Just like all the time when we arrived on this island, the weather was perfect. Because I wanted to save on Reiner’s energy, I refused his offer to fly us over and had a pilot do the work instead. It was very difficult for me to contain my excitement and I ended up almost running down from the plane when we landed.
The orphanage had changed quite a bit compared to the first time that I was here. The most noticeable change from the outside was that the garden was now much smaller and less elaborately decorated. That was one of the decisions that I made to cut some maintenance cost. To compensate for that, a part of the garden had been remodeled into a library and activities room for the children instead.
As time went by, the children grew up. From the babies and young toddlers, these children will one day grow into young teenagers and then young adults. As the children grew older, their support and educational requirements also changed. To prepare for that, I had built in facilities that would facilitate their learning as well as hired teachers.
“You’re finally here!” Kat cried out happily before throwing her arms around my neck and hugging me tight.
“It’s great to be back here,” I replied before I started to laugh.
“Welcome back, Knight,” Nick greeted Reiner with a polite smile.
Miraculously, the first batch of staff that followed Reiner and me to the island were still there and the team had gotten even bigger from then on. Some of the teacher who were free also came to greet us. Everything was progressing so well and smoothly now that it was hard to believe that this place used to be in shambles.
“We have a small batch of children arriving today, right?” I asked enthusiastically.
It was always a little joy of mine to welcome new children to the orphanage. It was a bittersweet feeling knowing that some misfortune had led these children here, but at least, we could provide them with some help now.
“That’s right. Not so many for this batch. I think it’s around five or six…” Kat replied before she smiled at me.
“Hopefully having fewer of them means that there are less orphans out there…” I said, although I knew that that was so far from the truth.
Just like many times in the past, I witness a bus driving up to the front steps of the orphanage to deliver the newest batch of children to us. Unlike the many times in the past, Reiner was standing by my side with my hand in his this time around. Kat and Nick quickly greeted and welcomed the children while Reiner and I watched on. The children seemed in good spirits although a little confused after arriving at their new home. The other staff went in to help Kat and Nick.
Just like before, I found my lips curving up into a smile so naturally at the heart-warming scene of the team leading the children into the orphanage building. My heart felt so full that it brought some tears of happiness to my eyes. I blinked it all away before those tears could fall.
“You really like children, don’t you?” Reiner asked and his voice was so tender.
I turned to see Reiner staring intently at my face. While I was observing the team and the children, it seemed like Reiner had been observing me.
“Yeah…I guess I truly realized that when I started helping out at the orphanage,” I confessed with a small smile.
Reiner seemed to ponder my words for a short while in silence before he spoke up again.
“Do they make you feel less lonely?” he asked with intense interest.
“Yes, probably. It might be because I’m sort of a like an orphan in some way after my mother passed away. Of course, I had much better support from Lucien compared to the other children…but still…it was difficult, and I felt very alone at times. I won’t say that I truly understand the children’s hardships, but I guess I do understand a little how they feel, and I don’t want any child to feel scared and alone,” I explained while trying to keep myself from getting too emotional about this.
Reiner seemed to take in my words before he wrapped his arms around my waist and pulled me into his warm hug. It must have looked like I needed some comforting. I had many emotional scars for sure from what I’ve been through as a child and then some when I grew older. Unfortunately, these scars may not completely disappear but over the years, they sure have healed up quite well. On top of that, I have gotten stronger and more independent. As time went by, those scars bothered me less and less.
“Did I cause you to worry about me again? I’m so sorry. There’s really nothing for you to worry about. I don’t feel bad for myself and what I’ve been through. I’m just happy that I can help others, that’s all,” I told Reiner to ease his worry.
“You’re too kind,” Reiner whispered softly as his hand moved up to stroke my hair lovingly.
He didn’t say anything more and I decided to remain silent as I basked in the joy and warmth of his tender embrace. I had no idea how long we stood there in front of the orphanage just embracing each other. Hopefully, no one was there to see us.
…
In few days into our trip to the orphanage, we managed to carve out enough time to have a celebratory dinner with the staff and some teachers who were willing to join us. It wasn’t anything fancy and we just decided to have our dinner at the orphanage’s cafeteria because most people had an early morning the following day.
“Natalia, can I get a minute?” Kat asked as she snuggled up to my side.
“Sure…” I replied.
Kat got up from her seat and beckoned with her hand for me to follow after her. I wondered what she wanted to talk about that had to be done in private.
–To be continued…