I Was Left at the Orphanage Door (English)
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00:00I was brought up in an orphanage by nuns who found me on their doorstep one night,
00:04wrapped in a soft blanket, and wearing a gold pendant shaped like the sun.
00:08The nuns were never able to find out anything about my family, or maybe they never even tried.
00:12But I had all kinds of theories about my past.
00:15Maybe I'm some princess stolen by an evil witch and sent here because she was jealous of my beauty.
00:21Or maybe you stole me and you keep me here because of the magical powers of my hair, just like Rapunzel.
00:28You touch my hair a lot, you know.
00:30Yes, to pick lice. And trust me, this mousy nest on your head has no magical powers.
00:36Maybe I'm from another planet, like Superman, and my parents dropped me at the orphanage because I wasn't safe on my planet.
00:43This necklace has to mean something. It probably has superpowers.
00:47Look, I can stare directly at the sun!
00:48I went half blind trying to prove that I could.
00:51All the kids thought I was a bit of a weirdo, and I guess I was.
00:54I never really felt like I belonged there.
00:57The only person I was close to was Anna, one of the janitors.
01:00She was the sweetest lady who'd always paid extra attention to me since I was little, and we had a special bond.
01:06One day when I was 10, I was going on about a new theory regarding my parents over breakfast,
01:11when this kid named Brett flung oatmeal in my face.
01:14Can you just shut up?
01:15For once, we don't care where you came from. You're nobody special.
01:19I'm special to someone out there. That's why they gave me this precious necklace, dummy.
01:23But suddenly, Brett lunged at me and pulled at the necklace, breaking the chain and sending the pendant flying across the floor.
01:30I stood frozen in shock, then fury took over and I pounced on him.
01:34Brett was rescued by some nuns soon enough, while Anna pulled me away to her room, where I sobbed over my broken necklace.
01:40I can't fix the chain, sweetie. But how about I put the pendant in this thread so you can still wear it?
01:45Anna, do you think I'm special?
01:47Everyone's special in their own way, Cass.
01:49That's just another way of saying no one is.
01:52Well, I guess it's true in my case. My parents wouldn't have left me here if I was special.
01:56Or maybe they loved you so much that they gave you up, because they wanted you to have a better life than the one they could give you.
02:03Also, you're special to me.
02:05Anna's words made me feel better, and something in my head shifted that day.
02:09If my parents wanted me to have a good life, I needed to get adopted by a nice family living in a nice house.
02:14They wouldn't want me spending my life here, but my attempts to get adopted didn't go well.
02:19Why does my head look like a jelly bean?
02:21And why do I look pregnant?
02:23I was wondering about your head, too. Maybe your brain is too small?
02:26And I thought you are pregnant! And wanted an older sister for your baby!
02:29I'm totally up for it!
02:30I guess I offended them, because they didn't adopt me.
02:34I tried to impress more couples visiting the orphanage.
02:36I cracked jokes, sang them songs, memorized a bunch of science facts so they'd think I was super smart.
02:41But every meeting ended the same way.
02:43They left, always choosing someone else.
02:46And eventually, I gave up on the idea of ever getting adopted.
02:50I wasn't gonna put myself through the pain of rejection again.
02:52Then one time when I was 15, I was reading in the common room, when I heard loud voices in the corridor.
02:58I stepped outside to see a new boy surrounded by a bunch of kids, including Brett.
03:02They'd taken his thick glasses and were passing them around and laughing.
03:06Then Brett threw them to the side, and the poor boy dropped to the floor, blindly searching for them.
03:11What is wrong with you guys? Leave him alone!
03:14Oh, chill out, loser!
03:16Unlike you, I'm getting adopted next week, so we're just having some fun before I go!
03:21Do you need a reminder of the time I made you scream for your life?
03:25Do your new parents want a bald son?
03:27Brett gave me the stink eye before he and the others left, and the boy turned to me with a grateful smile.
03:32He told me his name was Mateo.
