Evanescent

23 | R E P L A C E D

Rosa was sat in a car with a stranger. Again.

But this time it wasn't with a man. It wasn't so she could earn money for the one constant person in her life.

The thought of her dad being gone suddenly sent a lump into her throat and she placed her hand around her neck, hoping it would soothe the burning somehow.

There was no way she'd be able to pay for the tumor removal now that she would be constantly watched. She couldn't go back to escorting or working a normal job.

She rest her head against the window and wiped at her cheeks with the sleeve of her hoodie; her hands trembling at the effort it seemed to take for her to accomplish the small action.

"Roe.." she sighed at the gross nickname. It wasn't Rosa. It wasn't.. baby doll. Or baby. It wasn't Noah calling her name. She missed Noah. "Sweetie. Everything is going to be alright. The family they set you up with is absolutely wonderful. They've had experience with about.. almost a hundred other kids before you."

Rosa rolled her eyes and peered out the window, her jaw clenching a bit. "I don't want to be the hundred and first kid. I wanna be Rosa. I want a chance to see my dad himself again. I want.." she choked on her tears and sat on her hands as she peered out the window. "I want to be myself again."

She got no response from her social worker, but she could almost feel her eyes on the side of her head.

Just pitying her.

Wishing she'd stop crying.

Wishing she wasn't there with the problems she carried.

When they came to a stop, her social worker opened her door and then waited for a few moments in silence. "They're looking forward to meeting you, Rosa. I'm sure you're hungry. They have some warm food waiting for you."

Rosa swallowed slowly, practically choking on the lump in her throat and she quickly shook her head, closing her eyes tight and trying desperately to make herself believe that it was all just a bad dream.

A really long, feeling frustrating dream.

"Roe come o-"

"Oh my gosh! Can you please just.. don't call me that! I'm not ready to go in," she said before letting out a strained sob. She leaned over so that she could hide her face in her knees and tears dripped down over her legs.

"Rosa.. i'm sure as soon as you get inside, you'll feel like family. I know you've wanted someone to take care of you and you finally have the chance for that today," her social worked spoke softly.

"I've never WANTED that. You don't know what I want," she muttered as she wiped her cheeks with the sleeve of her sweater. "But I can tell you - though it's not like it matters to you anyway."

"But it does matter, you matter. I care for you Rosa. And I want whats best for you. That's why we're here together.."

"No, that's why I'm here.." Rosa sniffled. "If you knew what I wanted, you'd help me get money to get my dads tumor removed. You'd let me be with the only family I have while he's in pain and stuck to his bed. My dad doesn't deserve to be forgotten."

"And he won't be. Not with a wonderful daughter such as you."

"I can't be a wonderful daughter if i'm stuck at a house with strangers and attending school."

"It's what your father would want for you. He always wants what's best f-"

"Why the heck do you keep assuming you know what my father or me wants.." she sighed as she grabbed up her bag and opened the door.

The social worker said nothing in reply. She just got out of the car and led Rosa to the door, knocking five times and then stepping back and waiting for someone to come to the door.

Rosa kept her eyes casted towards the ground until the sound of the door opening brought her momentarily out of her thoughts.

She was met soft, warm smiles from a really pretty older couple, most likely in their late forties.

"Rosa.." her social worker took in small inhale as if she were preparing herself for things to go haywire. "Say hello to the Roberto's."

Rosa's eyes flickered between the two slowly. The woman was a tall, gorgeous woman with kind features and dirty blond hair that was flipped to one side. She was slightly taller than her husband in her black pumps but he stood confidently still, broad shouldered with sophisticated, stylish glasses and salt and pepper hair. "Oh how pretty," the woman said quietly as her green eyes flickered over Rosa slowly. "Hi Rosa, it's so good to finally meet you. My husband and I will try our best to make your transition as comfortable as possible. I'm Katania and my quiet hubby over there is Victor."

Victor smiled. "Hey little lady.."

Rosa nodded her head at the both of them and swallowed slowly before forcing a small smile. "It's nice to meet you. Th-thank you for taking me in."

"Of course. We can sit down, have some snacks and talk about any questions or concerns you might have. We actually have a seventeen year old daughter. You'll probably meet her later tonight. She's at the movies unfortunately," Katania said before she nodded to the social worker and disapeared inside.

Rosa stood there as Victor talked with the social worker for a few minutes before he stepped to the side with a clear of his throat. "Come on in Rosa. Got everything?"

Rosa bit her lip hard and looked back at her social worker who shooed her in playfully. "Go ahead dear. It's okay."

She turned her head back towards Victor before nodding unsurely. "Mhm, I've got everything."

Victor nodded and ushered her inside before closing the door slowly after saying his goodbyes.

Her whole life, Rosa had wished so dearly to have a family. She wanted parents that could take her to the park. A family she could make happy memories with.

But as she sat to the dining room table with Katania and Victor, desperately trying to focus on the words they were saying and trying to match the bright smiles the couple had on their faces; a part of her wished she could go back to the days Rosa got off from a hard day of work and she could go visit her dad at the hospital.

She wished she could hear him tell his cheesy dad jokes. She wished she could have him tell her to be young again. To be happy. And not stress over life.

But wishes didn't come true in her stories. And nor in her dreams.