Epilogue
Epilogue

From the Diary of Marisa Stratford:

The fall season has arrived as expected. I can still sense that cold wind that stings at my nose when I go out to rake the fallen leaves. Raphael and I are very happy together. We both got a one bedroom apartment in Northampton, thanks to his friends, April and Casey for help putting a down payment on the rent. I'd be pretty much lost without them. We see their daughter, Shadow, every so often since her school is close by to us and sometimes she likes to come and visit. Provided she's not interrupting anything!

Michaelangelo is doing well. Samantha went back to New York to finish her schooling at Julliard where they surprisingly hired her back after her many months of being absent. The reason for leaving on the fill-out sheet.....well, she decided to leave that blank. Telling them witchcraft, becoming a monster, and fighting to the death with one of the Devil's worshipers in Hades would not be a good reason in my opinion. Currently, she and him are touring the world on a musical song and dance concert. I just hope to get free tickets when they come to our small community theater! The family would be most gracious of that.

Leonardo. My heart still goes out to his broken one. After the death of Jenny, his world shattered. He finally discovered someone whom loved him for who he was, not what he was. Somehow, I felt responsible for Jenny dying. I felt if I reacted faster and spent less time worrying about myself, her life could have been spared. Sam blames herself on not getting that spell book in her grasp the night we had to hustle from that burning building. She put the magic wand away for now, leaving her career to soar at great heights. With Leonardo, he decided to leave for Japan to be with his sensei, Splinter, someone I've been dying to meet since I first heard about him. Raphael tells me stories to make me laugh, cry and think. How I would have loved to have a father like that. Last we heard from Leo, he was doing very well. My little match making deal worked for him. Laurie Morrison, a pest in my eyes but a godsend to a lonely turtle, has entered his life and has made a permanent stay. I alerted her of his departure out the country and sent her after him. Although related to a girl he loved, Laurie has shown her kindness and sincerity to someone that's not human. She reached out to him when he fell into that pit of despair at the loss of Jenny. When I think of someone like that in his life, I can only reply with a smile to my lips. These turtles needed to be loved. And loved they shall be.

Donatello. What can I say about the quiet one? My relationship with Don really sparked when he was a large help with Sam and I. According to the blood samples, it was true Sam and I were slowly, as the word he used, 'metamorphosing' into those beastly creatures. In a matter of weeks, our bodies would have altered, putting everyone else's lives in danger. Donatello had the health book with him and was able to get a full blood transfusion on the both of us to drain the bad blood with healthy blood. Casey and April were a big help, remarkably having the same blood type as Sam and I. We traveled to a crazy 24-hour clinic where the doctors were skeptical on our reasons for doing the procedure. After much consideration, the task was done, and Sam and I were freed from the spell. As far as I know, nothing has changed on us. We are doing well since then. I was glad to send Leo a companion for his trip to Japan but was saddened to learn of Don's story. Hearing his friend being alive, Donatello left Northampton in search of a little girl named Emiko. The child was placed in a foster home for the time being, after discovering her grandfather died of a heart-attack and her grandmother, unable to take care of herself, was placed in a nursing home. Donatello has written, saying he's enjoyed the many sites of Florida but has still not found the foster home where Emiko was placed. For all he knows, the child has given up on him already. I wouldn't doubt that just yet. From her description, she was seeking a family to love her. I know in my heart that Donatello would make a wonderful teacher. And father.

And what of the police department? Reports came back that about 32 people died that night. 32! It saddened me to think that so many lives could have been saved if they only knew the true secrets hidden within the walls. I later found out a friend of Sam's died as well. Someone named Craig Jones whom ironically was a cousin to April's husband, Casey. Casey's reaction was no more than the word, "Bummer!" but as a family member, we went to attend the memorial service of Craig's and the other people who perished in the flames. Casey was upset, I could tell. He hid it well but I knew he was hurting inside. I guess the apple doesn't fall far from the tree after all.

The reports finally died down about the place being haunted and soon it became a fragment in history. I hear they're building a hotel where the place once stood that's said to have 13 floors. Whenever my plans are to visit the city, I think I'll choose the Waldorf Historia. There's always room for one more.

As I write this, I think about the many things that could have happened in my life. It all would have ended that one night when I died of a fatal laser wound in my chest. I was restored to start over and here I am with the turtle I love, coming to this paragraph with a close. It's after six. Time to go make dinner.

The End

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