After the adventures and charm of the stories I read every night to my little Ise, in a short time I was already embarking on the world of dreams... So I asked myself, what adventure would this time be, seeing her little eyes closed?

Seconds, minutes and even hours passed, and I remained watching her; her eyes closed, her hands on her little body under the covers that moved with each breath, repeating.

On sleepless nights I would stay by her side waiting for her to sleep, because I would be here when she closed her eyes and when she opened the next day...

** Texas - 1999 **

The curious couple expressed a greater preference for knowing Clara's story through Miss Medellin. And the reason came to light, revealed by the man in the elegant suit:

"We've been looking for Clara for a while now." He stretched his long, thin arms across the table, handing the director a photograph. - From the first moment we saw her at school almost two months ago until the last visit two weeks ago in this orphanage, we're sure it's her...

- They are very similar - said the director looking at the photograph in her hands - Since when have you been looking for it?

- It's been more than five years since her death... - replied Mrs. Drake, taking a handkerchief from her bag, and putting it to her eyes - And I gave my word that I would find Carmen...

- Clara - corrected the young Medellin

The woman had a unique accent, the heavy words coming out of her lips with difficulty. Insistently she moved the oak cane like a drill bit slowly drilling into the ground.

- Perfectly, Clara - Corrected - Hellen asked me to look for and take care of her like our own daughter.

Medellin took the photograph from the director's hands, and her eyes rested on the door, noticing the little orphan girl's gaze through the gap.

- If I may ask a question? - Asked Medelin, turning her attention to the couple - Clara was left here at the orphanage, but do you have any idea who left her that night?

The couple's eyes met, and Mr. Drake moved his hands incessantly on his narrow knees.

-Clara's mother didn't tell the details about such a thing - he replied with his heavy accent-She was very reserved in relation to personal matters. But please - The woman held the director's hands, with a vibrant look completed - Don't let us spend another day away from our girl... Even more so now that we find her in this place...

Clara pushed open the door, and her face overflowed with joy:

- Did you meet my mother? -she asked, full of hope-How is she...?

Mrs Margaret slammed her hand on the table, startling even the couple:

- Clara, I had ordered you to wait in the hallway! - shouted the woman revealing more lines on her face.

The little girl took two steps back as her eyes widened towards the headmistress.

- Oh... poor thing - said the woman with a thin face and eyes as big as two ripe plums - Don't scare this "sweet" girl...

Mrs Drake rose from her chair, while her husband remained with an indescribable gaze in her direction.

- Yes, Frankie and I knew your mother - She turned her face to that tall man who was watching them - We promised that I would find you wherever you were, and we would take care of you with all love and affection.

Immobile, a freezing cold filled her belly and her legs were trembling, but when she received the light touch of those cozy gloves, the shivering subsided.

- Poor thing, she doesn't have parents... - said the woman caressing Clara's face.

"I have one," replied the girl.

- Like? - The woman returned the director's attention.

- Sorry, Clara has a fertile imagination - commented Margaret - She is another orphan in this orphanage.

Mrs Drake fixed her eyes again on Clara:

- Would you like to have a home?

Silence was the girl's answer, as she looked at the strange figure of that man who brought fear.

- You will have toys - the Woman took Clara's field of vision - A room of your own, food and all our affection. What do you think my love?

"But I don't want to go with you," Clara said, running into Miss Medellin's arms.

- It's not about what you want young lady - commented the director - And now you have a home...

- Of course and with lots of love... - Completed Mrs. Drake.

- Everything is ready, you are now going to live with the Drakes. - Margaret commented beside Medellin that she didn't know how to react to the situation. His stern look and those consciously spoken words still circulated around the room, but mostly in Clara's mind.

For Mrs. Margaret, Clara was just another orphan in that orphanage. Resulting in less mouth to feed, to say good night, to take care of...

- Miss Medelin, have you prepared Clara's bags? - said the director with the same serious expression.

- Yes, director, replied the young woman.

Clara looked up, still hugging the girl's waist tightly:

-I don't want to go-she said with eyes full of tears-I want to stay with you.

Miss Medellin crouched in front of the girl who was already beginning to sob:

- Clara, I know that being adopted seems scary now, but you will soon get used to your new adoptive parents...

-I'm scared - she said directing her eyes to the man.

- It's normal, but I'm sure you'll be happy soon.

- Exactly my love... - completed Mrs Drake - Don't worry... Let's keep the memory of your mother alive, inside this little head... - She smiled revealing her perfectly white teeth.

- See? - Medellin said attracting his gaze again.

Clara rubbed her eyes, still through sobs and tears.

"The sooner it's over, the better," said the headmistress, casting a glance at the young woman.

A light knock on the door announced the arrival of Mr. Scott, the orphanage's cook:

- Madam director, I already put the bags in the car.

- Very well, take Clara to the entrance, please... - Margaret said.

- Madam director, I could take you - said the young Medellin holding the girl's hands.

-Don't make things difficult Medellin - she scolded, raising the voice of the director. – Mr. Scott can take it.

