Escape To The Station

She had one chance to escape, and she took it. Lily ran as fast as she could, clutching her backpack, on the crowded streets.

She didn’t know where she was going but one thing was sure she was free now. She had escaped from the orphanage an hour ago, where she had lived ever since her parents died in a car accident two years ago. She had nothing of her own except the locket her parents gave her.

Nothing in the orphanage brought Lily any joy. It was a large, grey building with bars on the windows and locks on the doors. It was run by a cruel woman named Mrs. Grimes. She treated the orphans as slaves. She treated Lily like a hostage. She punished her for any mistake or disobedience. There were cold and dirty rooms, insufficient food, and strict and cruel rules. The other children were so mean that they bullied her for no reason.

She hated that place. She had endured more than enough trauma for an 18-year-old. Suffering the unimaginable horrors in the orphanage, she finally gathered the courage to seek a new life.

She turned around a corner and saw a sign that said “Train Station”. She followed the sign hoping maybe she could find a train that would take her somewhere else, somewhere better. She didn’t know that she was about to find much more than that. There were no people or trains in sight. Lily wondered if the station was abandoned or closed. No one lived there but it was still clean.

She walked along the platform, looking for a way out or a place to hide. She saw a door that said “Staff Only”. She opened the door and entered a dark and narrow corridor. She walked cautiously in the darkness. She heard a faint sound of voices coming from somewhere ahead. She followed the sound and reached another door. She opened it and saw a bright and colourful scene.

There was a large comfy room, filled with furniture, books, toys, and decorations. There were dozens of children of different ages. They were talking, laughing, playing, reading, and singing. They looked happy and lively. They looked like a family.

Lily stood at the door, amazed and stunned. She felt like she had stepped into another world. A world where

she didn’t belong. She was about to turn around and leave, when someone noticed her.

“Hey, who are you?” a voice asked.

Lily looked and saw a boy standing in front of her. He was about her age, maybe a little older. He had brown

hair, green eyes, and freckles. He wore jeans, a t-shirt, and a leather jacket. He looked friendly and curious.

“I-I’m Lily,” she stammered.

“Lily? That’s a pretty name,” the boy said. “I’m Max, their leader. Welcome to the Station.”

Max smiled at Lily and led her into the room, where the other kids greeted her with excitement. They were orphans too unlike her. They invited her to join them in their activities. They made her feel welcome and comfortable.

They made lockets that contain pictures and messages for people and sold them in the markets. The lockets were popular and valuable, and they helped the orphans to survive. They were proud of their work and their name "The Locket Makers".

Lily was surprised and overwhelmed by the Locket Makers. She had never met anyone like them before. They were different from the other orphans she knew. They were not mean and bitter, but happy and joyful.

They were amazing. They treated her like a friend. She felt something she hadn’t felt in a long time. She felt welcome. She wanted to be more like them and with them. She wanted to be one of them. She decided to stay with them for a while.

Lily spent the next few days with the Locket Makers. She learned their names and their roles.

There was Max, the leader and the inventor. He was smart and brave, always coming up with new ideas and was also their protector from any danger or threat.

There was Zoe, the second-in-command and the artist. She was beautiful and talented, always creating new designs and styles for the lockets. She was also the group's storyteller.

There was Leo, the salesman and the comedian. He was charming and funny, always finding new customers and markets for the lockets. He was the one who sold the lockets quickly.

There was Ruby, the cook and the nutritionist. She was sweet and caring, always preparing delicious food and beverages for them. She was the one who made their nutrition and their health possible.

And there was Lily, the newcomer and the learner. She was curious, eager, always asking questions and trying new things. She was learning how to make and sell lockets with them. She was also learning how to live with them.

They were altogether a team and family.

One evening, when Lily was arranging her belongings in her room, Max entered the room and sat on her couch.

"Hey, what are you doing?" he asked casually.

