The next morning Lucas is back on the window looking outside. He watches the birds fly away, and the grass move along with the wind.
It's a clear day, it looks like it's going to be another happy day, but for some reason it doesn't. Why is this place so happy when most of these children have no parents?
What will make his own parents return, would it be money? Yes of course it's money, they just need money, and they will return back to the farm. If they do have the money they won't find him since he is in an orphanage, but they will be back.
If he manages to save up enough money they will return sooner. They will live happily again, but can he really make that much money? He's a kid after all.
Well even if he ever does make that much money, he has no idea where to start. He would work very hard with his parents so that they won't be separated again. He wants to show them that he can work, and make money with them so they won't leave him again if they need more money.
The pretty lady approaches Lucas, "Are you feeling sad? I'm here to talk to you if you are." She sat down next to Lucas.
Lucas looks at the lady, "Oh, I'm not sad, I'm just looking at the birds." He says with a smile, "I just want to know, why do adults lie to children, and why is it hard to say the truth?"
"Oh…Well it's all complicated, you see the world is very complicated." She says as she clears her throat, "Listen Lucas, most adults don't want to hurt a child's feelings, but I do think that it's wrong to lie to them."
She looks around for a bit, "Sometimes telling a lie is the only way to keep a child happy. Sometimes telling the truth can hurt people more than the a lie ever could Lucas. I want to give you a better answer, but it's more difficult explaining without it sounding like I'm not telling you the whole truth."
"It's alright Miss, I'm glad that you at least were upfront with it. I'm fine with you just trying to explain it to me." He says and the lady smiles .
"Listen, if I have the chance I'll try to give you a better answer. Just give me time, and I'll be ready next time." She said.
"It's all good, I can try to figure it out myself." The lady is very nice, he wishes she could of adopted everyone, but he knows it's more than just that.
Lucas gets off, and walks away waving at the lady. He walks into the big room and begins to play with the other kids, but he hears some yelling outside.
Most of the kids heard the noise, and they all run to the window. Lucas goes and checks as well, and it's Diego right on the gate speaking with one of the people who work at the orphanage . He can't hear what they are saying, but he believes it's something important.
The old man is trying to calm down Diego who looks anxious, and he points at the window. Diego turns to see the kids staring at him, and then he and Lucas lock eyes.
At that moment, Lucas saw something within his eyes that looked full of life. For some reason he felt happy to see him again. Diego smiled at Lucas as he stopped looking anxious.
What kind of feeling is this? A spark maybe, but it's the same feeling he had when he saw his father after a long day at work. Does this mean Diego wants him then? Is he going to adopt him now?
After a while Diego was brought inside the orphanage by the old man. Lucas is glad and he stands up and runs up to the next door, but before he could open it the nice lady stops him.
"Lucas, these two are speaking right now so don't mind them. Listen, I'll see what's happening, and I'll tell you everything later." She says as she enters the other room.
After a bit the old man enters the room, and he is a bit surprised to see Lucas there waiting. After that Lucas just can't seem to remember much, all he knows is that Diego was there feeling bad.
Diego told him afterwards that he was feeling guilty leaving him behind. He said he couldn't stop thinking about him, and he was being eaten alive by it. He said that he returned to get him as Lucas was going to be alone for a long time.
Much later on in the day Diego finishes the paperwork, and adopts Lucas. One thing that Diego said was that he adopted him, but he can't be his real father.
This is was all weird to Lucas as Diego was the only adult that was being truthful to him all the time. Diego told him that he wasn't responsible enough to take care of him, but all of the sudden here he is adopting him because he felt sad, it didn't make sense to him.
Lucas and Diego are now outside the orphanage, Lucas is holding onto Diego's hand. He doesn't know why he is doing this, he looks at Lucas who is smiling at him, and he looks so adorable.
He looks away, "I'll bring you somewhere safe, and where I know you can be taken care of. I'm sorry for not thinking this through." Diego says.
"Why do you have a gun with you? I was told guns are bad." Lucas says as he remembers Diego had one.
"Oh, well it's obviously because I'm a hunter, I need a gun to do my job." Diego says as he is proud of his work.
"So you like killing animals? I don't understand why you have to kill them." Lucas asks as he is confused.
"Of course I don't enjoy killing animals, I just do it to eat or I got hired to get meat to sell. Listen there is a fair line between hunting and murder Lucas. Murder is about the pleasure of killing, while hunting is about survival, to be able to eat and not starve." Diego says.