03:34Mateo and I had tons in common.
03:36We both liked pickles and super spicy food and scary movies, and we were both misfits as kids.
03:42The only difference is that you don't let anyone bully you, and I can't stand up for myself.
03:47Yes, you can, because you have me by your side now.
03:49You don't have to do it alone.
03:51Mateo and I became best friends, and my life was just better with him around.
03:55Of course, I started including him in my hangouts with Ana, but I could just sense he didn't like her at all.
04:01Like this one time, I asked Mateo to play board games with me and Ana after dinner, and he flat out refused.
04:07I just don't like the way she keeps looking at me.
04:09She has a slight squint in her eye, dude.
04:11Man, I guess it's just her vibe.
04:13She's perfectly lovely.
04:17Just yesterday, I saw her screaming at some little kids for spilling juice on the floor.
04:21I mean, they're kids!
04:23And the other night, I woke up and was getting myself some water when I saw her sneaking out.
04:28It was 2 a.m.
04:29Trust me, there's something shady about that woman.
04:31It's her job to keep the floors clean, and those kids can be brats.
04:35And Ana is an adult.
04:37She doesn't have a curfew.
04:38Stop being so weird about her.
04:40But Mateo refused to hang out with Ana.
04:43And if she ever came to check up on me, Mateo would just leave.
04:46Of course, it didn't escape Ana's notice.
04:48I don't understand why Mateo feels so uncomfortable around me.
04:52He's just an introvert.
04:53Just give him time.
04:54He'll warm up to you.
04:55Are you sure?
04:56I don't want you losing the only friend you have because of me.
04:59Mateo had totally misunderstood Ana, and I was hoping I could knock some sense into him soon.
05:04But a few days later, I was summoned to the warden's office.
05:07I walked in and saw Mateo there with a young couple, and then he came running to me excitedly.
05:12She's the girl I've been telling you about.
05:14She's been so amazing to me since I came here.
05:16If you're looking to adopt someone, it should be her, not me.
05:20Mateo, what are you—
05:21But Mateo just shook me and went on singing my praises as the couple smiled,
05:26then turned to the warden and told her they wanted to adopt us both.
05:29I couldn't believe my ears.
05:31I was finally getting adopted, and Mateo was going to be my brother.
05:35Ana was thrilled for me, too.
05:37And we spent the whole week packing.
05:39But on the last day, I was told that I wasn't getting adopted.
05:43Only Mateo was.
05:44What? Why?
05:45They didn't give me a reason.
05:46But for now, you'll stay here.
05:48And Mateo, your new parents will pick you up soon so you guys can say your goodbyes.
05:52The warden walked away, and I broke down in tears.
05:55I don't understand.
05:56What changed?
05:57I know you don't want to hear it, but I think Ana is behind this.
06:01Mateo mentioned that a few days earlier,
06:03the couple's lawyer had come by the orphanage to drop some paperwork,
06:06and he had spotted Ana talking to him.
06:08She said something about you having bipolar disorder and being a troublemaker.
06:12What? You heard her say this exactly?
06:15Well, not exactly, but I'm good with lip-reading,
06:17and that's pretty much what she said.
06:19Are you kidding me, Mateo?
06:21Accusing Ana for no good reason?
06:23No, your parents probably just decided
06:26it wasn't worth the trouble to adopt two kids after all.
06:29Why don't we ask them?
06:30No, thank you.
06:31I don't need to be humiliated to my face.
06:33Are you sure you want to go with these people?
06:36What if they change their mind about you one day too, huh?
06:38I think you're wrong about them.
06:40You know what? Just leave.
06:42I can see you're dying to go,
06:43but don't ruin the one good thing I have in my life, and that's Ana.
06:47I stormed off before he could say more, tears pouring down my face.
06:51We didn't have a proper goodbye, and I didn't stay in touch.
06:54A couple of years went by,
06:56and I started a job at a local grocery store to save up money for the future.
