text: It had been twenty four years since she’d last seen it, but the place looked exactly the same. Icy wind slashed at her face as her bony fingers gripped her blanket up to her face. The streets were dimly lit and the houses were shut and dark. It had been exactly how Jane had remembered it, except for one little thing, her parents. Where were they? How come they weren’t where they said they would be? She was curled up in a dirty corner under a streetlight. The light started flickering and in a moment Jane was in complete darkness. She was terrified. Her home street had never been the friendliest, maybe that was one of the reasons she was sent up for adoption. It had been a week since she escaped from that horrific halfway house. Her first 18 years were spent in the adjoining orphanage. That scrutinising, unscrupulous orphanage. As sunrise appeared a shiver trickled down Jane’s spine. She gathered all of her strength and stood up. She leaned against the cream coloured wall with dried paint peeling off. Jane still remembered her house address, 46 Cherry Lane, Bayside Village. The village still looked the same, just darker and drearier. Jane slowly ambled towards the old pub, Golflinks. It was the exact same. The old, once proud, battered banner hanging from the roof reading ‘Golflinks’. She tried to recall the times when her family would spend nights having fun playing bingo and quizzes in the pub...and she wasn’t a part of it.... Jane was emotional to be back at Bayside Village but one thing was tearing her heart apart. Her parents no longer dwelled at the registered address used in the orphanage. She decided she would not give up hope and go find them herself. As she tiredly shuffled towards her old neighbours house she gave the door one big knock. As she did, she was met with a aroma of warm, fresh scones coming from the kitchen. She tried to remember all the times she baked with her family. She couldn’t remember any. As she gently pushed the unlocked door open, Jane stepped inside. The stout owner of the house appeared...she looked quizzingly at Jane.“Jane..........?, is it really you?” gasped Mrs. Bea. Jane recognised her immediately from photos she had once held in her very early days in the orphanage. “Yes Mrs. Bea, I’m Jane, Aaliyah and William’s daughter.” She broke into tears at the sound of her voice saying their names. “Where are they? Where have they gone?” Mrs Bea looked pitifully at Jane. She had looked after her neighbours fro years when they fell on hard times in the past. Jane could only hear Mrs Bea’s words despite the sirens blaring outside and children’s feet stomping up and down on the streets. “I’m sorry dear, Aaliyah and William moved to Philadelphia years ago, they were too distraught with the fact you were gone and could never reconcile with the fact you had to be given up for adoption.” Mrs. Bea informed her. This time she crumpled herself into the foetal position like a piece of rubbish. She tore open the door and sprinted out of the house. Tears streamed down her face making her face blotchy and red. Her vision turned blurry with multiple emotions racing through her head. Suddenly everything went black. She woke up to the blaring sound of the ambulance siren. Red and blue flashing lights blinded her. Jane was lying straight in the middle of the pebbly street. Mrs. Bea looked as worried and pale as a ghost. She tried to push herself up but her ankle gave way. People dressed in overalls came darting out of the ambulance. All sorts of questions were asked like, what day is it? Where are you? They helped her to her feet and she stumbled. She answered all the questions correctly so there was no worry. When the ambulance men assured her that the blood was flowing back to her head again she was free to go. Jane decided she would spend no longer at Bayside Village and decided she would make her way to Philadelphia. She was determined. All the way from New York to Philadelphia. How could she do it? On foot. 152 kilometres. Not a problem for Jane Richards if she really wanted to find her parents. She organised a small rucksack with enough tins of food and enough bottles of water to last her a couple of days. She wished her farewells to the Bea family and started her journey to Philadelphia. Yes, she was terrified and frightened but she was also determined to do what she thought would complete her life. This was her yearning for so long and it pained her. As the sun rose, Jane gathered her belongings together and commenced her voyage. She was exhausted from her disturbed sleep but kept walking anyway. Many people were shocked at her presence as she had not been in the village since she was a baby. She trodded through grass that was a metre tall, hills that she felt touched the sky and caverness caves. Right now, Jane was in Woodbridge Township. She was weary and her eyes were bloodshot. She looked like she hadn’t slept for days. Jane opened her tin of beans and opened her third bottle of water since this morning. She smelt of musty because she hadn’t washed since she left the orphanage a week ago. Thinking back to the orphanage brought a tear to her eye. That was where she spent her childhood, her whole life nearly. She knew of nothing else. But there was no time for weeping, she had to concentrate on the path ahead. She could only rely on passing gentlemen and women to give her directions. The last man she passed gave her a compass but what use was a compass if she didn’t know which way was right to turn. The sun was setting as she cosied up in a corner close by with her sleeping bag. It wasn’t exactly completely comfy but it was better than lying on rubble. The last sight she saw before her eyes closed was a pink sky with a setting sun. A beautiful sight to see. When Jane woke up she continued her journey. She was now in Trenton, 52 kilometres away from Philadelphia. It only dawned her now that she had no idea where her parents were in the big city. She knew they lived close to Franklin Square so hopefully it wasn’t going to be that hard. Her legs were fatigued and her ankle suddenly started aching. She hobbled through the streets painfully. She had a few coins in her pocket so she decided to buy her favourite chocolate bar in the local supermarket. When she had bought it, it gave her mountains of energy and she was focused on her voyage again. Within no time she was in Philadelphia. Jane could not explain the joyful sensation that sizzled through her body. She had done it. She had walked 152 kilometres in order to find her beloved parents. She dashed through Benjamin Rush State Park as fast as the wind. Before noon she was circling Franklin Square. She had not planned this part out yet. As a middle aged woman with many children hanging out of her passed, Jane waved her hand and said hopefully “Do you know where Aaliyah and William Richards live?” The woman smiled pitifully , then smartly passed with a silent shaking of her head. Jane’s heart was broken. Where would she start? Philadelphia was a sprawling place. She wandered over to a silent old lady covered from head to toe in black waiting at a bus stop. “Emm, excuse me” Jane uttered quietly. This time less confidently...“Is there any chance you may know where William and Aaliyah Richards are?” The old woman stood still with a confused expression on her face. “Are you...... Jane?” A little dance of delight in the pit of my stomach gave me butterflies. She nodded her head without saying a word. The old woman beckoned for me to follow her. Jane did as she was told and shuffled her feet towards her. As she led her into a dark alley she started to get second thoughts until she croaked “number 112 on your right.” She gave the woman a look of thanks and her spirits brightened. As she proceeded towards the doorstep, she gave a choke of happiness mixed with fear. What would her parents think? Would they send her home? Would they shut their door? Her hands went numb as she knocked on the door. After a couple of minutes Jane could hear quiet footsteps coming towards the door. She quickly brought her gaze to her feet as two figures opened the door. She froze. “Who are you?” They questioned as Jane slowly brought up her head. “Jane......? Jane is that really you?” The husband and wife gasped. She was no longer nervous, joy blossomed inside her. “Father, mother” she whispered as she swung her arms around them and gave them a hug. Tears of happiness sprouted from her eyes. Her parents were shedding many tears too. This was the moment she had been waiting for her whole life, and it finally happened. She was reunited with her family once more. Yes she had spent 24 years in a cold, dark orphanage but she was with her parents now and that was all the mattered.