Aurelia Vale: New Beginnings

Aurelia learned early that feeling was easy. Tapping into others’ memories, however, was the thing that required permission.

Emotions existed long before they could even think, but she was born into a world full of emotions that could be used as vessels of power to harm or heal others. In her mother’s case, this was something she thought only she was capable of. But there was more to the story. There was so much for her to learn and so much chaos in the world ahead.

This is her story, the story of Aurelia.

She felt the morning light spill through the windows of the rental house. It was refreshing to look out when it was sunny like this. It reminded her of her garden back home, and she was always in touch with plants of all kinds.

It wasn’t long before she could smell the scent of coffee coming from the halls and making its way into her room. She could hear Clara laughing alongside Audrey, and with the way she read emotion, it came in waves, like she could sense something hit her but nothing was there.

She went out and just peeked in on the conversation, still learning many things with the ability she got from her mom, Clara. She’d do this as many times as it took her to understand.

She always loved seeing her moms like this, unguarded, ordinary, and choosing each other. When Clara glanced her way and asked what she was thinking, she smiled and shrugged, the answer slipping into silence where it was most comfortable.

She went toward the backyard door, and just from the glance, this town was wide awake early in the morning. People were passing by in small groups, some walking dogs, riding bikes, and speaking softly to each other. She felt their emotions like you’d feel heat from the sun, distant, ambient, and just impossible to ignore. Thanks, Mom.

Though she never touched their emotions. It was both disrespectful and invasive of people’s privacy. But when they stepped outside, the door clicking shut behind them, and she fully saw them, she felt the same waves hit her.

She glanced down the boardwalk, just looking at people’s faces, feeling it hit her. It was pure joy, but for others it was anxiety, unrelenting depression, or anger. She tried to avoid them; it affected her as a people person to see people like that. Everyone should be living in harmony, but in this world it was chaotic.

Then she smelled bacon, and when she tell you she ran to the kitchen immediately, she did. Audrey makes the best breakfast, and Clara, well, loves when she makes it more than she does. She was self-conscious at times. It was hard to miss.

She sat right at the table and patiently waited. Clara would sense her immediately; they could always tell each other where they were at all times. Her eyes darted right toward her as she leaned on the kitchen doorframe.

“It’s lovely to see you always rush for breakfast, Aury,” she smirked, and she felt it. It was like euphoria. Seeing emotion this way was the reason she was always so energetic.

She smiled wide, and it only made Clara happier. Her moms always raised her to be as happy as she could be, especially Audrey. Anytime she ever had a question, Audrey was always there to help her. They were like twins. They loved the same things and did the same things, and Clara always watched over her.

Audrey grabbed a few plates and walked out of the kitchen. Her eyes widened as she saw her sitting patiently. She settled the plates on the table and immediately sat beside her.

Clara wouldn’t let go of her smile. Even when Aurelia was born, she was always excited to see her or see her and Audrey bonding. It was even more special when Clara and Aurelia bonded. It was something you couldn’t misplace.

Clara sat on the other side of them, letting the atmosphere settle in before she began talking.

“Aurelia,” she said, taking a few sips from her coffee cup and placing it down. “It makes me so happy to see you handling your emotions well.” Audrey turned her focus toward her, nodding in agreement.

“If our daughter got into the same messes you got into, I’d flip this entire table, Clara.” She tried to act serious, but her laugh broke her bravado.

She laughed alongside her as Clara joined in. “If she did, I would also flip this table, Audrey.”

She leaned back in her chair, letting their laughter wash over her without needing to reach for it. It was always tempting, but she didn’t need to touch emotions to know what they meant. Love had a texture she grew up with. It didn’t need proof.

Clara reached for her hand across the table, careful, like she was asking her permission for that. She always did now. She squeezed back, letting Clara know she didn’t have to be afraid of her, not like that.

“I’m just watching,” she said. “Learning.”

Her smile softened. That look, the look of pride and worry equally, was only something she wore. Audrey noticed it too, she always did.

“You don’t have to rush,” Audrey said, placing her hand on her shoulder. “You don’t have a set date to find yourself.”

