It's my birthday! And to celebrate, I'm updating Who I Am. I'm also dedicating this chapter to my pop-pop who sadly passed away on my birthday. Pop-Pop, you hmay have never heard of Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles, and you've already lost your mind befoire I developed my writing skills, but we had plenty of fun times together so this is for you. Rest in peace.

Thank to NITRO PSYCHO for beta reading

Disclaimer: I don't own Ninja Turtles

The next day was a Sunday, and I had just gotten Nestor's letter. I took it to my room and flopped on my bed. I opened the envelope. It read:

Dear Mikey,

I understand you feel frustrated. That's normal, and it can take awhile for amnesiacs to recover. Sometimes they don't recover at all. I sincerely hope that doesn't happen to you. You deserve to have your memories back. But other than that, be patient. It will come to you. Sometimes just being around familiar settings, people, or objects speeds up the healing process. Other times it just comes with time. And if it doesn't happen, even without your memories, you will figure out and define your personality and interests again. You'll just have to rediscover them, and it seems like you're already doing that.

It seems like you're having a good time at school, and you even made some new friends. That sounds great! By doing things that interest you such as running, drawing, writing, reading comic books, and watching your favorite movies, you will develop your own personality, and perhaps learn a little about yourself in the process just by doing what you love. Maybe you can share these things with your new friends. I would love to read a comic book that you created. I had a love of comics growing up. I often read The Adventures of Batman and Robin in the Sunday paper when I was a kid. I still get a kick out of them even in my old age. Anyway, take care.

Your friend,

Nestor

P.S. My e-mail address is .com

I smiled. I love hearing from Nestor, and now that he and I have e-mail addresses, we can write to each other faster. I grabbed my laptop (John had a friend who gave it to him for some reason, and John decided to gave the laptop to me) and logged on. I was about to pull up the Internet when I heard Nora call.

"Mikey!"

I got up and opened the door. "Yeah?"

"Can you come down for a sec?"

"Sure!"

I wonder what she wants, I thought as I climbed the stairs, I hope I'm not being shipped to some other foster home. I find Nora in the kitchen with John. They were sitting together not casually, but like they both wanted to have a serious discussion with me. This can't be good. Oh crud! What if I really am being sent off to another foster home? I don't want to leave here. I really like living with John and Nora and going to Union High School and being with all my friends and doing the things I love.

"What's up?" I casually ask. Calm down. Calm down. Just breathe.

"We wanted to talk to you," Nora said. Her tone was normal but serious.

I took a seat and tried to stay calm. "About what?"

"Well, you've been here since July, and John and I have grown very fond of you, and since you have no relatives we were thinking about if we adopted you as our son," Nora explained.

Before I could say anything, John cut in, "But this is your choice, Michelangelo. If you don't want to, then you don't have to. You won't hurt our feelings if you say no, and if you do, we'll still take good care of you."

I was speechless. Never once did I ever think Nora and John would love me enough to adopt me. I always imagined that I have some kind of family in New York City, but what visions I receive – no matter how blurry and fuzzy – always appear to have only one person in it. A few times there was someone else – one person per vision – but they appeared so little that I figured they must be friends or acquaintances. I'm starting to doubt that I have a family, but here are two people who had the kindness in their hearts to take me in – a gangster and total stranger living on the streets – and give me food, water, and shelter and take an active part in my life – spending time with me, watching all my races, teaching me how to drive, ect. Then I remember Nora giving me a kiss on the head, and she and John saying "That's my boy" or some variation of it and "I'm so proud of you, son" and the feeling of self-pride whenever I hear that and the feeling compared to the feeling that no one has ever felt this pride in my accomplishments in my own interests. I feel tears of joy in my eyes. I realize that I love these people as if they were my own biological parents. I look up at them.

"I would love that, Mom, Dad."

They get up and hug me, and we stay like that for about an hour or so, feeling the love of a true, newly formed family. No one said a word but all was said. Later, I rush up to my room, pull up Internet explorer and log onto my e-mail account. I type up:

Dear Nestor,

It doesn't matter if I never do find my family (although I have doubts that I do have one) or never find my memories, because I have a family and in a way, I know who I am now. Nora and John decided to adopt me. They said it was my choice, and I said yes! They love me as their own son the minute I arrived at their house, and I grew to love them as parents. I couldn't ask for better parents than them.

As for knowing my identity, spending time with friends and sharing my interests with people has helped me shape who I am. Just but hanging out with Rex, Holly Vicky, Dwayne, Mark, and Rory I began to develop my highly social and talkative aspect of my personality, and just by spending time with John I grew to love comics and movies and became a kid at heart. Just by practicing with my teammates I discovered how fast and how strong I really was. And just by learning from Mr. Freedman and Ms. Darby, I developed my highly artistic and creative side. I'm a fun-loving, kid at heart, highly social kid who loves to express himself and not give a damn what others think, and I do this by either by drawing, writing, or willingly do the Macarena on the cafeteria table as a dare (I'll explain some other time) and enjoy it because it makes others laugh, and I love making people laugh. Plus, I'm the center of attention, and I have a good time dancing to a nineties song. I love pop culture, skateboarding, drawing, writing, animals, and eating pizza, and I have a thing for rescuing every stray cat or dog I come in contact with, especially cat. I just get high on life. And I love it! If I never get my memories back (I still hope I do), it won't be too big of a loss because I know who I am, and if I do end up having a family and I never see them again (I hope I do), it's not that big of a loss because I got two great parents whom I love so much! Thanks for helping me out, Nestor! Reply soon!

You're awesome friend,

Mikey

I hit "send" and then lounge back with my feet on my desk. I got great friends, two loving parents, and an identity. Life is great!

Next up the Hamato family!