THE DREAM BOOK

Trouble

"Jay, wake up." I hear Luke's voice say before my eyes flutter open.

"It's 4 pm. Get up and have something to eat." He says. I groan and cover my head with a pillow. He had to wake me up just for food. I think to myself.

"Go away." My voice is muffled by the pillow. But I hear him chuckle before lifting me from the bed, a squeak flying past my lips before I can stop it.

"You need to eat babe. You barely ate anything after we came back from the park." He says as he carries me to the dining table.

"You're one to talk," I reply with my face in his chest. He

sets me on the chair before placing a plate of lasagna in front of me. My stomach rumbles from the sweet aroma wafting into my nostrils. It won't hurt to take a bite, I say to myself. But that one bit turns to two, which turns to three, and soon there is nothing left on the plate.

"What?" I ask with a frown when I catch Luke staring at me with a smile as I devour the food like a pig. I can't blame him, he cooks like a pro when he wants to.

"Nothing. I thought you weren't hungry." He chuckles, then continues with his food.

"I reserve my comment," I say. I'm not going to mind him. Why am I ignoring him anyway? I ask myself but get no reply from my subconscious.

Luke finishes his food and moves to the living room with me trailing after him like a lost puppy. He sits down with his laptop on his lap as he types away.

"Did you get the job?" I ask him after settling down on the one opposite him.

"Yh. I start tomorrow." He says, his eyes never leaving the screen.

"I'm going to be here all alone." I pout. As much as I love that he has a job now, it also means I'll be here alone. And I'm not a fan of staying indoors alone, with only my shadow.

"You can work on your drawings." He says sparing me a glance before looking back at his laptop.

"Yh. I'm still thinking about it." I say, then pick up my book and some pencils and colors with nothing in mind.

"You do realize you're not paying attention to me," I complain, even though I'm also not paying attention to him.

"Babe, you're drawing. We can cuddle and go to bed after that." He says. I huff and continue drawing. After an hour of drawing, and coloring, and making sure it's flawless. I'm done with 7 hundred dollars notes.

They look so real that I'm even puzzled. It's as if the money is looking at me. I'm not surprised I drew money. God knows how much I need some. And not just for myself, I want to get some food and clothes for the kids at the orphanage they really need it.

So, with that thought in mind, I join Luke in bed when it's 8 pm.

The next day...

"Don't go!!!" I cry, holding onto Luke so he can't go and take his bath. Luke wants to go and have his bathe so that he can get going to work. But it's the thought of him leaving me alone here that has me wrapped around him like a koala in bed.

"Babe, you know we need the money. I promise I'll come back right from work. You know I don't go anywhere else. I will miss you too much to even think of going anywhere but here." He tries to get me off him by making my heart flutter.

"No," I say, holding onto him tighter.

"Let me go, babe." He muffles against my skin, peppering light kisses over my neck and shoulders. After a make-out session, I let Luke go. The house turns dead silent. I take my bath and get something to eat before texting Mia.

Where are you?

At my shop. Are you coming over?

Yh. I'll be there in 20 minutes

I plug in my phone to charge then change into a yellow summer dress. On my way to pick up my phone so that I can head out something catches my attention. There are 100 dollar bills on my book. I smile at it thinking Luke must have left it there for me. I put the money in my purse and head out.

With the money, I go to the market and get some snacks for the kids, some new clothes, and blankets. I get them other instant foods. I don't have any siblings so I'm glad I can do this for them. They have taken a huge spot in my heart, and I'm okay with it.

"Jay!!" They exclaim, whiles running towards me. I put the bags down and hug them all, my heart at ease knowing they are okay.

"How are you guys?" I ask them with a smile.

" We're hungry." They chorus, making my heart clench a bit for them. I would have brought them to stay with us or even get them a better place to stay and a nanny to look after them all, but I don't have the resources to do that.

"It's good I'm here then," I say, forcing a smile on my lips.

"What are those?" Mathew asks, he's 10 years old.

"Those are for you guys," I say and watch them jump and giggle in joy. Seeing them happy makes me happy.

"Is there food inside?" Devin asks.

