Your OC is randomly assigned the care of a younger relative out of the blue, how do they react?
I glance over at the living room, and though the child’s posture has barely changed, I can tell she’s listening to everything we say.
I can’t just say no.
Far be it from me to try to make her feel worse.
If that’s what people feel in situations like this…
When it’s not her fault everybody’s passing her around like a hot potato.
I can’t imagine how worthless and unwanted that must make a kid feel…being passed off on neighbors and relatives because her mother had other plans…
I try to look sweet, but I’m sure I don’t succeed, bending over to look the child in the face as she looks up in our direction now. “What’s your name, little one?”
“Ayla Deanne Graham.”
She seems scared of me, and answers like she’s in homeroom as the teacher is taking attendance, but I can’t blame her, as I try to smile genuinely and probably look like something from her worst nightmares.
“My name is Miss Essence. I’ll be taking you to school from now on, is that alright with you?”
She kind of nods but not really.
I guess we both just know there are no better options.