I'm the Replaced Child Chapter 1

At St. Jude’s Home for Children, a wealthy couple came to adopt. They wanted my brother and me.

My ten-year-old brother, Leo, held my five-year-old hand tightly. He pointed to a boy standing by the door, a scruffy kid clutching a dirty rag doll, looking a little lost in his own world.

"Hey, Lily," Leo said, his voice soft. "Why don't you play with him for a minute? I'll come get you when it's time to go."

I watched his back as he walked away, a knot of fear tightening in my stomach. I instinctively ran after him.

But I stopped short at the door to the director's office. Through the glass, I saw him holding another girl’s hand. Maya. He was pleading with Mrs. Gable, the director.

"Maya's really good, and she listens," he was saying, his voice earnest. "Please, let her take Lily's place. Let her be adopted with me."

I froze, my hand hovering over the doorknob, my world tilting on its axis.

The dirty little boy from the doorway shuffled over to me, his eyes wide and serious. He gently took my hand.

"We need a little sister at my house," he said, his voice clear and simple. "You can come with me."

* * *

Watching my brother walk away, a deep sense of unease settled over me. Ever since our parents died and we’d ended up here, Leo and I had been inseparable. He’d promised we’d be adopted together. He said it was the only way he could be sure no one would bully me.

I looked at the scruffy boy who only seemed to talk to his doll, and a shiver of fear ran down my spine. After a moment's hesitation, I turned and bolted in the direction Leo had gone.

I found him in the director's office. He was holding Maya’s hand, his back to me, speaking to Mrs. Gable.

“Maya’s really good, and she listens. Please, just let her take Lily’s place and come with me.”

Mrs. Gable looked troubled, her brow furrowed. “Leo, honey, Lily is your sister. She’s your family. Are you sure you want to give her up? I’m afraid you’ll regret this one day.”

My brother shook his head, his voice firm and unwavering. “Lily’s so smart and pretty, she’ll find another good family. But Maya… she only has me. I have to look out for her.”

My nose stung. Tears welled up in my eyes and started to fall, hot and fat, down my cheeks. But he was all I had.

Mrs. Gable glanced at Maya's face, at the faint, silvery web of scars that traced across her cheek, and spoke honestly. "I'm not sure the Walters will agree to this."

Leo pulled Maya closer, into a protective hug. "They'll agree," he insisted. "They only ever really wanted to adopt me anyway. Taking Lily was just a bonus. Swapping her for someone else won't make a difference to them."

Finally, Mrs. Gable sighed and nodded. "Alright. I'll ask them."

I clung to the window frame, watching my brother and Maya hug each other, their faces alight with joy. I couldn't understand how everything had gone so wrong.

The scruffy boy had been watching me from the doorway. He finally seemed to make up his mind and trotted over. He took my hand, swinging it gently. "We need a little sister at my house," he repeated, tilting his head happily. "You can come with me."

My lip trembled. I snatched my hand away. "Don't touch me! My brother would never leave me. I'm not going with you."

The boy frowned, his expression serious as he shook his head. "Nope. Your brother doesn't want you anymore. I heard the whole thing."

A sob tore from my throat. "You're lying!" I cried, shoving him away. "I'm going to go ask him myself, right now."