Foster Love

Her name is *Katrina. She was with the family since she was in 3rd grade. She came from a poor broken family, so broken that she didn't know who her parents are. Her parents left before she can even recognize them, before enjoying the comfort of the warm embrace of her father, before she can be nourished by the warm milk of her mother.

She grew up with the care of her grandfather and her aunt.

Because of her condition and the selfless love of mom, mom fostered the kid to our care. Just like that, I got a kid sister. I have 4 siblings, all grown-up men. Having her is truly heaven sent. I'm greatly fond of her. I can still remember her smell--when she climb up the kitchen chair just to gain altitude so she can jump unto my embrace--the smell of undone laundry. It won't be long when she will begin to smell like a princess. 

And she was my mom's princess in fact. Mom was behind every scene when Katrina joined pageants. She's a doll. Mom also went up the stage with her to receive academic awards. She's a bright child. She also participated on athletic events. Such a sporty kid. It's like we're sharing the same genetic codes.

She grew up to be a likeable young lady. And comes with it, the teenage drama. Boys began to like her at her high school, and vice versa. She comes home late from school, doing extracurricular stuffs. Mom began implementing curfew for her own good. But girls at her age want to get what they want, right?

She decided to go back to her aunt's care. Back to being poor and broken. Maybe, mom's curfew is too much for her that she wanted to stay in a home with no electricity. She has to go to the neighbor to press her clothes. She has to travel far when going to school. She has to do everything now with a little burden. But for her, it sure is a lighter burden than mom's curfew. 

It was her choice and mom respects her choice with a heavy heart. Mom has fallen in love with the kid since 3rd grade. But she is only a foster mom. She can't force the kid to stay at home.

Will Katrina come back home? 

I believe so. She is just on a phase that most of us had, has, and will have to go through. It's been months now that she's away from mom's foster home. But she often visits mom during lunch break or after school. She even had a sleep-over just the other weekend. Of course they still have their mother-daughter bonding. After all, she was mom's princess. And will always be.

*name withheld