~~
Star
~~
When I opened the box filled with my mother''s belongings I didn''t know what to expect. I was surprised and saddened at first that all I found was jewelry. Don''t get me wrong. I was still happy to see the stuff that had once belonged to my mother. I found the pieces beautiful and stunning. But, selfishly, I wanted more.
When I moved the tray filled with jewelry to the side I saw a stack of folded letters and documents. There were also pictures and other things inside of it. And below all the letters, there was something that looked like a small book.
The first folded piece of paper that I pulled from the inner depths of the box was my birth certificate. It listed my mother''s name and the time and date I was born. It also listed a hospital in Colorado Springs, so Uncle Howard hadn''t lied about where I was from. It seems I was also born in the middle of the night while most people were asleep.
What it didn''t tell me was anything about my father. There was nothing at all about him. That was actually quite depressing.
After that I pulled out another folded paper. It was a letter that looked like it was a back and forth correspondence. It had two different people''s handwriting on it. It also looked like someone had rubbed flowers on the outside of the paper, or that it had been wrapped in one. There were pink, green, and yellow stains on it with faint traces of roses clinging to it.
My Dearest Aaron,
I miss you more that you
could ever know. I need to
see you. I need to be with
you. There is something I
need to tell you. It''s very
important.
With Love Vivian
Vivian My Darling,
I am not able to get away.
Things are hectic and crazy
right now. I do not believe
that the queen would let me
leave right now. I miss you.
With all my love,
Aaron
Aaron, My Love,
Why have you note to
see me? I need to tell you
something. This goes way
beyond my love for you. I
have important things that
you need to know.
Love Vivian
Vivian,
I am unable to leave the
Gloriana, the queen has not
allowed anyone to visit with
others outside at this time.
Yours Truly,
Aaron
Aaron,
I know that is simply not true.
I have seen you out and in
the citytely. You have been
with other women. I know that
you do not feel the same for
me that I feel for you, but that
is not what is important right
now. Please, I beg of you,
you what is so important.
Sincerely yours,
Vivian
Vivian,
I swear to you my love, I was
not out in the city nor have I
been with other women. You
are the only woman that I am
in love with. What could
possibly make you think such a
thing? I will do my best to
sneak away and see you
tomorrow.
See you soon,
Aaron
Aaron
I fear that I am running out of
time. It is not safe for me at
this time. I need you to know
what has been happening. I
have something to tell you
something to show you.
Please, Aaron, please I
need to see you. This is
truly important.
Eagerly waiting
Vivian
Vivian,
I am sorry. I can''t do this any
longer. I have been leading
you on. This has grown too
bothersome for me to deal
with any more. I am not in
love with you. I have never
been in love with you. This
is getting too much for me
to maintain. Please, stop
messaging me. I will no
longer be epting any of
your correspondence.
Goodbye,
Aaron
Aaron,
No, please do not do this.
Not yet. Please! I need to
tell you that you''re a father.
I have a baby, Aaron, I have
a daughter and she is yours.
Please, help me figure this
out. I feel like the baby and I
are in danger. Please, I need
you to help me with her.
Please respond,
Vivian
Aaron,
Please ept my letter. Please
allow it to go through. The flowers
have not appeared to take it back
to you. Please Aaron, please
help me.
Vivian
Aaron,
Someone has approached me.
Others know about the baby
and they are telling me that our
daughter will be executed. I
need to take her some ce
safe. I am going back to my
home. I am going back to
California. Pleasee to
see us there. Pleasee
and meet your daughter.
Vivian.
AARON,
I AM BACK HOME NOW AND
I AM STILL NOT SAFE. I THINK
THAT STAR IS SAFE BUT I AM
NOT. MY FAMILY WILL NOT
ACCEPT ME SINCE I HAD LEFT
THEM SO LONG AGO. MY UNCLE
IS ALLOWING SOMEONE ELSE
TO INFLUENCE HIM AND MY
GREAT GRANDFATHER CAN''T
PROTECT ME. I NEED YOU. I
NEED HELP AND I DON''T KNOW
WHO ELSE TO TURN TO.
PLEASE AARON, PLEASE HELP
ME. I FEAR I MIGHT BE DEAD
SOON IF YOU DO NOT HELP
ME.
With Love,
Vivian
It was heartbreaking to read those messages. It was clear that my mother loved my father but he simply didn''t care. He probably thought being with her was a game. I could not believe what I had read even though it was in my hand as solid proof. What must my mother have felt when she was waiting for him? What must she have gone through?
I felt the tears that I had been holding back. They had started to stream silently down my cheeks now. I could feel the desperation and the heartache that my mother must have felt. It was almost like I could feel her presence inside of me and it was feeling the emotions for me.
"Star, why are you crying?" Bailey looked worried by the turn in my emotions.
I handed him the letter that had been written by my mother and father so many years ago. He held it in front of him so that Reed and great great grandfather Daniel could read it as well. I had guessed that Artem had most likely read the letter over my shoulder and so while the others saw what had made me so upset, Artem wrapped his arms around me tofort me and to sooth my broken heart.
"There is no reason to worry, Star. You''re crying because you are so empathetic. You can feel the pain and sorrow that your mother felt, right?" He seemed to know what was happening to me so I just nodded my head. "You feel the emotions of others, not just your own. I imagine it is quite confusing, especially considering you areing to terms with so much. Don''t feel bad, this just means that you are an extra special, extra caring person. You are amazing, my love, and I will be with you every step of the way."
"Thank you, Artem." I wrapped my hands around his arms and turned to look at him. When I could see his face I kissed him gently on the lips, just a soft peck that told him how much I loved and appreciated him at the moment.
Right about then the three men sitting in front of me had finished reading the letters that my mother and father had exchanged and then her attempts to reach him after he had cut her off. I could see the looks of anger and sorrow warring for dominance of Reed and Bailey''s faces, and I saw that great great grandfather Daniel was saddened by what he read.
"Star, I fear that it was that evil man, Howard, who had convinced your mother that you were in danger." Great great grandfather Daniel looked saddened by this revtion.
"But great great grandfather Daniel, how can you be so certain?" Heughed for a moment despite the situation.
Now, isn''t that a mouthful? You can feel free to just shorten that to grandfather or grandpa. I don''t need to be reminded how old I truly am." I grinned even though I was still sad, I couldn''t help it.
"OK Grandpa."
"That''s much better." He smiled at me as well. "Now, when Vivian came back she told me that someone had told her they knew about you, and what you were. I don''t think the pack would have been that opposed to you, but I am not sure. Still, someone was always threatening her. She said an ally told her toe home, but just days after she did Howard showed up and took over the pack. I believe he tricked her intoing here because he knew of this pack''s dark history."
"Why? Why would he do that? Why did he insist on ruining my life from the beginning?" I was crying harder now, nearly sobbing as I thought about how different my life would have been without Uncle Howard in it.
Then, I thought about how if I hadn''te back here with my mother I never would have met Artem. Why was this a situation where I lost something no matter which way it went? Was I just meant to suffer one way or the other?