Embers

As Damien grew older, he began to yearn for a family of his own. He had seen many kids come and go from the orphanage, but he had never been chosen by any prospective parents. That is, until one day when a couple came to visit the orphanage and took an interest in Damien.

They spent the day with him, asking him about his interests and dreams. They seemed to genuinely care about him, and for the first time in a long time, Damien allowed himself to hope. At the end of the day, they told him they would think about adopting him.

Damien waited anxiously for the rest of the week, but the couple never came back. He asked the nuns if they had heard anything, but they told him they had no updates. As the days turned into weeks and then into months, Damien began to feel a growing sense of anger and frustration.

One day, he decided he had had enough. He stormed into the nuns' office and demanded an explanation for why the couple had never come back for him.

"Why wasn't I chosen?" he asked, his v