I'm the Replaced Child

Summary

At St. Jude’s Home for Children, a wealthy couple came to adopt. They wanted my brother and me.

My ten-year-old brother, Leo, held my five-year-old hand tightly. He pointed to a boy standing by the door, a scruffy kid clutching a dirty rag doll, looking a little lost in his own world.

"Hey, Lily," Leo said, his voice soft. "Why don't you play with him for a minute? I'll come get you when it's time to go."

I watched his back as he walked away, a knot of fear tightening in my stomach. I instinctively ran after him.