"Six, maybe seven," Sienna said. "Old enough to understand I was different from kids who had real families, young enough to still hope someone might adopt me, might want me permanently." "Did anyone try?" Luca asked. "Did people ever consider adopting you?" "Twice," Sienna said, something painful flashing across her face. "Once when I was seven, a couple came to meet me, seemed nice, said they were looking for a daughter. We met three times, they asked me questions, I tried so hard to be perfect, to be exactly what they wanted." "What happened?" "They chose a different kid," Sienna said flatly. "A younger girl, blonde, bubbly, everything I wasn't. The social worker told me they wanted someone with 'less baggage,' someone who hadn't been in the system as long. Apparently, even at seven, I already carried too much damage to be desirable." Luca felt rage building on behalf of the seven-year-old she'd been. "That's unconscionable." "That's adoption," Sienna said. "People wa
Last Updated : 2025-12-20 Read more