I was seven when both my parents died tragically. Together. It was my birthday.

They had both ran to the neighbor’s house to grab the cake mom had baked. It was supposed to be a surprise.

Holding hands, they crossed the street while happily gazing at mom’s beautiful handiwork. Their last image on earth was that cake – or maybe each other?

The driver claimed he never saw them. They obviously didn’t see him either. No matter. I believe they died happy.

My sister and I were waiting at home when they told us. She was 4 and didn’t really understand what just happened. Can’t say I did either.

They placed us in foster care. Separately. I tried to find out what happened with her but the people felt it best we go our own way. We had no other family.

I bounced around for a few years until an elderly white family adopted me. They were kind but rather stern. And unwavering in their devotion to the great book. They loved Jesus, and I believe they loved me too. In their own special way.

When I was eighteen my foster dad had a massive heart attack and died. 2 days later my foster mom followed him to heaven. God bless.

I decided to try and find my sister. A kind woman at DCS tracked her down. She was 15 and living in a shelter of sorts. She was distant, angry, and sadly a victim of sexual abuse from multiple foster parents. She felt abandoned. By my parents, by me, and certainly by the system. I was meaningless to her. I think I understand. Maybe not

No one can predict or determine their fate. You can’t choose your family, your religion, your ethnicity, or color of your skin. You wake up one day and you recognize you are living. You are human. You are mortal. You exist. But there’s more. And not all that good.

Some get more breaks than others. Some suffer more. You can’t choose who you are, but others certainly choose how to treat you based on circumstances beyond anything you could control. Why are some deemed better than others? Or more deserving? By sex, by color, by creed. Even social standing.  Is it random or predetermined? Still not sure.

In the end it’s perhaps the luck of the draw. Some are simply dealt a better hand. Not sure why but I’m confident I’ll survive. But fortune and happiness may not be in the cards.