147

MAXINE

Together, we walked back to the house. Zel and Cinder held my hand all through the way and I was grateful. It was time to say goodbye to all the kids I had come to love.

There was a dinner waiting for me. The kids had managed to wait, keeping their hands to themselves. When they saw me, they all rushed to hug me.

"Maxi!" They called. That was what they mostly called me.

I felt tears well up in my eyes as I wrapped my hand around all of them. Raine and Oz watched, smiles on their face.

"Raine said you're leaving, is it true?" Chester, the boy who had scared me by saying he changed into an orange cat on the first day I came, asked. He was holding onto my tunic.

I nodded my head. "Yes. The reason I came, I've done it. Now, I'm free. I have to go back."

He pouted, then hugged me. "I will miss you, Maxi." He said. "So much."

"I'll miss you too," I smiled, my heart aching. I didn't want to leave. I didn't want to go back to a world where I had responsibilities, where I had to be what