The boy tilted his head, grinning. “I’m Rico. My mom and dad don’t want me either. Don’t worry! I’ll go get Mrs. Walker!”
Before she could respond, Rico darted off. Moments later, a kind man with graying hair led her inside. Rico was waiting by the door, a proud smile on his face.
“Maddie, don’t be scared,” he said, reaching out to hold her hand. “My parents don’t want me anymore, either. But now we can be a family.”
***
Life in the orphanage wasn’t easy, but Maddie found solace in Rico’s unwavering protection. The staff tried their best and occasionally, donors would visit, bringing toys or supplies. But with so many children and limited resources, fights and bullying were common.
Whenever Maddie was teased or cornered, Rico would appear, fierce and unrelenting, to defend her. Over time, no one dared to bother her anymore.
As the years passed, Rico became her rock, her safe place. But somewhere along the way, things changed. The warmth between them faded, replaced by a distance Maddie couldn’t understand.
She couldn’t pinpoint when Rico began to drift away. All she knew was that the boy who once promised to protect her was now a man whose heart belonged to someone else.
***