"Most people hunt to feed themselves or their families. Killing is also a different thing depending on many factors. I don't kill animals I hunt them, that on itself makes a big different." He says.
"I still don't understand, but I'll ask you again when I'm older." Lucas says as he scratches his head.
"Well alright then, it will be best to wait." Diego can't believe how sweet this kid is, he didn't have to leave him behind. He feels sorry for his situation, and he should of done something differently.
…
It's the afternoon and both Diego and Lucas are still outside. "Listen Lucas, this place I'll bring you in will be full of my friends. They are going to help you out more than I ever could. This doesn't mean I'll be leave you behind just yet. If you need anything just ask me, and I'll get it for you." Diego says to Lucas.
"Well then can I just hold onto your hand? It makes me feel like you will stay by my side." Lucas says and Diego hands him his hand which he holds onto.
Diego can't help, but think about how innocent Lucas seems, "Listen, I won't ever leave you behind Lucas, when I do I promise it'll for a good reason. I'm not a great caretaker, I have friends who can help instead."
They begin to walk again, and he looks at Lucas, he is only doing what's best for Lucas.
"Did you only adopted me because you felt pity? Don't lie to me now as I am tired of being lied to by adults." Lucas looks up at him.
"I just don't know Lucas, I also want to know why I adopted you as well. You remind me of a younger version of someone. I hope my reason was because of that and only that." Diego says as he just doesn't want to say more about it.
"You're lying to me, when we locked eyes I felt a spark. You looked desperate, and you only felt relaxed after you saw me." Lucas says as he poked Diego's leg.
Diego looks away in embarrassment, "I don't remember much on what happend Lucas. I think it's your imagination playing tricks on you."
"No I'm certain that I'm right as it's the same spark I had with my father." Lucas says which he knows Dieog is just to embarrassed to admit.
"That's just a coincidence kid, it's nothing much than just your mind playing tricks on you." Diego says, he did feel that connection as well. It's the guilt that's trying to convince him that it's something else.
"Well, then why are you not looking at me? Are you embarrassed that I was right?" Lucas is really poking at him right now.
"Im glad I saw you again, I thought I was going to stay there until I got a new family. I'm glad you also feel the same way as I do." Lucas says and Diego stops walking.
Diego hugs Lucas, "I don't understand this feeling but I'm happy. I didn't mean to lie to you, and I do really care for you. I can't care for you like a father, but I'll try my best. I'm stupid for leaving you at that orphanage, I should of adopted you right here. I promise you Lucas that I'll try to never make a mistake like that ever again."
Lucas hugs Diego back, "I think you'll be a great father, I'm happy that you took me with you." Diego closes his eyes, and he stands back up.
"Lucas I can never be a good father, I don't deserve to called a father. You're adorable and I'll try to ask my friends for tips, but that will have to wait." Diego says as he grabs his gun.
"I have some work to do right now, I can't leave you somewhere so you are coming with me." Lucas looks at him as he wanted him to say that earlier, and Diego stays silent for a bit.
"Listen you're a smart kid, and I should of done this before I adopted you. If only I was more competent, I'm a joke." Diego says as he begins to load his rifle.
"It's not about being competent, you were just trying to being rational." Lucas says and Diego gives him a weird face which makes Lucas laugh.
"I'm going to kill this deer, and if you don't want to watch you can close your eyes. I also want you to cover your ears as guns are very loud." Diego says and Lucas does that.
Diego then walks forwards, and spots a deer standing still as if it's begging to die. Lucas then hears the loud bang of the gun. He jumps a bit, and his ears start to ring a bit.
Lucas then opens his eyes, and watches as Diego approaches the deer. Lucas sees the carcass, and he starts to tears up a bit. Diego looks up at Lucas who is staring at the deer.
Lucas is stunned, and he looks away. He is glad that he was told to close his eyes as he might had passed out if he saw him kill that deer.
Diego grabs the deer, "Lucas, don't worry about this, you'll have fun when we arrive to my friend's house. You'll forget about the deer, and this situation in a few days." Diego says as he walks back to Lucas.
"Listen Lucas, I'm not a bad person if you're thinking about this." He tries to explain himself, but Lucas covers his ears. Lucas crouches and repeats the words, "Diego is a bad man."
This makes Diego feel exhausted, but at least he is still a kid at heart. For the rest of the day Lucas refused to speak or get near Diego which made him feel bad.
This made him feel like his heart just got ripped out, but he understands why Lucas is acting this way, "I'm already messing up in trying to raise this boy." He murmurs to himself.