The Extinct

EPILOGUE

Six year old Marie Darrelle packed her small suitcase with the few clothes she had. The suitcase sat on her bed and she had to stand on her tiptoes to reach it. When she was finished, she looked at the room once more and walked outside into the hallway where Sister Adele waited for her. She took the Sister’s hand and they began walking down the hallway to the reception area.

The world outside of Saint Madeline’s held little comfort for Marie. She remembered vaguely her mother dropping her off into Sister Adele’s arms when she was young but little else of the things outside. Her life had been spent in here, within these narrow hallways and small crowded rooms. Her best memories were of Mousier Beau, the cook. Whenever the building filled with the smells of his meats and sauces, Marie would run down to the kitchen and Mousier Beau would let her stand on a chair and stir the food or cut lettuce for salads. Sometimes Sister Adele read to her at night, but other than that, she was alone. Too young to play with the older children and too old to play with the younger.

The reception area was a large room with wood paneling and glossy hardwood floors. There were two people standing in front of a painting of a boat on the water. One was a man. He looked young and handsome and smiled a lot. The other was a black woman with eyes that looked like they shined. She was very beautiful, Marie decided.

Sister Adele bent down and kissed Marie’s cheek. She stood up and walked away down the corridor, wiping at the tears in her eyes. Marie looked to the floor; she would miss Sister Adele. The man walked over and knelt down in front of her. “Hello Marie,” he said with a smile. “Bonjour Mousier,” she said shyly. “Sister Adele said you speak English as well as French. You’re a very smart girl to speak two languages already, Marie.” Marie looked up at him; he had very nice eyes and she wasn’t as scared anymore.

“My name is Eric, Marie,” he looked to the woman and then back to Marie, “I’m fulfilling a promise to a good friend of mine, Marie. And just like I promised him, I’m promising you that we will love you and take care of you for as long as you’ll have us. We’re your family now.”

The man held out his hand and waited patiently until Marie took it. The woman took the suitcase in one hand and Marie’s hand in the other. Marie looked to the man and smiled before they walked out of Saint Madeline’s and onto the ancient streets of downtown Paris. She would like this family, she decided.