. She parked the car a few miles back so that nobody saw the vehicle outside the cave.

Once inside we both sat down on the homemade chairs, we made a while ago. “Alright Victoria tell me what happen and why you needed to get out of their so quickly?” I just started crying again which in turn made my best friend come over to me and hug me. “Victoria what is going on why are you so upset?” She just looked at me with concern evident on her face. “Temperence, I am adopted my parents have been hiding it from me all this time.” Her eyes went wide, “There is no way your adopted Victoria!!” I pulled out the folded pieces of paper and handed them to her. Once she looked at them her eyes went wide, and she just wrapped me up in a hug once more. “I am so sorry Victoria, why would they hide that from you?” They said it was because they did want me to question everything essentially.”

She just held me and let me cry for some time, “Victoria do they know who your birth mother is?” I just shook my head no, “I am so sorry Victoria, but they are your parents just because they are biologically not your parents doesn’t make them any less your parents.” I just lowered my head, “I know but now I have so many questions!” Temperence placed her hand on my shoulder, we can figure them out after tomorrow but let us celebrate your birthday you need it more than ever now.” I just shook my head yes, “Now let’s get you home before they decide to check your room and start freaking out!” I didn’t say anything I just followed her back to the car making sure to watch the trees as they passed by. Once we got to the house, I waved good-bye to Temperence before climbing back up the lattice to my room. I peeked in first to make sure my parents hadn’t come in. They hadn’t yet, so I climbed back into the window and went to the computer. Maybe I could find out who she is before tomorrow. That should bring me some peace at least.