Reaching Melanie

by someday_93

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I look down at the pen in my hand, the poem in front of me. It’s not what I meant to write. I was supposed to be doing an English assignment…and somehow this came out. I walk across the hallway, into the next bedroom. There she is, so innocent in sleep. She just arrived this morning. Melanie. Our new foster child.

She’s only five, yet there are so many shadows behind her eyes. I wonder how that happens? I’ve been lucky; obviously Melanie has not.

I go back to my room, sit down on my bed. My insides seize up. I want so much to do something for her, to help her somehow, but there’s no way to reach her. She’s so young, and yet she’s left no doors open.

Grabbing my favorite old teddy bear from the closet, I go back into her room. “Melanie,” I whisper. “Mellie.”

Eyes bleary from sleep, she sits. I hand her the bear. I’m not sure if she even knows she’s awake, for she slumps right back down, clutching the bear.

Maybe there was no point. But maybe I helped, just a little. That’s all I can hope to do.

Prequels

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Sequels

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Comments

Average Reader Rating: 5.0 stars out of 5

  1. Reaching Melanie

    Mistress Elsha Hawk's Buddy Icon Mistress Elsha Hawk

    Posted 10 months ago

    5.0 out of 5 stars

    aww, sweet. I like how you made her a foster child, put her in a good place, with good people. My favorite line: “She’s so young, and yet she’s left no doors open.”

  2. Reaching Melanie

    `crayola.'s Buddy Icon `crayola.

    Posted 10 months ago

    aww it’s so sweet yet so sad.

  3. Reaching Melanie

    Blusparrow's Buddy Icon Blusparrow

    Posted 10 months ago

    5.0 out of 5 stars

    aww the little teddie

  4. Reaching Melanie

    Tad Winslow's Buddy Icon Tad Winslow

    Posted 10 months ago

    5.0 out of 5 stars

    I’m sure Mellie will have a good life from this point on. Here I am thinking she’s real—most definately someone like her exists somewhere out there, so lets hope that someone is as lucky. Good writing.

  5. Reaching Melanie

    someday_93's Buddy Icon someday_93

    Posted 10 months ago

    Absolutely she’s real, Tad. Absolutely.

  6. Reaching Melanie

    emma jo_234's Buddy Icon emma jo_234

    Posted 10 months ago

    5.0 out of 5 stars

    awwww

    that’s so sweet. i loved how you made the prequel into a real story. both are bittersweet. nice job. and i liked how you said, “Absolutely she’s real.” even though it was just a comment it really makes you think.

    ~e

  7. Reaching Melanie

    The Lady's Buddy Icon The Lady

    Posted 10 months ago

    5.0 out of 5 stars

    This is hopeful and heartbreaking at the same time… There are too many people out there with lives like Mellie’s.

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