She had not come back. Adam's stomach made a noise. He didn't know how much time had passed, but his stomach was starting to hurt a lot.All of a sudden, footsteps could be heard splashing in puddles nearby.Adam stopped breathing, wishing it was his mother. Instead, a friendly face with reddish-brown hair showed up at the opening of the box."Oh, you poor thing," the woman said, looking very surprised. "What are you doing by yourself out here?"Adam's bottom lip shook. "Waiting for Mom." She promised to return.The woman looked worried and her forehead wrinkled. "I am Mary." How long have you been here, dear?"Since the sun was in the sky," Adam said, pointing up weakly.Mary felt very sad. She couldn't understand how someone could abandon a child like that. "That's a lot of time to be by yourself." What if we look for someone to assist us?Adam paused, recalling what his mother had told him about people he didn't know.Mary's kind eyes and friendly smile encouraged him to come out. She gently put her coat on his shoulders and took him to a restaurant close by.While drinking hot chocolate, Adam told me about what happened: his father, Harrison, passed away not long ago, and because they no longer had his income, his mother lost their house.On the rainiest night, she left him in a cardboard box, saying she would return soon.Mary felt sad for the boy who had already been through a lot."I'm afraid," Adam confessed quietly. "What if Mommy never returns?"Mary extended her arm over the table and softly held his hand. "We will solve this together, Adam." "I promise you won't be by yourself anymore."Mary contacted the authorities, including child services, and the police looked for Carissa for some time. At the same time, she and her husband, Josh, welcomed Adam into their home.Their simple house, with old wallpaper and noisy floors, became his home for the next few weeks.Josh reminded Adam of his father, but he was even friendlier and more fun. But Mary was very different from Carissa.She enjoyed baking, giving hugs, and playing with him. But what stood out to the boy the most was that neither of them ever made a big deal about his disability.It was a natural part of Adam's identity, and they adjusted to it without much effort. Carissa had never acted this way before. When Adam was six years old, he could sense that she saw him as a problem.When Carissa didn't communicate for a while, Mary brought up a topic they had been avoiding, waiting for more information. But the moment had arrived.The boy was drinking milk at the kitchen table while Josh was helping his wife with the dishes.However, Josh stopped when Mary signaled him. They dried their hands and looked at Adam."Adam, dear," Mary started. "Josh and I have been considering." How would you feel about living with us... forever?"Adam's eyes opened wide. "Do you mean... for always?"Mary agreed, tears welled up in her eyes. "We would be happy to welcome you into our family if that is your wish." "You would be like our son in every important aspect."Adam's lip trembled, showing his emotions. "But... what about my arm?" Don't you want to have a child of your own?Mary and Josh were both surprised by the question. She felt really sad when she thought that Adam could believe that.She kneeled on the chilly kitchen floor, gazing directly at him."Adam, please pay attention to what I'm saying." You are great just as you are. Your arm does not determine who you are. What makes you complete is your heart and your spirit. "We love every part of you," Mary said, trying not to cry as she spoke.Josh was on his knees next to her."We have been waiting for your mother to arrive because I believe she also wants to see you. However, it seems she may not come. Child services has given us permission to begin the process of becoming your legal guardians first and then officially adopting you.""Do you want that?" Mary said.Adam was not sure he got that explanation, but he put his arm around Mary and hid his face in her neck. "Yes, I want to," he cried. "I would like to be your child."The process of adopting a child was difficult, but Mary and Josh remained determined throughout. They worked additional hours at their jobs in the food service industry.
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