The room was quite huge for one person, not to talk of a 12-year-old like me. It was like a palace, with high ceilings that seemed to stretch up to the sky and large windows that let in a flood of light, illuminating every corner of the room. The walls were painted a soft, creamy color, and the floor was made of dark, polished wood that shone like a mirror. The wardrobe was filled with clothes my size, making me wonder whether these people truly knew me personally. It was as if they had been expecting me all along, and had prepared everything I could ever need.
I walked over to the wardrobe and ran my fingers over the clothes, feeling the soft fabrics and marveling at the colors. There were shirts, pants, dresses, and even a suit, all in my size. I couldn't believe my eyes - I had never seen so many clothes in my life. At the orphanage, we had to share everything and make do with what little we had. I had never imagined that one day I would find myself in a place like this, surrounded by such luxury.
I thought back to my time at the orphanage, where we had to wear hand-me-downs and make do with what we had. I remembered the way the sisters would mend our clothes, patching up holes and sewing on new buttons. I remembered the way we would share what little we had, making sure everyone had something to wear. And now, here I was, surrounded by more clothes than I could ever wear.
I knelt down by the side of my bed, feeling a sense of gratitude wash over me. I remembered the words of Mother Superior, who had always taught us to pray in every situation, no matter where we were or what we were doing. She had told us that prayer was like a conversation with God, and that we should always be thankful for what we had.
"Dear Lord," I prayed, my voice barely above a whisper. "I don't know what this is or why I'm here, but I thank you for it. I never dreamed of a place like this, and I never hoped that one day I would find myself in such luxury. Please help me to make the most of this opportunity, and to use it for your glory."
As I prayed, I felt a sense of peace wash over me. I knew that I was exactly where I was meant to be, and that God had a plan for me, even if I didn't understand it yet. I felt a sense of excitement and wonder, and I knew that this was just the beginning of an incredible journey.
I stood up and looked around the room again, feeling a sense of wonder and excitement. I knew that this was a new chapter in my life, and I was eager to see what lay ahead. I walked over to the window and looked out, taking in the view of the gardens below. It was like a fairy tale, and I felt like the luckiest person in the world.
"I'm ready, Lord," I said, my voice firm. "I'm ready for whatever comes next."
I can see you're done with your prayers or whatsoever," I heard his voice speak behind me, and I knew immediately who it was. It was the Boss, the man from the library, who had told me earlier that he would reach out to me when he needed me. I guess now was the time. His voice was low and smooth, like a gentle breeze on a summer day, but it sent shivers down my spine.
I turned around to face him, trying to hide my surprise. He was just standing there by the door, a cane used as his walking stick helping him stand straight. He looked even more imposing than I remembered, his piercing eyes seeming to bore into my soul like a hot knife through butter. His gaze was intense, as if he could see right through me, and I felt a sense of vulnerability wash over me.
"I never expected to see you so early," I said, trying to sound comfortable, even though I was gripped with fear. My voice trembled slightly, and I hoped he didn't notice. "Was you watching me pray?"
The middle-aged man grinned, his eyes crinkling at the corners. "Maybe I was," he said, his voice low and smooth. "But don't worry, I wasn't spying on you. I just wanted to see how you'd react in a new environment." He chuckled, a deep rumbling sound that seemed to come from the pit of his stomach. "You're quite an interesting one, Gabriel."
He walked over to my bed, his cane thumping on the floor, and sat down, motioning for me to come have a seat beside him. I hesitated for a moment, unsure of what to do, but something about his warm smile put me at ease. It was like he was trying to tell me that everything was going to be okay, that I had nothing to fear.
"Come on, Gabriel," he said, his voice gentle. "I'm not going to bite. I just want to talk to you."
I sat down beside him, feeling a sense of trepidation. What did he want to talk to me about? Was I in trouble? Had I done something wrong? My mind was racing with questions, but I tried to push them aside and focus on the present moment.
"So, Gabriel," he began, his eyes fixed on mine. "I've been observing you for a short time now, and I must say, you're an interesting one. You're trying to act brave and confident, but your fear is still there, like a cloak covering you." He paused, his eyes never leaving mine. "You're trying to hide it, but I can see it. I can see the fear in your eyes, the uncertainty in your movements."
I felt a surge of embarrassment, wondering how he could see right through me. I thought I had been doing a good job of hiding my fear, but I guess I was wrong.
"If you want to live a memorable and benefiting life in this your new home," he continued, his voice serious. "Then I'm advising you to get off that cloak of fear. It's holding you back, Gabriel. You have so much potential, but you're letting fear dictate your actions."
I looked down, feeling a sense of shame. He was right, I was letting fear control me. I was letting it hold me back from experiencing all the amazing things this new life had to offer.
"But how do I do that?" I asked, looking up at him. "How do I get rid of this fear?"
He smiled again, his eyes warm with encouragement. "That's the easy part," he said. "You just need to face it head-on. Don't let it control you, Gabriel. You control it." He paused, his eyes never leaving mine. "You need to learn to trust yourself, to trust your instincts. You need to learn to believe in yourself."
I nodded, feeling a sense of determination. I was ready to face my fears, to take control of my life. I was ready to learn to trust myself, to believe in myself.