Chapter 2: Park
Evelyn sat at her desk and worked without a single break until her alarm rang several hours later. She needed to hurry to pick up the girls. She packed the documents into the bag and hurried out of the office, running to catch a bus, again. She sat down out of breath. It became her daily workout in the past few months.
Her life changed drastically about six months ago when she started the adoption process for Emmeline and Suzanne who she lovingly called Emmi and Suzie.
It was hard to tell which event in her life led to this choice. Probably a culmination of many things. And today she was a guardian to them both. She didn't really know what she was doing. Most of the time she was just focused on surviving another day, or even another hour.
"Eva!" Emmi's cheerful voice made her smile. A little girl run up to her and hugged her before Eva even reached the door of her classroom.
"Eva." Suzie waved at her more calmly as she came out of her classroom.
"Emmi! Suzie!" Eva hugged them both, feeling much more at ease. These were the moments that reminded her that it was all worth it. "So, ice cream and park on the way home and then we can have noodles for dinner," Eva announced making sure that she kept to her promise from the morning, even though she really wanted to just go home and sleep.
This was met with an excited squeal from both of the girls who were ready to run on ahead.
"Miss Green." the teacher turned to her.
"Yes, Mrs Copper?"
"I was hoping to catch you. I'm slightly concerned about Suzie. I wrote my concerns down in the letter and I will arrange for a meeting. Is that okay?" the teacher passed Eva an envelope.
"Of course. I'll read through it and we can chat during the meeting." Eva agreed although she already anticipated what was in the letter.
Emmi has adjusted quite well. Some days you couldn't tell that she survived a traumatic event as she was just her cheerful and excitable self. Maybe it was because she was younger and hence more adaptable, or maybe because she was social and hid it better. Suzie still struggled. She was often quiet and withdrawn. She barely started opening to Eva at home, but school was still challenging for her. She struggled making friends and preferred to hide in the library during the breaks than play hopscotch or marbles outside with the other kids.
She walked with Emmi and Suzie walking a few steps ahead. They held hands and Emmi spoke of something passionately. The warm sun shone onto their heads, and a breeze twirled Eva's hair in a spontaneous dance.
As promised, she bought each of the girls an ice cream of their choosing and then went to the park where the girls played on a playground whilst she sat down on a wooden bench.
Everything changed in the past year. Her life was turned upside down. And then half a year ago the two girls who climbed onto the slide right now came into her life.
She hit the rock bottom and slowly climbed back up.
Without much thought, following the burning feeling on her back, she turned around.
The black car with tinted windows was just on the side of the entrance to the park.
Eva stood up, feeling uneasy, and called for Emmi and Suzie. She tried not to show them her nervousness but she really was getting anxious. Did someone follow them?
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