Chapter 18

I seemed to understand why this painting made me so unsettled. It happened during the first month the Miller family brought me back home. Having grown up in the orphanage, I had never seen all the beautiful and expensive stuff. Feeling like an outsider who had barged in accidentally, I could only watch helplessly as they laughed and chatted like a real family. They never took me along when they went out. Once, when I tried to follow, Yvonne shook off my hand without a second thought. I stumbled to the ground as I watched them walk away like the family they were. When they came back, Roxanne was dressed in a gorgeous princess dress. She excitedly instructed the staff to hang this painting on the wall as our parents watched on adoringly. At night, I sneaked downstairs and stood in front of the massive painting. The deep crimson and darkness bore down on me, and I could hear Roxanne's voice. I remembered what she said. I swore I remembered what Roxanne said, but the words just would