"Yes. Lots and lots of food." I say. We carry the bags inside. The orphanage may be old and abandoned but it's a little clean. Mia and I make sure it stays that way.

After an hour with them, watching them eat and joining them play, I make up my mind. I'm going to try to work on my drawings and paintings. I don't know how to go about it, but I have to start from somewhere. For the children.

I leave them with smiles on their faces and mine and make my way to Mia's shop.

"Hey, thief. That kid is a thief!!" A man exclaims running after a girl of about 11 years old who is heading my way.

I stop the kid by her arm and watch the loaf of bread she was carrying fall down along with an apple. She struggles in my arms.

"L..let me go." She cries, tears streaming down her cheeks.

"What did she do?" I ask the man who finally reaches where I am.

"She stole my bread and Apple." He says, stretching his hand out to hit the girl but I pull her from his reach making him stumble before finding his footing.

"What are you doing?" He asks, clearly enraged. " Are with her? You sent her to steal from me." He continues accusing, catching the stares of passerby's. But I ignore him.

"How much is it worth?" I ask. I have about 200 dollars left.

"10 dollars." He says with his arms folded on his chest. I ignore him and pick up the food and hand it over to the kid before giving the man the money and watch him leave without a fuss.

I kneel in front of the girl so I'm at the same height as she is.

"What is your name?" I ask her, making sure my tone is soft and inviting.

"Jennifer." She whispers, her eyes downcast.

"Why did you steal?" I ask

"M..my brother is hungry." She whimpers. "W.. we've..not eaten in two days." Tears stream down her cheeks making my heart hurt.

"Where do you stay?" I ask, but she shakes her head and says, "I can't tell you, I'll have to show you."

I follow her to the abandoned side of town. The scent of cigarettes tainting the air, making it hard for me to breathe. I hate the scent so much. I was thinking that she'll lead me to a house or something, but she only led me to someone's abandoned warehouse. The stale air inside makes it hard for me to breathe. it smells like something died in here.

Jennifer walks to someone wrapped in a cloth. She kneels beside the child and offers him the bread. He looks to be around 7 years old.

"Where are your parents?" I ask her when I kneel beside them.

"We don't know." She says, her eyes never leaving her brother.

"What do you mean by you don't know?" I ask.

"They left us when we went to a carnival. They told us to wait for them by one of the stores. They never came back." She says. Her eyes showing no emotion, and that scares me. For a child her age to show such disdain to her parents is scary.

"I can get you somewhere nice to stay," I say after looking at how skinny and tired they look. I can't let them stay with me, but they can stay with the other kids at the orphanage, I think to myself.

"Thank you." She says with a smile, " but we can manage on our own."

I frown in confusion about to ask why she would refuse.

"Why?" I ask.

"I can't just trust you with our lives just because you paid for our food. We don't know you. We can't stay with you." She explains.

I get her, it's not easy to trust anyone after getting abandoned by your parents. I wouldn't trust me if I were her.

"You won't be staying with me. You'll stay with kids your age." I say.

"What is she talking about Jennifer?" Her brother asks.

"I want to take you somewhere nice. You'll have lots of friends and food and clothes." I reply instead with a smile. The boy's face pulls into a smile, his eyes hopeful and filled with need.

"I..is this true ?" He asks his sister, who sighs and turns to look at me with uncertain eyes.

"Is it true?" He prompts.

"Yes. We are going there." She says, making me exhale in relief. I don't have any responsibility to help them but I feel obligated to do something about it. To help them.

After they agree to come with me, I take them to the orphanage, where the kids happily accept them and welcome them. It makes me happy to know that I can do something, no matter how small it is, to help them. I didn't have anyone to help me in the beginning so I'm trying to help anyone in any way I can. This keeps giving me more reasons and motivation to find a job so I can do more. It's making me give Luke's words some thoughts.

I leave the children there and head to Mia's shop or boutique, whatever you want to call it. It's very big and I like it.

"Why did it take you so long?" Mia asks me when she sees me. She looks distressed.

"Why what is it?" I ask.

"I..… I'm in trouble Jay?" She says, her panic makes me panic as well and my heartbeat increases.