A Humble Dream

**A Few Days Ago **

“Sally, it’s time to wake up now. Why are you up so late today? Are you sick or something? You’re usually never this late to breakfast…” I cried out quite loudly as I banged my fist against her door. 

It was a normal day with pleasantly sunny weather at the orphanage. Just like any other day, I woke up before the break of dawn to prepare breakfast for everyone along with the help of some other girls. By working together as a team, we managed to finished cooking breakfast to feed every girl in the home just in time for breakfast. The girl-only orphanage where I was placed in after my parents passed away was now home to around 50 girls from various ages. I’ve been here since I was around 8 years old and that was 12 years ago. This year, I am now 20 years old and apart from the supervisors managing and running this place, I was already the eldest amongst the girls. That meant that for a long time now, I had been responsible for taking care of the other younger girls in the home.

I helped out wherever I could to help repay the orphanage and the supervisors for taking care of me so well for all these years. To me, this place is my home, and everyone here is my family. They are all like sisters to me and I love everyone dearly. 

“Sally! Are you ok? Umm…I’m going to in now, ok?” I shouted through the door after a while of not hearing any reply from the other side. 

My core responsibilities at the orphanage were to help cook and serve food. That became my role when I graduated from my previous cleaning duties. It was a joy to cook because I like it much better than cleaning. I wouldn’t go as far as to say that I was good at cooking, but the girls seemed to like the food that I made and that made me very proud. 

Honestly, apart from my peaceful life here, I don’t remember much about the time in my life before I arrived here. Whenever I tried to think or recall anything from before my time here, I would get a very intense headache that made me feel like my skull was about to split into two. My parents passed away in an accident and I was found in the forest wandering around on my own. At least, that was what I was told. 

After living at the orphanage for many years, I’ve adjusted to my new life, and I couldn’t be happier. As time went by, I started to worry less and less about my past and the fact that I honestly couldn’t remember much about who I was prior to coming here or the life that I had before. Apart from my name, I didn’t remember anything else. 

Fortunately, I still remembered vaguely the faces of my parents and their smile. Although sometimes, I couldn’t help but wonder if those fragments of memories were something that my young brain conjured up to fill the void of loneliness. It did occur to me that there was a possibility that those memories were not even real at all. 

I grew up in the care of a loving and caring woman who I would call my mother, although she probably wasn’t old enough to be my mother. Lady Monica, as we called her, was only in her mid-thirties. She had a sweet smile and beautiful wavy blonde hair. Growing up, I always admired her beauty as well as her kind and compassionate heart. Lady Monica grew up at the orphanage as well and had decided to stay to take over the management of the orphanage around 3 years ago. 

That was when things really started to get better. The old and tattered building was renovated, old and broken things replaced or fixed, food became palatable and then even delicious. After that came some expansion in accommodations and then the number of girls in the orphanage increased dramatically. 

“Something smells nice…like very sweet…” one of the younger girls spoke up as she sniffed around. 

The other girls started doing the same and I found myself replicating their action. The little girl was right, there was a very sweet smell like fruity candy swirling around in the kitchen. Before everyone died of curiosity, the supervisor of the orphanage waltz in with a glass jar in her hand that was filled with cherry colored liquid. 

“I’ve got a new treat for you girls…” Lady Monica announced with a bright smile. 

“It smells so nice and sweet!” a young girl exclaimed. 

“Wow! Let me try some…” another called out excitedly. 

We all knew by now that if Lady Monica is serving some special treats to us then it means that Mister Helkins, the main supporter of the orphanage will be visiting us. Mr. Helkins is well known as the man who funds the operation of his orphanage. It is thanks to him and his compassionate heart that this orphanage was established and still continued to function up until today. Mr. Helkins usually visits the orphanage once a month but on some rare occasions, he may turn up more often. 

Whenever Mr. Helkins comes over to check up on things with Lady Monica, we all made sure to be on our best behaviors. On top of funding this orphanage, Mr. Helkins also helped to look for jobs for the girls raised here after they reach a suitable age to start working. So far, all the girls that have ‘graduated’ from this orphanage have found decent jobs in the city with Mr. Helkin’s help. Those young women have also continued to send money back whenever they could to help support the orphanage and the younger girls who are still living here. 

It was my dearest wish that one day I would be able to get a job so that I could help send some money back to help feed the younger girls in this place. After all, without the orphanage’s help after my parents passed away, I wouldn’t know where I would be today. 

--To be continued…