Anna and Hannah stood at the door of Rachel's office, staring at the doorknob with contemplation.
"Do you honestly want me to stay with you? I never had a roommate before," Anna said.
"Of course! It's so boring to stay in the room by myself. After all, I'm probably older than you, so I get a say," Hannah said gleefully.
"Hey! I'm ten too, although my birthday is in December," Anna said, pouting with her arms crossed.
Hannah scratched the back of her head teasingly with her tongue sticking out, "You should have mentioned your age earlier. Nevertheless, I'm still the older one."
Anna sighed, "Fine, it's not like it matters. I had stopped celebrating my birthday two years ago after my mother died."
Hannah intertwined her fingers with Anna's. "Well, it matters to me, but for now, let's meet my aunt first," she smiled with a wink before knocking on the door.
"Come in," Rachel's voice was slightly audible from the entrance.
Hannah skipped on her feet while clapping her hands, giggling. "Here goes," she murmured.
They entered, and Hannah greeted Rachel with curtsy and flowery royal language. "Greeting, Your Grace. I thank you for your time and kind hospitality. If I may be bold, I would like to ask for your blessing in granting my humble request."
Anna cast a bewildered stare at her gesture.
On the other hand, Rachel chuckled softly and gave a playful bow to Hannah. "Greetings, Hannah... and Anna. What can I do for both of you, my precious little children?"
Hannah lifted her face, then leaped into Rachel's embrace, filling the atmosphere with her infectious laugh.
However, Anna felt the widening distance between her and them. Her head lowered, her left hand rubbing the smooth skin of her right arm gently. The memory of her past flooded her mind, ringing her ears with her laughter.
Her vision blurred as she recalled her mother spreading her arms wide open for her to leap into her embrace. "Mommy, catch me!" her voice overflowed with happiness.
She felt the sensation of the blowing wind on her skin when her mother carried her firmly and swung her around gently. Then, her happy memories faded away.
They are so close. I could never have had such a relationship here.
"Aunt Rachel, would you allow Anna to stay in my room, like... every day?" Hannah asked with an innocent intention while being carried by her aunt. "I like her, and we can be playmates, too," she explained further.
Rachel arched a curious brow and lowered Hannah down on the floor gently. "I would allow that, Hannah." She paused, shifting her gaze toward Anna. "But I'm not sure if Anna will love that."
Hannah skipped toward Anna, her hands squeezing her shoulder gently. Her expression brightened with pleading eyes. "So, Anna, what do you say?"
However, Anna broke from her grasp and took tentative steps backward, her gaze locked to the floor as though she felt shameful about herself. Her body shook with a soft sniffle.
"I'm sorry..." She turned around and ran out of Rachel's office, her steps quickened with urgency.
"Anna, wait!" Hannah said in a panic, chasing Anna along the hallway while Rachel remained at the door, confused by Anna's reaction.
Did Hannah say something that hurt Anna's feelings? Rachel thought to herself.
Anna arrived at her room and slammed the door. She slumped onto the bed, burying her face into her hands. Her mind swirled with questions she couldn't answer, and her heart ached with the weight of abandonment.
"Mommy..."
The thought of her mother—her warm hugs, gentle voice, and even her words echoed faintly in her memory, something she hadn't felt for so long.
"God never leaves us, Anna. Even when life feels unbearable, He sends people to remind us of His love."
Anna clenched her fists. Her heart resisted the thought—she wasn't ready to trust again. Then, the door opened with a soft creak. She turned and saw it was Hannah.
"I'm sorry if I said something that hurt you just now," Hannah said apologetically, taking tentative steps toward the bed. She sat, wrapping around Anna's waist and pulling her into a comforting embrace.
"The truth is, I'm afraid and lonely, even if you see me being cheerful on the outside. I just thought that by having you beside me, I could at least realize that life isn't so scary when I wake up every day. But you aren't alone. You don't have to go through it by yourself."
Hannah's smiling face and kind words surfaced in her mind, slowly chipping away at her walls. She smoothed Anna's messy hair and wiped her tears away. Anna leaned toward Hannah's touch on her face, finding the little comfort she could get from her presence.
"Sorry for being the downer earlier. Didn't mean to have a sudden outburst like this," Anna said.
Hannah shook her head empathetically. "You can still come by my room whenever you like. Whatever your decision is, I will respect it." She stood from the bed, tilting her head sideways with a smile before leaving.
"Hannah, wait," Anna called out. When Hannah turned to see her, she continued, "You're right, Hannah. It hurts being alone. Maybe sharing my life with someone isn't so bad after all."
Hannah jumped for joy at Anna's words, relieved that she finally got a roommate. She leaped onto the bed and hugged her tightly.
"Anna, you made me the happiest girl in this orphanage. I promise you won't regret making this decision."
"But... you are... squeezing me, Hannah," Anna tried to free herself from the bear hug. Hannah released a relentless series of tickles on Anna's sides, filling the room with screeching laughter.
"Hey, that's not fair!"
Rachel watched the two girls giggling at each other, and a warmth filled her chest. "Alright, that's enough, both of you." Rachel's voice cut through the noisy surroundings.
"Hannah, you shouldn't bully Anna if you want her to be your roommate. What if she changed her mind again?" she gently reprimanded her with her firm yet affectionate expression.
"Now, I will arrange for the maids to help Anna move her wardrobe over your room, Hannah. You ought to help her to sort out her belongings once the maid has completed it, am I clear?"
Hannah raised her hand in mock salutation, "Yes, ma'am. Your command is my duty."
Anna looked at Rachel, her face filled with appreciation. "Thank you, Miss Moore. I truly appreciate your kindness."
