Chapter 3

Lily blinked her big, innocent eyes.

The photographer realized what was happening and said to me, "Kid, they're taking a family photo. Why don't you join them?"

For a split second, hope bloomed in my heart. Taking a family portrait with Mom and Dad had been my dream ever since I was little.

I ran over, overjoyed.

My dad looked me up and down, his face scrunched up in disgust at what I was wearing.

Mandy scolded me in a low voice, "Why didn't you dress up for the photo? You look all dirty, like someone has been abusing you."