It hadn’t been an easy decision and there had been countless days when she had backtracked after coming to one. She had visited this particular orphanage a couple of times before and it had always saddened her to see the children that had been orphaned one or another. She’d helped fund countless places like this and had wanted to do more for them. If she’d been able to keep them all in her home, she would’ve. But, unfortunately, she couldn’t.
She had calculated her funds, of course. She had more than enough to care for herself and a child. However, what had kept her from going with it initially had been whether or not she could take care of a child. Her current duties kept her busy enough as it was and she wasn’t sure if she could handle the added responsibility of a child too. That was what had kept her at bay from the orphanage longer than she’d usually wait.
Eventually, Z had come to a decision. If she could provide a home for at least one of the children, that would be as much gratification as she could ask for. It would be a learning curve, but it was something she’d be willing to accept.
She arrived at the orphanage a little after lunchtime. Was it odd that she’d already had a child picked out? Z wasn’t sure. Maybe she should ‘officially’ meet a couple of them before deciding. The thought of that almost made her rethink the decision but she carried on regardless. Upon arriving, she stepped into the entrance way and was greeted by one of the priestesses that ran the place. The priestess seemed to recognise and asked what Z’s purpose was the visit. Z opened her mouth and then closed it again, words seemingly failed her for a moment.
“I’m here to adopt a child.”
The words sounded almost foreign to her ears, despite knowing that she was the one that said them. Surprise was written over the priestess’ face but it quickly disappeared when happiness took over. “That’s fantastic news, did you have a child in mind?” Z hesitated again. She felt her heartbeat increase. This was it. She was about to make or break a child’s dreams. “Uh...” Words seemed to fail her again and she could see a flicker of doubt go across the priestess’ face. “Does a girl named Lenne still live here? Cause she was the child I had in mind.” The smile on the priestess’’ face broadened as she nodded. “She does indeed. Please follow me.” Z did as she was told and followed the priestess into an office. “Please take a seat, I’ll get the priestess who deals with adoptions and let the girl know she’s needed.” Z took a seat, making sure her kimono was smoothed out and her hands neatly folded.
It was when she’d made herself comfortable that she looked around the ‘office’ space. It was sparsely decorated. One picture was framed on the wall, a cabinet against another and the desk and chair in front of her. There was an extra chair to her right, presumable for if a couple came in wanting to adopt a child. She wondered how many children here got adopted before they reached adulthood. She hoped more than the office let on, but one could never be to sure.
It felt like an age passed before the door finally opened. Z twisted around slightly to see a woman wearing robes enter and make her way behind the desk. Z’s eyes followed her, her body moving in accordance to where her eyes needed to be. Once the other priestess had gotten comfortable, she spoke, her hands clasping together on the desk in front of her. “It’s my understanding that you wish to adopt a child.” Z swallowed. She couldn’t exactly back out now, but both her gut and her heart were telling her that this was the right thing to do. “It is. The child called Lenne.” She specified.
“Hm.” The priestess leaned back, her hands moving to her lap. “We know who you are and what you do. Perhaps we can forgo the background checks we’d usually do.” Not that Z minded having those checks done but that certainly removed a complicated blockade. “However, we do usually do a trial period of four weeks, to see if the child can settle into their new environment. And there’s the paperwork to fill out.” Z nodded. That was understandable. If the child wasn’t comfortable in their new home or the foster parent and the child didn’t mix, it wouldn’t be reasonable to keep them together. “That’s fine.” The priestess nodded, somewhat pleased that Z wasn’t causing a stir.
“We also require a donation since you want to adopting a child..” Again, not a problem with Z. She’d made donations towards the orphanage before and while she expected the cost to be a little bit more, it was nothing she wasn’t willing to part with. “Fine too.” There was a seriousness to her tone that would only be reserved for other situations. The priestess rose her eyebrows at Z’s remark. “Would you like to talk to her? To make sure you’re both the right fit for each other?” Z spent little time before nodding. “Please. I want to make sure she’s as comfortable with this as I am.”
The priestess stood. “I’ll send her in. Please wait here.” The priestess left and soon, Z was left on her own in the office again. It was in that moment that she realised that she’d be willing to spend as much gil and fill out as much paperwork as possible to ensure that a child got a home to spend the rest of their life in.
A few minutes passed and Z was deep in her own thoughts that she didn’t hear the handle turn and the door open behind her. Her eyes were glazed over and staring at the wall behind the desk when the door shut and she snapped out of it. Turning, she saw a young, brunette girl standing in the doorway. A friendly smile appeared on her lips at the sight of her.
