CHAPTER THREE
Tara took a day off. She spent the day with Crystal. She showed her the town, and they went to the Central Park trying to find the place where Crystal came from.
"Maybe you can see it only at night?" Tara asked.
"I don't know. What if I'm locked here forever? I would die!"
"No you won't." Tara put her arm around Crystal's shoulder. "We will find that place. I promise."
Crystal smiled to her. "You are a good person Tara. You're helping me without even knowing who I am."
"I know who you are. A fairy named Crystal, who needs my help to get home. What else should I know?" they sat under a tree in the park. "My parents always taught me to be honest with myself. If I see someone who needs help, I should help him with all that I can. If I can't help him, I should at least give him a hint about who would be able to help."
"That's so nice of you. And speaking of your parents. I want to tell you something."
"Sure, go ahead."
"Remember last night when I told you that I felt that you weren't living with your parents?"
"Yes. And you said that you're confused."
"Well, fairy's have the ability to recognize family members. And I don't think that those are you real parents."
Tara looked at her in a shock. "Crystal, how could you say something like that?"
"Tara, believe me, I don't mean any harm. I'm just saying what I felt yesterday. Why don't you ask them? I'll be more than happy to know that I'm wrong."
"OK. Let's go. We can get back here at night to find your way home."
"Alright."
The two girls went back to the apartment. Tara's parents were home. Her mother was preparing lunch for them. Of course they couldn't see Crystal, as she was invisible to them.
"Mom, dad I'm home!" Tara said as she entered. She closed the door and went to the kitchen.
"Hi honey. How was your day?" her mother said.
"Quite interesting. What do we have for lunch?"
"Nothing special. Just a soup and French fries."
"Good. I don't want to eat much."
"You must eat my dear. Look at you! You look like a tooth stick. You should eat as much as you can. That's healthy you know."
"Oh come on mom! You know that I can't eat that much. There's no place in my stomach!" she smiled and kissed her mother. "I'll go and see how dad is." Tara went to the living room. Her father was watching TV. "Dad?"
"Yes honey?" he got up and hugged her. "What is it? You look like you haven't seen me for years!"
"Of course! I didn't see you last night when I came back, not even this morning. When I went out both of you weren't home."
"Oh, I went to do some shopping with your mother."
"And you didn't tell me you were going out together? I wanted to come! It's been more than a year since the last time we got out together."
"We thought you were going to work today. That's why we didn't want to bother you."
"Oh dad, you would never bother me." She hugged him. Her mother came and called them to the kitchen.
Tara and her father went to the kitchen and sat near the table. Soon, her mother joined them. Tara looked at Crystal who was standing near the door. "I'll be right back." Tara said and got off the table. She went to her room with Crystal.
"Crystal, I'm sorry to leave you alone like that. You must be hungry."
"I'm not hungry Tara. I was just amazed by your behavior."
"What do you mean?"
"Your father said it. You acted like you haven't seen them for years."
"I know. I just.. I don't know Crystal. I don't know how to say that."
"Just ask them where are you from."
Tara went to the kitchen. She sat back in her place, and started to eat. She wasn't talking, and her parents knew that there was something behind her silence.
After finishing their meal, Tara helped her mother to clean the table and wash the dishes. Then, they went to the living room.
"Tara, is there something bothering you?" her mother asked.
"In fact mom, there is."
"What is it dear?" her father asked.
She looked at them for a moment, then asked, "Where am I from?" She didn't know what to say. Crystal suggested that question, and she didn't have any other choice but to ask it.
"What do you mean honey?" her mother was confused.
"I don't know mom. It's just that I get the feeling that I'm not…" she couldn't continue. She never had that feeling. She just said that to give a simple hint about what was her question about.
"Don't say that honey! You are our daughter." Her mother said, her eyes filling with tears.
Her father lowered his head. "Martha, you know that isn't true. Tara is a grown up young woman now. She has to know the truth."
"But Sam…"
"Tell her Martha, please."
"Mom what is going on? I am your daughter, right?" she knelt in front of her mother, her eyes filled with tears. "Mom, tell me that I am you daughter."
"You're not." Her mother said and cried. "We raised you, but we didn't give you life."
Tara looked at her in a shock. "But how? When? I don't remember any other parents. You are my parents!"
"Tara, my dear." Her father spoke. "We found you crying on the edge of the park. You were a few months old. Someone has left you to die there. Martha and I were going home from work, and we heard your cries. We followed the voice until we saw you. We brought you home, and called the police. They searched for your parents for more than a month. Then they came to take you to a foster house. We couldn't let you go, so we decided to adopt you."
"So, that means that my name is not Tara Anderson? I am not myself?"
"Your name is Tara. Only we don't know your real last name. Martha could you please bring her bracelet?"
Martha went to her room and came back with a small bracelet in her hand.
"Tara, this bracelet was on your hand when we found you." Her mother said. Tara took the bracelet and saw her name carved on it.
"This was mine?" she asked.
"Yes."
"But it's so small."
"You were about six or seven months old when we found you."
Tara wiped her tears and stood. "No matter what, you are my REAL parents! I only saw you since I was a kid. I don't know anyone else. Even if my real parents show up I will throw them out of the door, just like they left me in the park to die. I won't leave you. I love you both!" she said and hugged them.
"We love you too honey." Her parents said.
Crystal was looking at them. Her eyes were wet too. She saw the love that this family has to each other, and she felt guilty about telling Tara the truth. She went to Tara's room and sat on the bed.
After a few minutes Tara came in. She closed the door and sat next to Crystal on the bed.
"You were right. Sorry I didn't believe you." She said.
"I'm sorry that I caused you so much pain." Crystal replied.
"It was a pain to know that my real parents wanted my death, nothing more. Thanks for helping me to know about that."
Crystal looked at her and smiled. "Can we go and find the portal tonight?"
"Sure. But until then, let's go and do some shopping."
"Alright." Crystal smiled.
They went out together. They went to the mall, examined every shop in there and finally Tara bought her new shoes and a pair of jeans.
It was getting dark, and the girls decided to go home and after that go out to search for the portal.