As my soul drifted above, I watched in horror as she stood up from her wheelchair with ease and with a wicked grin twisting her face she tore our family portrait into pieces and laughed.
“It’s all mine now," she said.
The next moment, I opened my eyes, I back on the very day we decided to adopt her.
This time, I yanked my hand away from hers the second she reached out.
——
“Auntie, this dress is so pretty. I’ve never had new clothes before. I love it! Thank you, Auntie. Thank you, Uncle. You’re both such kind people!”
“Auntie,” she added quickly, her voice trembling, “Cassie wants to be your daughter too. The other kids at the orphanage bully me because both of my legs are disabled.… Please take Cassie with you. I swear I’ll be obedient. I’ll do anything to repay you, I’ll work like a horse or a cow if I have to!”
As she spoke, Cassandra Smith began to slide off her wheelchair and tried to kneel before us.
My husband, Aaron Jackson hurriedly reached out to stop her, his face filled with compassion.
“It’s okay, sweetie. As long as you like the dress," he said, "Do the kids here bully you? That’s awful. I thought the director seemed like a decent person, how could this happen?”