My career has taken me to different places, looking for inspiration to write the story. Architecture, culture and people have always inspired me to imagine complex or simple worlds, many of them unreal, where my stories run. However, as beautiful as these places revealed and involved me, I never really felt at home.

Until the moment I found a house in the countryside of a simple city, with its charms, but where my beloved Lauren was, and it was there that my little girl grew up...

** New York - 1998 **

The red brick wall connected to the iron gate was the limit for all children. Numerous compact and interlocking bricks ran a good part of the courtyard that surrounded the old castle - as Clara used to call it - as it was the boundary between a house, a family...

When a couple crossed this barrier, they were watched by prying eyes from upstairs windows.

Great anxiety flooded the hearts of those children. However, when he was a child, his saddened gaze was reflected in the lifeless windows of the building, similar to those of his observers.

Inside that strawberry-colored wall, everyone was given the same code name without realizing it, in which they followed through the corridors, courtyards and rooms. This name suggested that any child, even if they had a pleasant past different from others; from now on he would be just like his orphaned companions, therefore being an orphan.

But living in an orphanage does not mean that your life will be a sea of ​​tears, in this case I would like to mention a few points:

...

First: Multiple spaces: that is, you would not die of boredom in that place, on the contrary, you could venture through the corridors and loneliest places at certain times, even more so when you have a best friend.

...

- It's your turn ... - commented the girl expiating through the door. - I went last week.

- What if they catch us again? - Asked the boy adjusting his beret over the hair spread on his forehead.

Clara looked down the hallway for any sign that there was no one in that part of the castle.

- We ran - she replied - Now walk, before the headmistress passes by here.

Levy looked at her, still undecided, and again adjusted his beret on his head:

- Tax me

- What? A small crease appeared between her partner's eyebrows.

"That's how soldiers talk," Levy explained, seeing the girl's expression, and added, "Just watch the hallway."

- Okay, go ahead...

Levy opened the door and tiptoed in, making as little noise as possible.

Clara made up for the breach in the door.

The boy was heading to the kitchen counter a few meters away, being led down the aisle of tables and chairs. His blue eyes darted to every corner of the cafeteria, especially the kitchen behind the counter.

The windows stared at him, monitoring his every step, it was possible that someone was spying on his crime and testifying in Principal Margaret's court. He would be condemned for long days inside his room, so he would have to watch the other children playing in the courtyard. What a terrible punishment. And worse; he could never eat the sweet chocolate chip cookies again.

Levy pushed those thoughts away, realizing he was already close enough to the murder weapon to sentence him to punishment.

- Levy - called his companion at the door - Come on...

He looked at her, steeling himself, then reached into the plate where the wonderful chocolate chip cookies were. He opened his pants pockets and deposited some inside, then folded the vest he wore over his plaid shirt into a pocket, tucked it in in a way that added volume to his thin frame.

Suddenly, a pale-faced man in a cotton uniform appeared on the other side of the window.

The poor boy froze in fear, dropping some cookies.

"Hey boy, stealing cookies," the man shouted angrily.

Clara flung open the door and ran towards her, when she got close enough, she took the frozen boy's cold hand and pulled him into the hallway.

- Both of you, stop now...

Levy let a few more cookies slide down the opening of her shirt, trying to keep the rest inside with one hand. A trail of crumbs followed them out of the cafeteria.

- Where are we going? - Shouted the rebel boy behind.

...

Second: Hide: The orphanage is huge, so there are always quiet places to hide temporarily.

...

Clara and Levy crossed the courtyard, one of the spaces most frequented by orphans. Where games flow with more freedom and imagination. The pale and lifeless floor turns to hopscotch, the hide-and-seek walls and the banal conversations come to life. Especially when you were trying to trick the orphanage inspectors. But the most attractive was the blue frame above the walls, like a window giving infinity to the imagination. Where the birds came and went freely, and more complex and diverse designs formed in the clouds whenever they decided to walk on the wall and roofs of the orphanage.

