Chapter one

I awoke early; even before the sun had risen and the streets were empty and cold. A few morning workers were fixing the electric wires, but otherwise, I was alone, just as I had always been. I sat, waiting in the alley for the outdoor market to open.
As I sat there, I pulled out a sheath from inside the makeshift belt I wore around my waist. I looked at it carefully, inspecting it from all angles. From the sheath, I pulled out a small dagger, decorated with painted lilies on the side. It was from this dagger that I had fashioned myself a name. Lily. This was my only possession. I owned nothing more than the ragged robe I wore for clothing. It was the only thing that linked me to my past.
The streets were coming alive now. It was bright, but the cold morning air still lingered. I barely felt it; I’d been much colder before. The market place was becoming crowded, but I dared not try yet, it was too early.
I slumped back against the wall and sighed. Today was my 14th birthday. I don’t know how I knew that, but I did. I knew that it would be the same as any other day, but I couldn’t help hoping that something special would happen. I had never received a gift from anyone, but then again, no one knew I existed. No one has time for a young girl with short brown hair, hazel eyes, a dirty face, and no family.
When I was about three years old, my entire world was shattered. One moment, I was with my parents, and the next, I was in an orphanage, my only possession the dagger. They took me in for a few years, but my time there was horrible. The director and all the caretakers seemed to think I was a worthless thing, and used me as their servant. All the other children treated me just as badly, and many times I was beaten and starved. I was still given an education, and I learned to read and write a little. Then, at the age of six, the orphanage decided they’d had enough of me and turned me out into the streets. Struggling to survive, I taught myself to steal and cheat. At the age of eleven, I was a well known but uncaught thief.
Finally, I stood up. I put the dagger back in its sheath and walked out from the alley. I made my way through the throng of people. I spotted a man with a bulging pocket just ahead; a perfect target. I crept up behind him and deliberately bumped into him.
“I’m so sorry!” I said, smiling as he looked at me suspiciously. He walked off, and I pocketed his wallet.
I made quite a few rounds that morning, and when I was done, I had a grand total of thirty-four dollars. I was making my way to a small restaurant for breakfast when I saw the policeman. He was a man who was constantly after me, so he knew who I was. But he had never actually managed to catch me, so I felt confident that today should be no different. I sidled into the restaurant anyway and ordered something to eat.
I’d almost finished when I saw him come in. He scanned the restaurant and I covered my face with my hand, desperately hoping he couldn’t see me. When I looked up he was talking to the man at the counter, so I saw my chance of escape. Quickly, I got up and walked briskly to the exit. I was almost there when-
“Hey you, stop thief!”
I bolted out of the door and willed myself to run as fast as I could. I hit several people, but I didn’t say excuse me. I kept running. Suddenly, I tripped on an uneven part of the pavement. I got up as fast as I could, but I only ran a few steps before a strong hand grabbed the back of my hair and pulled me back.
“Caught you now,” the policeman snarled. “It’s to jail with you.”
Ah, there you go. Happy 14th birthday, Lily.

The jail was filthy and very drab. It smelled unpleasant and everything was dirty, but the worst part was the groaning and murmuring of the prisoners who seemed to be going mad. For two days, I sat in the corner of my cell, thinking and wondering, trying to block out the occasional scream of despair. By the third day, I had become nearly oblivious to my surroundings and the time.
It was after lunch on the fourth day that the man came. I did not notice anything different at first. He was just some captain doing his rounds of checking on the prisoners. But when he came to my cell, he stopped. He looked me over and then turned to the guard outside the door.
“How old is this girl?” he asked in a concerned voice.
“I think she is about fourteen, sir,” the guard answered.
“And how is it that a fourteen-year-old girl came to be locked away in my jail?”
“She is a thief, sir. She’s been pick-pocketing the people at the outdoor market for years. We found her four days ago. The only thing she had with her was a small knife, sir.”
“Ah, such a waste, such youth,” the captain said shaking his head sadly. “Has she any family?”
“No, sir. She is an orphan; she doesn’t even have a proper name.”
“An orphan you say?” the captain said raising his eyebrow.
“Yes, sir.”
“Interesting…,” he said as he looked at me. I met his eyes and he gave me a small smile. “Well, I have wasted your time long enough, and I have to make a call. Good day.”
“Good day to you, sir.” The guard said as the captain left and I was once again left with nothing to do.

Two days later, the captain returned. This time, a young woman of about twenty-one came with him. They ignored all the other cells and came to where I was sitting on my bed. The guard opened the door and they came into my cell.
“So what do you think, Sarah?” the captain said as the young woman took me in.
She was very pretty, with light brown hair and gorgeous green eyes. She was thin, and her face was kind. She walked closer until she was right in front of me. Then she crouched down to look into my eyes.
“Hello,” she said to me. I said nothing. “Do you have a name, sweetheart?” she asked kindly.
I was quiet for a moment, but then I answered in a hoarse whisper, “Lily.”
“What a beautiful name,” she murmured. She stood up and looked back to the captain. “Did you bring the papers, Daniel?”
“Yes, they’re right here,” he said, holding out his hand. In it he held a yellow folder full of white sheets.
“Very well then, yes.”
“The woman smiled and the captain told me to stand. They led me out of the cell and into the captain’s office. They made me sit down in front of the desk while he and the woman sat on the other side.
“Lily,” the captain said as he looked into my eyes, “my wife and I don’t have any children of our own, and we were wondering if you would like to come and live with us.”
“You would be happier with a home and an education, Lily. Daniel and I could be your parents, and you would have someone to care for you,” The woman said delicately as she reached across to hold my hand.
For a long time, I looked down thinking. If I went with them, I would finally have a family, but if I didn’t, I’d be forced to stay in jail. Finally, I gave a slight nod. They handed me one of the adoption papers, for that’s what it was, and showed me where to sign my name. At first, I had trouble, because I didn’t know how to write very well, but I managed a scrawl at the bottom of the page, and Sarah smiled as she stroked my face.
“Welcome to the family, Lily.”

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