Clara held the young woman's waist once more, but she didn't have the strength to stand. And the cook's arms held his sturdy little body, pulling, putting the necessary force, until his feet came off the floor.

Clara kept her arms outstretched towards the young woman who was saying goodbye for the last time with a tearful look and an absorbed silence.

Mr. Scott put it on the floor as they left the principal's office, heading down the hall, towards the entrance.

*

"Thank you, Mrs Margaret," said Mrs Drake.

- Mrs Margaret - the man took the floor - We are not rich, but the love for children is greater - He took a small envelope from his jacket - We would like to help the orphanage with this small amount.

*

Still down the hall, his eyes were on the room seeing that strange man pulling out a yellow envelope, opening it in front of Headmistress Margaret. The look on that woman's wrinkled face changed completely, widening as her brows rose.

- I'm sure Clara will be very well with you... - Margaret said taking the envelope.

"I have no doubts either..." completed Mrs Drake.

...

As you might imagine; the Drakes were not good parents, on the contrary, crooks who had a lying and unscrupulous heart. But they knew how to hide their true sides from Mrs Margaret, young Medellin and the whole orphanage...

Perhaps the orphanage could only be a temporary home for those without parents, but for Clara it was a real home. She felt welcomed and loved by Mrs. Medellin, by her best friend Levy. She never thought that she was just “another orphan”, on the contrary, she could find and share her stories and adventures with other children.

Now in her new home, the feeling of being just another orphan in a world of ignorance and evil will come true.

***

The woman's voice losing its softness, minus the heavy accent in her words, started to frighten:

-Leona couldn't take it anymore-she said removing her shoes-her eyes found Clara's in the car's rearview mirror-Now you're going to call Leona mommy and Jack daddy, do you hear me girl?

Clara curled up on the bench holding her backpack, nodded.

- Will my sweetheart make those pancakes? - Jack asked, concentrating on the road - All this made me hungry...

- What is it? asked Clara.

- It's like a huge cake divided into layers, and you put honey - replied the man looking in the rearview mirror.

- Girl, it won't be for you to eat, but for Leona and Jack - said the woman with a wicked smile on her lips.

- What was my mother like? - She's still curious, looking in the car's rearview mirror. – Can I see the photo?

The woman turned back, her gaze made her tremble inside:

-Your mother ... I'm sorry, but I never met her - she said laughing.

- But you said...

- Leona likes to lie a little - the woman turned her face to the front - And the director fell... - she looked at her husband - My sweetheart who sent very well the feelings for the orphaned children...

The two started to laugh.

***

After almost a full day on the road, they followed a long dirt road, surrounded by various types of plantations. The moon took its position in the sky lighting up the pitch of the night. The truck's headlights guided.

When suddenly, Jack slammed on the brakes, pitching everyone forward.

"What is it?" asked Leona, startled with her hands on the dashboard of the car.

Clara had just woken up, still sleepy.

A girl apparently her age was just a few feet from the car. The headlights of the van illuminated the frightened and immobile look...

- This girl managed to escape again - Leona said - Come on, get her Jack.

The girl tried to escape, but the man was three times her size, and his long legs in quick steps caught up with her after she had quickly gotten out of the car.

- Let me go!!! - screamed the little girl being dragged to the car.

Jack placed it next to Clara, and locked the door.

"You annoying girl," Leona said, casting that frightening look at the girl who also flinched.

- What shall we do with her? - Asked Jack.

- The punishment room of course - the woman looked at Clara - will be a good example for our new guest.

The Drake family lived on a huge farm, surrounded by crops and a huge wooden gate. But the place was a little scary, with those huge, leafless trees, the sound of owls at night, and the house had an old look.

Getting out of the car, Jack opened the door, and pulled the girl out. Clara watched her with wide eyes, tightening the straps of her backpack.

-Come on girl - she said holding the girl and pulling her to an almost invisible trail in the middle of the plantation.

"And you go down too," Leona said to Clara.

Silently she obeyed, following behind as she looked towards the path where the girl's screams came from.

Leona opened the door to the house with more difficulty without her support, but took Clara by the arm, leading to the lower floor better known as the basement.

It smelled of liquor and old wood. A single mattress in the middle of the small, dark space.

-Welcome to your room-she said opening a smile-I suggest sleeping soon, tomorrow has a lot of work to do.

The woman took the single candle, closing the door. Only moonlight came in through a small window above the shelves.

Clara left her backpack on top of the mattress, and lay down closing her eyes. She heard the sound of her heart racing, and there in the silence she felt the little girl's cries and her desperate cries.

She took the pendant from under her shirt, holding it tight, imagining her Daddy sitting on the mattress caressing her little face and singing a beautiful song to sleep.

Overcome by exhaustion, she fell asleep...

...

You may not realize it, but He, the Father, is still awake, taking care of us even when we are sleeping.

But He was not overcome by weariness or sleep like I was. It was in those moments that he asked me to guide her and take care of my little girl when she was no longer by her side, watching her venture into the world of dreams...