It was in that same direction that the girl looked, distracted as she ran ahead of her friend, watching some birds fly freely through the "blue window". That always brought a smile to her face.

...

"To your room," Clara replied breathlessly, turning her attention to her clumsy steps. "Because they're going to look for mine first."

...

The two crossed the courtyard, entering one of the corridors to the stairs that led to the dorms, passing over some children in the corridor. And more cookies were dropped until there were only two left inside the vest.

As expected, the boys' room was empty and ready to receive them.

Clara closed the door behind her, and they both threw themselves under the bed.

- We need to eat before the principal shows up. - Clara said next to her friend of crime.

He handed her one of the cookies, and the other devoured – what was left of the vest. Savoring the sweet and first bite. The biscuit was crushed between the girl's small teeth, the boy almost swallowed the whole piece.

- Hmm... - It was the soft sound of chocolate flavor.

Levy stuck his hands in his pants pocket, moving from side to side, finding a few pieces and crumbs between his fingers:

- Broke a little...

"No problem, they're good anyway," Clara said, taking another piece from her companion's hand.

And again stuffed into his mouth, it broke between his teeth. Suddenly, the bedroom door opened and the punishing sound of those high heels echoed in her ears.

- You two can get out under the bed...

They looked at each other for a brief second.

"It's the headmistress," whispered Clara.

- I'll leave and you stay... - said the boy, volunteering confidently.

- Come on Clara... - the principal's voice sounded more fearful.

They visualized two pairs of shoes, one of them thinner.

- Last week you took the blame, now it's my turn, remember? - Levy whispered. - The director is already mad at you.

...

Third: a best friend; Clara had a more than special friend to share her adventures and fight when you don't have an older brother. They were always divided over dangers, when punishment caught up with them. Levy was always willing to take the blame or protect her from the older boys.

Those pale eyes showed more strength and courage than his stature did, but he had his fears like any child, and the worst thing is that the older boys knew.

Her companion didn't prolong the conversation any longer, surrendering to the headmistress's fearful eyes when he first left. Clara tried to pull him away, but he dragged himself to his feet. The taste of delicious chocolate slipped between her lips. The sweet and bitter taste of punishment.

-I was the one who took it, lady voice director, her voice faltered.

- I won't say twice, we know that your little friend is also under the bed - said the angry woman.

Hesitantly, she left the same way and stood beside her friend.

"As always, the two are caught together, their hands and mouth smeared with chocolate," said the headmistress.

- Madam Director - interrupted Miss. Medellín - If I may say so...

"Don't say anything…" the woman yelled, lifting the wooden ruler in her hands. - Don't defend them, that's why they act this way...

- What are we going to do, madam director? - Asked the man outside the room that followed the scene.

Principal Margaret assumed a calmer expression, smoothing out the wrinkles between her broad face:

- I want both of them in my room after I finish talking to the parents.

Clara and Levy looked at each other once more.

Months had passed since a couple had visited the orphanage, and this was a chance for one of them to be adopted.

- MS. Medellin, clean them both up and take them to the cafeteria with the other children.

The bedroom door closed, leaving just the two of them and the girl.

"Sit down." Despite the sweet voice, she sounded firmly.

The two obeyed, keeping their eyes fixed on the ground.

- Are you going to scold us too? asked the girl.

"I should…" Medellín replied, bending his knees and resting on the floor, until she could look at them both. - I've repeated several times that the principal hates when you eat out of time, and her cookies on top. - She placed her hand on their knees - What does it take to make them both understand?

Levy looked up, contemplating the sweet face of the young woman in front of him:

- The cookies are very good.

- Oh Father, give us patience - commented the young woman with a sigh.

- Will we be adopted? - Clara interrupted as if she wasn't paying attention to the conversation.

- I really don't know... Just the headmistress. - she got up - Well, let's wash those chocolate-stained hands... and soon we'll know.

...

Fourth: Everyone inside the orphanage shared the same dream; find a home of affection and a couple willing to love them as their children. In other words; a family...

...

I believe that we all feel the absence of love in our lives, and the desire to be loved by someone, for true home is constituted in love.