07:00One day as I was heading out,
07:01I realized my uniform had a tear in the back.
07:03I went to Ana's room to ask for help,
07:05but she wasn't around.
07:06As I looked around for her sewing kit,
07:08my foot got caught in the carpet and I fell on my face.
07:11As I groaned, I suddenly spotted a large wooden box under her bed.
07:15My curiosity got the better of me, and I opened it.
07:18There were stacks of cash inside,
07:20but my hands trembled as I picked up a picture of Ana with a woman
07:24who looked a lot like me wearing my necklace.
07:27I went through the other documents in the box
07:29and saw my birth certificate
07:31along with letters from someone asking about how I was doing.
07:34It didn't make any sense.
07:35Ana had my birth certificate,
07:37so she knew exactly when I was born.
07:39And to whom?
07:40She actually knew my mother?
07:42And she'd lied to me about all this my entire life?
07:45I wanted to confront Ana immediately,
07:47but something stopped me.
07:49If she'd kept such a big secret,
07:50she would only lie to my face now.
07:52I took pictures of everything with my phone and quickly left her room.
07:55And later that night, I ran away from the orphanage.
07:58I messaged Mateo on Instagram saying it was an emergency,
08:01and thankfully, he agreed to meet me at a cafe.
08:04As he walked in, I instantly registered that he looked different.
08:07Hey, what's going on?
08:09I'm so sorry for not believing you, Mateo.
08:11You were right. Ana isn't who she seems.
08:14I told Mateo about everything I'd discovered.
08:17I just knew it!
08:18My parents confirmed that Ana had said things about you to their lawyer,
08:21but I didn't reach out to you again because I didn't think you'd listen.
08:25I wasn't ready to, but I do believe you now.
08:27I couldn't think of anyone else to go to,
08:30and I know you aren't happy to see me, but...
08:32Cassie, of course I am.
08:34You're my best friend, and you are not going back to that orphanage.
08:37Mateo took me to his mansion, which was beyond amazing.
08:41He had butlers and maids, a movie theater in his basement,
08:44three pools, a chef, and a masseuse.
08:46His parents were welcoming,
08:48and Mateo helped me hire a private investigator
08:50to follow up on the leads I'd found in Ana's room.
08:53He even lied for me when some police sent by the nuns showed up asking about me.
08:57With me, he was still great, but I could see he'd really changed.
09:01I couldn't ignore his pretentious wardrobe and his slicked-back gel hair,
09:05and he always seemed overeager to please his parents,
09:08thanking them for every little thing,
09:10basking in their praise over his good grades,
09:13and taking an interest in everything they liked.
09:15Dude, did you even know anything about the painting your parents just bought you
09:18you were praising so much?
09:20Looked pretty weird to me.
09:21Of course I know.
09:22I researched the artist and all his works,
09:24and it's not weird, it's genius.
09:27Takes a refined eye to appreciate art.
09:29His condescending comment annoyed me, but I brushed it off.
09:32The painting was ugly, period,
09:35and soon after, Mateo invited me to one of his school parties.
09:38He'd even picked out a dress for me, which looked expensive.
09:42He introduced me to his friends, each richer than the next.
09:45They all bragged about their money and their cars
09:48and made mean jokes about other kids in school.
09:51Then halfway through the party,
09:52a girl passing us by suddenly tripped,
09:54spilling her soda all over Mateo's shoes.
09:57Oh my god, are you blind?
09:58These are limited edition Nikes.
10:00I'm so sorry.
10:02Is your apology gonna replace my shoes?
10:05I would insist that you get me new ones, but I'll let you off the hook.
10:08Just because I know your dad's monthly salary wouldn't even cover it, am I right?
10:12As he and his friends laughed, something inside me snapped.
10:15Seriously?
10:16When did you become such a jerk?
10:18Have you forgotten your humble beginnings?
10:20Have you forgotten what it's like to be bullied?
10:22Mateo's face turned red as he tried to laugh it off,
10:24and he dragged me to the side.