"Oh, just sorting out some stuff. I have too many things here, I need to get rid of some," she replied.

He looked around the room and saw various items scattered on the floor. He noticed a small bag that she had left on her desk. He got curious and walked over to it.

"Can I see what's in here?" he asked, picking up the bag.

"Sure, go ahead. It's nothing important," she said, not paying much attention.

He opened the bag and saw a few things inside, such as a wallet, a phone charger, and a pair of earrings. He was about to close the bag when he saw something shiny at the bottom. He reached in and pulled out a silver locket. His eyes widened when he saw the locket. It looked familiar to him. He quickly grabbed it and examined it closely. It was a silver locket with a flower design on the front and a small clasp on the side. He opened it and saw a picture of Lily’s parents and a message that read: “Everything You Need, Will Come To You At The Perfect Time~ To our beloved daughter, we love you always and forever.”

He felt a surge of emotion as he recognized his own handwriting. "Where did you get this? I made it" he asked in a shocked tone.

She looked up and saw him holding the locket. She recognized it immediately. "Oh, that's mine. Are you sure about that? How is this even possible? I never saw you making any." she asked in disbelief.

Lily did find out what happened to her parents’ locket after they gave it to her. She found out that they died in a car accident on their way back from the shop after collecting the locket.

Locket was the only thing that survived the crash. It was found by a firefighter; he gave it to her as a sign of hope and courage. From that day, she was living with this hope that everything will be perfect and she was going to make it. She wondered how and why they made it, and what it meant.

She asked Max about it, and he told her the truth. He and the other Locket Makers used to work for a man named Mr. Jones, who owned a shop that sold lockets and other jewellery.

One day, a couple came to the shop and asked for a locket for their daughter’s birthday. They showed a picture of their daughter and wrote a message for her. Their daughter’s name was Lily, and she was their sunshine. They said that they wanted to give her something special, something that would make her happy.

Locket Makers were touched by their words and their love. They decided to make the locket for them, using their best skills and materials. They wanted to make it perfect, as a gift from them to Lily.

They finished the locket and gave it to the couple, who paid them generously and thanked them sincerely. They said that they were sure that Lily would love it, and that they would give it to her on her birthday.

Lily felt shocked and confused when she found out that her parents' locket was made by the Locket Makers.

She couldn’t believe that it was a coincidence or a mistake.

As she absorbed the truth about her parents' locket, she couldn't help but feel a deep connection to the Locket Makers. The way things happened seems like destiny had a plan for Lily and the Locket Makers.

As days turned into weeks, Lily fully embraced her new life with the Locket Makers. She learned the art of creating lockets and designing them.

Together, they grew, not only in their craft but also in their determination to create a better world for themselves. The Locket Makers began to gain recognition for their unique creations, with people recognizing the genuine love and care that went into each piece.

Word of their extraordinary lockets spread far and wide, attracting the attention of a renowned jewellery designer, Ms. Evelyn Taylor. She was captivated by the stories behind the lockets and the remarkable group of children who had formed their own family.

Ms. Taylor approached the Locket Makers with an offer they couldn't refuse. She wanted to showcase their lockets in her prestigious gallery, ensuring that their creativity would reach a wider audience. The Locket Makers were thrilled at this opportunity.

As the Locket Makers' lockets became highly sought after, their lives began to change. With the profits earned, they were able to move into a larger, brighter space where they could create and live together comfortably. The children no longer had to worry about their basic needs, and they even had the means to support other orphanages and children in need.

Lily's journey with the Locket Makers was more than she could have ever imagined. Not only did she find a place where she belonged, but she also discovered her own inner strengths. Together, they had transformed their lives through love, unity, and the power of their craft.

In the end, Lily understood the true meaning of her parents' message. Indeed, everything we need comes to us at a perfect time. And as she looked into the eyes of her newfound family, she knew that their story was just beginning, filled with endless possibilities and boundless love with the hope of being with each other.