Free Lucky Penny by L A Cotton

knowing that most of the kids passing through the program were leaving with a few more allies in their corner and a whole heap of memories no one could ever take from them.
    “Okay, guys, five minutes to say your final goodbyes and then it’s time.” Marissa wrapped her arm around me, and I bristled.
    I couldn’t help it.
    She knew I didn’t feel comfortable when someone touched me, but she had been pushing my boundaries lately. Although she still hadn’t come right out and asked why I opposed touch, it was as if she was trying to use shock therapy to cure me.
    “Hmm, Penny, can I talk to you in, hmm, in private?” Erica stood awkwardly looking down at her feet.
    I ducked out of Marissa’s hold, instantly feeling myself relax. “Of course, you can.”
    Marissa gave us some space, and I motioned to the bench off to the side. Once seated, I turned to Erica and waited.
    “I just wanted to say sorry for giving you a hard time. I know you’ve only been trying to help me, and I’ve been a total bitch, and now, it’s time to go back, and I don’t want to leave.”
    Erica’s eyes filled with tears, and I swallowed hard. Anguish etched into her face. Inside of her. This was a teenage girl who was confused and scared and alone, and I related to that more than she would ever know.
    Clearing my throat, I said, “It has been my pleasure getting to know you, Erica. You are smart and determined, even if it is determined to do the opposite of everyone else.”
    At that, Erica laughed.
    "Living in foster care isn’t easy. I know that better than anyone does, but it doesn’t have to define you. Figure out what you want in life and go for it. Remember, a lifetime of possibilities."
    Erica nodded, even managing a small smile. “Thank you.” She rose from the bench. But before she walked away, she turned back and said, “My foster family… they’re not bad people. They just don’t get me. I just thought you should know that.”
    I swiped the tears from my eyes as I watched her leave. When I looked back over the sea of people, I found Blake watching me with sadness in his eyes.
    It was as if he knew. Knew what had just passed between Erica and me.
    Somehow, he always knew.

    “Two down, three more to go. Good job, guys. Keep up the hard work. Enjoy your downtime.” Troy applauded the circle and left us to go in search of Tina, who hadn’t made it to the debrief this time.
    I pulled my hoodie tighter around my body. Although the sun kept the days warm, evenings were starting to cool down already, and I noticed no one seemed as eager to skinny dip in the lake tonight.
    “How are you feeling?” Marissa asked me as she edged closer to the fire to toast a marshmallow.
    “Okay, I guess. I was sad to see them leave.”
    “Yeah, it doesn’t get any easier. Some groups are harder to let go of, but tomorrow is a new day and a new set of teenage attitude.”
    Sheridan was sitting next to us, and she muttered something that sounded a lot like an amen to that, but neither Marissa nor I asked her to repeat it.
    “Okay, since Troy isn’t here to kick us off with a song, I don’t mind stepping in.” Blake stood up, retrieved Troy’s guitar, and slipped the strap over his neck. His fingers plucked at the strings a couple of times as if he was getting reacquainted with the feel of them, and then he sat back down on the overturned log.
    Everyone watched him like it was a completely normal occurrence, even the new counselors. But to me, it was just another thing to add to the growing list of things I didn’t know about Blake Weston.
    “I wrote this song a while back.”
    Blake could play. His fingers worked the strings with ease, blending together to create a soft melody, but it wasn’t his guitar skills that had me in awe. It was his voice. Deep and gravelly, his sound filled the space around us until I was lost in his words.
    I’ve never been one to say how I feel
    Talk comes cheap and I wanted it to be real
    A touch of our