Chapter One
Finally eighteen, but I can’t say I expected the morning of my eighteen birthday to go like this.
“Come on, Reia. Your flight is at noon. Make sure you’re packing all the essentials. Don’t worry about anything else.” My aunt scolds as she stands in the doorway with her arms crossed over her chest. “You don’t need to pack books or your trophies.” She adds with a roll of her eyes.
“But Aunt Adriana, these are the essentials.” I quip back with a playful smile.
She shakes her head at me but shakes her head. “Silly girl.” Her tone sweet and her accent starting to come through just little bit. Her accent has faded more ad more over the years, but sometimes when she speaks it still comes through a little bit.
I find it warm, comforting, and familiar. It reminds me of my mother. Even ten years after her death, I cannot forget her voice and that rich accent she kept or the way she would sing various songs in languages like Spanish and Portuguese. My mother and aunt grew up in Brazil, moving to the United States when they were teenagers where they would later get their citizenship. I still cling to the lingering yet hazy memories of my mother as well as the stories of her childhood that my aunt has told me over the years.
My aunt has been like a second mother to me, raising me since the age of eight. It feels bitter leaving now. Even if it’s only for the summer. “Can’t I just stay here with you?” I mutter as I throw an assortment of clothes into my suitcase.
Her expression changes. Her face stern, yet the look of sadness and understanding can be found in her golden-brown eyes. “As much as I would love for that, you know it’s time for you to spread your wings a bit. Besides, your dad is excited to see you.”
I cannot help by scoff at her words. “You mean the man who abandoned me and only sends cards and calls three times a year?”
My dad, excited to see me? Yeah, right.
The last time I saw that man was when he dropped me off at the airport four months after my mom had died. He waved and smiled as I cried my eyes out, begging to stay. Aunt Adriana has to comfort me as we got onto the plane so she could take me to live with her in Ohio.
I haven’t seen that man since that day. Never visited. Didn’t even attend my high school graduation a week ago. Just sent me a card in the mail with money in it. That was his thing. Sending me money every important day or event. Money that I kept tucked away secretly, never daring to spend it because it felt cheap and brought out feelings fueled in anger.
“Sereia Juliana Alden.” I flinch as my aunt says my full name. “Your dad did not abandon you. He just... he just needed time to process everything.”
“Yeah, ten whole years.” I deadpan
She breathes out a heavy sigh “Sereia, I know you don’t understand it. Even I can’t quite understand it, but he had his reasons. It wasn’t an easy decision, but he did what he thought was best for you.”
I mutter out, “Funny, because it doesn’t feel like that at all.”
“Listen, Francisca loved your father with all of her being. Every bit of it. She would not want you to reset him like this. Just keep an open mind.” Aunt Adriana’s voice is firm but not harsh.
She walks over to me and ruffles the top of my hair. “It’s only for the summer. You’ll always have a home here. You’re free to call or message me at any time. If for some reason there’s any trouble I’ll come personally myself to get you. You understand? I don’t think that will happen though. I just know you’ll have fun, kiddo.” She says, again her accent coming out as she speaks in a soft murmur.
I feel myself start to waver a bit. I do not want to go. I really don’t, but maybe just maybe Aunt Adriana is right. At the very least this is a chance for me to get a glimpse of this place my mother supposed loved so much.
After all, even though I lived there until I was eight, most my memories of the place itself are a blur. I mostly just remember the day I left o the plane with my aunt and of course I also remember things about my mother. Her smile. Her voice. Her beauty. Her kindness. Her death...
I feel tears well up in my eyes, but I fight to keep them from falling.
“Finish packing, then we’ll go get something to eat before heading to the airport.” My aunt says before exiting the room.
My stomach is a ball of nerves now that I stand at the airport with my carry-on in hand. Is it too late to change my mind?
My aunt grabs my hand and gives it a gentle squeeze as if she ca sense my doubts. “You’ll be fine.” She assures me. She then lets go of my hand before reaching to rummage for something in her purse.
She pulls out what appears to be a box about the size do her hand. It’s wrapped in teal colored tissue paper. She hands it to me while saying, “Open this when you’re on the plane.”
She then pulls me in for a big hug. “Happy Birthday, Reia. I love you so much. Have fun, kiddo.”
As she pulls away, I hear my boarding number being called.
Not long later I sit on the plane waiting for takeoff. I shift the box my aunt gave me from hand to hand. I want to open it, but at the same time I don’t.
After hesitating for a moment more, I finally peel off the tissue paper. The box underneath is plain white with a lid that’s taped shut. I carefully remove the tap and open the lip. More teal tissue paper but in layers. I remove the first layer to see a folder piece of paper.
“My Sereia,
Happy eighteenth birthday. I’ve been saving this for the right time to give to you. It was your mother’s. She loved you dearly and would be proud of the woman you have become. I know I am.
Love,
Aunt Adriana <3"
As I read the note, the tears I had been holding back all morning begin to fall. I been the damp warmness as it leaves trails down my cheeks. I wipe my face with my back of my hand before peeling back the final layer of tissue paper.
My heart stops in my chest as I see it.
A whale tail pendent made out of shell hanging on a black cord. I pick it up, bringing it close to my face as I search for something.
Right on the right under side carved in are the initials ”F M".
My mother’s necklace. The first necklace she got after she arrived in the United States when she was my age. I remember as a child how much I loved this necklace. I would always reach out to touch it. Fascinated by it.
I pull it over my head and adjust it using the corded knot in the back, so it rests just below my collar bone.
As the plane takes off my fingers skim over the smooth whale tail shaped shell over and over again.
