htmlLenore had just finished taking out leftovers from the fridge and making it look like it was not leftovers and had been sitting there getting cold when her mother drove up.  She opened the door and greeted Elena and Andy, her older brother.  When they steeped up next to her, it was evident how much taller she was.  Her mother stood about six inches shorter than her and her brother five, even if he was older.   Lenore took her usual place looking out the window, while Elena sat across from her and Andy sat to the right.

"How was your day at school?" Her mother looked flustered.

"I didn't have school today, remember?" Lenore, if possible, looked even more uncomfortable.  It was always the same: She would say that school went fine, even if it didn't, or on days when she was out of school, she would remind her mother of this.  Then, they would continue eating in silence except for some small talk between Elena and her son.  Tension would remain in the air until Lenore excused herself.

Tonight was no exemption; she could almost hear her mother's sigh of relief as she headed up the stairs. Hot tears began to run down her face as she ran up to her room.  Why didn't she fit in?  Why couldn't she talk to Elena as Andy did? Even now she could hear their laughter.  

She flung herself on her bed, seeking the refuge of sleep.

Once again, she woke up with a gasp.  She had gotten closer this time, closer to whatever it was she searched for in her dreams.  It was still dark outside and she could only hope that it wasn't too early.  When she looked at her clock it was flashing 0:00.  It figured.  She got up groggily to go check the clock at the end of the hall.  Suddenly, Lenore got the urge to check in the old family albums for clues to her father.  There had to be ione/i picture of her father; it didn't make sense for there not to be.  

She waved her hand back in forth in the air to keep the dust that had begun to fall when she opened the trap door to the attic away from her face.  She climbed slowly up the latter.  When she reached the top she turned on the light. 

At this point she was glad that Andy and Elena were such sound sleepers.  They wouldn't notice all the noise.  She glanced around the room until she saw a box she had never seen before.  Curious, she went towards it and slowly lifted the lid.  Inside she found pictures of a woman, definitely not her mother, but obviously related. 

iThat's strange… Elena's never mentioned a sister…/i - she thought.

Inquisitive, she continued to dig through the box. She found more pictures (some of the strange woman and Elena) and some old letters.  She didn't read more than a couple, not wanting to be too impolite.  None of them really gave her any clues – they weren't even signed, but Lenore felt sure that they had to be from Her. Soon she reached the bottom of the box, and all that was left was a small envelope.  She opened it, and inside laid a small ring.  It was hematite with small bits of marcasite around it in equal intervals.  She was about to put it back, but she stopped… Elena probably didn't even know it was there… No, she told herself firmly, she should put it back.  Her hand moved towards the envelope again but than drew back.  She shoved it into her pocket. /html