10:26What do you think you're doing?
10:27Who have you turned into, man?
10:29It's just an act, Cass.
10:30That's how everyone in my circle talks and acts.
10:33Don't make a big deal out of nothing.
10:34And the least you can do is not embarrass me in front of my friends,
10:38especially after everything I'm doing for you.
10:40Wow, I don't even know what to say.
10:42Except that I'll be out of your hair very soon.
10:45And with that, I just walked out of the party.
10:47I was so angry, I kept walking without thinking.
10:50But after a while, I realized I had no idea where I was.
10:53While I was hopefully waiting for a cab to turn up,
10:56I suddenly heard something behind me.
10:57But the second I turned around,
10:59a masked figure grabbed me and put a damp cloth on my face.
11:02And as I was dragged into the van, I blacked out.
11:05When I finally came around, I found myself on a chair,
11:08and I was somewhere familiar.
11:10Then I realized it was the horse shed at the orphanage.
11:13And minutes later, Anna appeared in front of me.
11:16Anna?
11:16How did I get here?
11:17What's going on?
11:18Please, Cassie, you need to calm down.
11:20Calm down?
11:21You don't get to tell me that after lying to me my whole life.
11:25Tell me the truth about everything
11:26in that wooden box under your bed.
11:28Anna started crying and then revealed the whole truth to me.
11:31She told me how my parents were millionaires
11:33who had met a boating accident when I was just a baby.
11:36As their only daughter, I was the sole heir
11:39of their massive fortune, business, and properties,
11:41which I would have full control over when I turned 18.
11:44Your dad's younger brother was put in charge of you
11:47and your finances till you turned 18.
11:49And he would get a portion too, but he got greedy.
11:51He knew that in case something happened to you,
11:54the entire property would get transferred
11:56to the next of kin, which was him.
11:58That's why he asked me to move you to this orphanage
12:00on the other end of the country,
12:02then claimed you'd passed away due to some illness
12:04and faked the documents.
12:05And he's been paying me to look over you in the orphanage,
12:08making sure you didn't leave and start poking into your past.
12:11So caring about me was all an act?
12:14You were just doing it for money?
12:16And why do you have a picture with my mom?
12:18I do care about you, but I had to do it.
12:21My life is difficult.
12:22I've needed this money to take care of my own family.
12:25Also, I have that picture because your mom and I
12:28were friends a long time ago,
12:30but then we had a huge falling out.
12:32So you haven't just been a lousy friend to me,
12:34but also my mom?
12:35You're despicable.
12:37And I won't let you or my uncle get away with this.
12:39I can't let you go.
12:40If your uncle found out, he'd kill me.
12:42I tried running out of there,
12:43but Ana was too fast and strong for me.
12:46I'd almost given up biting her off when the door burst open
12:49and Mateo walked in with the police.
12:51Ana let go of me and tried to make a dash of it,
12:53but she was caught immediately and taken away.
12:55How did you even find me?
12:57When you left the party, I followed you soon after.
13:00I figured you wouldn't know the way back
13:01and I was looking for you when I saw you get kidnapped.
13:04I immediately called the police
13:06and told them the car's number and they tracked it down.
13:08That was quick thinking.
13:10Listen, Cass, I'm really sorry.
13:12I know I've been such a jerk lately.
13:14I think what you said in the orphanage really stuck with me.
13:17What if my parents changed my mind about me too?
13:21I've been so afraid of losing them in my new life
13:23that I've been trying a little too hard
13:25to fit into this new world,
13:27but I hardly recognize myself anymore.
13:29It takes courage to accept your mistakes
13:31and I'm glad you could do it.
13:33So friends again?
13:34Weren't we always?
13:35Oh, also, I won't be crashing at your place for too long.
13:38Apparently, I have an uncle to track down
13:41and a fortune to inherit.
13:42I turn 18 next week.
13:44Let's go home.
13:44I'll tell you all about it.
13:47♪♪