She nodded, even though she saw the news, seeing everything unravel around them. It felt like the world was running without her. Every unexplored emotion, every pain people felt, all of it felt like unresolved storms that never quite settled.

After breakfast, they all went outside together. She felt the cold air brush against her hair, and it made her feel alive. She walked a step behind them, not because she was left out, but because she liked seeing them like this. Hands holding, steps in sync, Clara being able to breathe after years of being tormented.

That was when it happened again.

She felt aware, too aware. The sense of being seen without knowing where. She slowed, her gaze lifting instinctively toward the line of buildings beside her, the gaps between people, trying to notice anything unfamiliar.

Nothing.

No traces to follow. Just that she was certain someone was there watching from a distance, not leaving a single mark to expose themselves.

She told herself it was nothing. It could have been her nerves or a side effect of trying not to reach out and instead just feel things.

When she caught up to her moms, she stayed closer than before because somewhere behind them, the feeling lingered. It wasn’t a bad feeling, but it was unusual.

She always felt this feeling even while growing up, the same person, always unclear, just watching from a distance. She had a few notes that Clara said were nothing to worry about, and her aunt Maeve was always smiling without telling. That’s when Clara knew it could have been Maeve, but it wasn’t like her to skip town events to watch her.

Clara turned to notice her eyes wandering to the sides, and it caught her curiosity.

“Are you feeling alright, Aury?” she asked gently, as if she was trying not to make her feel bad.

She nodded. “It’s nothing, just the same feelings I talked to you about before.”

Clara looked at Audrey, her eyebrows furrowed, but she didn’t press unless the threat got close enough.

Audrey lifted a brow, stopping by the bench, and looked at Clara confused.

“You said Maeve is hosting a town event right now, right?”

Clara nodded, her eyes slightly widening, and her emotions hit her. She was lost, but she couldn’t do anything about it. She quit tampering with emotions long ago. It always bugged her, but she wanted to set an example.

“She is hosting a town event. It was months in advance too. Let’s not worry, though. The notes Aury did get were helpful,” she admitted, looking at the other families holding hands. “This person, whoever it is, helped Aury on multiple occasions. It’s like a split copy of me, of who I used to be.”

She hugged her to try and ease the feelings. It was something she always did when she was feeling down. Somehow it always made Clara happier. Maybe she was her own superpower. She wouldn’t be remotely surprised.

Audrey nodded, holding her hand again. “It’s okay, love. It does worry me at times, especially with how popular our band is now.”

Clara grinned. “Yeah, Jade is doing an amazing job too. I wish we got her on the band way sooner.”

She held out the heart pendant that Jade gave to her. The metal was warm against her palm. It always felt like that. It remembered every laugh, every rehearsal she was taken to, and every moment Jade crouched down to her level and treated her like she mattered long before the world knew her name.

“It reminds me of when she used to sneak me extra time on stage,” she said softly. “Before your band became such a huge brand.”

Clara’s expression softened. She reached out, gently grabbing the pendant and feeling the same warmth she felt before giving it back to her. She didn’t read into it. She trusted what it meant without proof.

“Jade’s always been good at seeing people,” she said. “That’s why I trust her. It’s why Nora trusts her.”

Audrey squeezed her hand again, grounding them both in the moment. Around them, families were all around, laughing, smiling, and enjoying the moments together. For a moment, she let herself believe that was all there was: music, sunlight, good moments.

But the feeling came back.

It was recognition.

She didn’t turn around this time. She didn’t look around or scan faces. Whoever it was didn’t want to be found, only known. Somehow, it felt worse.

The pendant pulsed faintly against her skin, reassuring. She closed her fingers around it and just held on.

Whatever was watching them wasn’t here to take. It was only here to help guide her. As she continued down the boardwalk with her moms, she understood something she hadn’t before.

Some guardians never step into the light, not because they’re hiding, but because the dark is where they thrived and learned to survive. Somewhere deep within the dark alleys and shadows that hold this person, they never stopped, only continued.

She took one final glance back, seeing a shadow make a heart with their hands before it faded away. It was warmth, and it spread all throughout her as they walked to the boardwalk restaurant.