The next morning, Jenifer woke up and looked around. She didn't recognize where she was, then remembered what happened the night before.
"What happened to me?" She thought.
She didn't understand what happened at all.
"Maybe there's something in my heritage."
She got up slowly and went to the kitchen. She saw that no one else was awake and began cooking. Shortly after, Yuhi came in and saw her cooking. She didn't notice him.
"Oh Jen, you don't have to do that. I'll…"
"I want to Yuhi. I don't mind."
"Are you sure? I mean…um…"
"It's no big deal really. I'm not going to school today."
"I understand. Jenifer…"
He paused.
"I'm really, really sorry about…"
"There's nothing we could have done. I…I just have to except that he's…he's gone."
She fought to keep the tears back. Then she felt a warm embrace from behind her.
"It's okay. It may not seem that way now, but one day it will all be okay." Yuhi whispered in her ear.
One of her tears fell on her hand.
"I…I know. I just miss him and my mom so much."
He hugged her tighter.
"I know." He whispered. "I know."
They stayed like that a little longer. Every now and then a tear escaped from her eyes.
"Are you okay?" He asked.
"I will be."
Her released her from his grasp and stood beside her.
"You need some help?"
"Nah. I'm just about done."
In about two minutes, she began serving breakfast.
"I might not be here when you come home." She said as she filled the last plate.
"Why not?"
"There's something I need to take care of."
"Don't tell me you're going to be secretive now." He teased putting the plate on the table.
"If it's important, I'll tell you."
"You leaving is important."
"I'll tell you later."
Then Aya walked in followed by Suzumi and Mrs. Q.
"Yuhi this looks delicious." Suzumi said.
"Thanks, but I didn't make it. Jenifer did."
"Oh. Thanks Jen." Aya said.
"You're welcome." Jen said with a small smile. "Well, I'm gonna go now."
"Where?"
"I need to go do something. I'll be back later. Don't worry."
"Jen you should probably clean up first." Suzumi said.
Amicitia looked down at herself. Her clothes were slightly tattered with blood splattered everywhere.
"I guess you're right."
"The bathroom is free, so go right ahead."
"Thank you."
Jen went and cleaned up. She dressed in a red, v-neck t-shirt and a pair of dark blue jeans. She left after one last good-bye. She walked until she reached a large building. She took a deep breath and walked in.
"May I help you?" Asked a young man at a desk in front.
"I'm here to see some of the records."
"Name?"
"Amicitia."
"Right this way, please."
She followed him. At the end of a long hallway, he stopped.
"This is it."
"Thank you."
She went in and stood in awe at the wall in front of her lined with books. She went over and grabbed the first one. Turning to the first page, she gasped. Inside was nothing, but Latin. She went and sat at the desk next to the bookcase. She looked in one of the drawers and found an empty notebook. Taking a pencil from the cup on the desk, she slowly began to translate her family heritage. She worked all day and got through ¼ of the books. She looked at the clock on the wall and gasped shocked. It was 11:30 pm.
"I bet they're all worried." She thought clutching the notebook in her arms. "I guess I'd better head back."
The moment Jen walked through the door, she was attacked by Yuhi, Aya, and Suzumi.
"Where were you?" They demanded.
"I…was doing some research."
"The library closes at five. That leaves six hours unexplained." Aya said.
"I wasn't at the library."
"Then where were you?" Suzumi asked.
"I'll tell you tomorrow."
"Jenifer, you had us worried sick and all you have to say is 'I 'll tell you tomorrow'?" Yuhi said.
"Yuhi, it's going on midnight, we're all tired, and you and Aya have school tomorrow." Jen replied calmly putting her notebook at her side.
"What's that?" He asked.
"Nothing."
"Jen, what are you hiding?"
She didn't answer.
"Let's just go to bed." Suzumi said.
They all agreed and went to bed.
The next day, Jen woke up before everyone else again. She got dressed and grabbed her notebook. She wrote a quick note and left. At the large building, she checked in at the desk and went back to translating. She paused at about noon after finishing a book and read back the last part.
"When she died, it is said that she ascended back to heaven giving her children bountiful blessings for years to come."
Jen then remembered what Aya had said.
"My family…turned their back on me because of something in out heritage."
"Is that what she meant?" Jen thought.
She left her research and slowly walked to her house. The door had been replaced and Mark's body was taken away. Just looking around was painful. Jen walked to her little brother's room and picked up the card he had made her. On the front were two people. One was Jenifer and the other Mark. Mark had flowers from the flower field around them and was giving them to her. It was a beautiful picture. She opened it to reveal a message. It said:
Jenny,
I hope you had a good night at work tonight. This is an early birthday gift. Gratias tibi ago for everything, sis. Te amo with all my heart.
Amo,
Mark
On the back was a small heart and underneath it, it said: mad with love for my big sis. Tears fell freely from her eyes.
"Te amo." She whispered and moved to her own room.
She went straight to her closet and grabbed a small jewelry box from the top shelf. She sat on her bed and carefully opened it. She paused. Her mom had said not to open it until her sixteenth birthday. With everything that had happened, she had nearly forgotten that it was her birthday. She and her mom had planned to open it together. She quickly pushed the sad memory away and looked inside. Inside was a small box, a letter, and a key. She picked up the letter, carefully opened it, and began to read.
Dear Jenifer,
Happy sweet sixteen! Today is the day you begin writing the family history. You will write for your generation like I have and your grandmother before you as well as your children and grandchildren after. In my room, there is a box hidden in my closet. Go there. In the box, you will find a blank book, a partially filled book, and more. The blank one is for you. Protect it at all costs! If anyone were to discover the family secrets, it could be disastrous! I'm so proud of you. Te amo my parva puella.
Your loving mater,
Jessica
Amavi
Amicitia
She carefully folded the letter back up and put it away. Jen then grabbed the small box. Inside was a beautiful, gold, heart shaped locket. It was two sided so it could hold two pictures. On one side, was a picture of Mark, Mrs. Amicitia, and Jen. All of them had a bright smile on. The other side was empty. She carefully put it on and grabbed the key. She then walked to her mother's room. She walked softly to the closet. She knelt down inside and found a safe. The key fit perfectly. She turned it and the door opened. She reached in and grabbed a maroon book. The fist page said: Jessica Amavi Amicitia, 16 years old, my family history. The book was only half filled. She closed it and pulled out the sapphire blue book. It was blank. She knew it was hers. She opened the cover and wrote: Jenifer Amo Amicitia, 16 years, Writing my family history. She closed it and looked inside the safe. All of her mother's jewelry was kept in there as well as some money, photo albums, and other family memories and treasures. She put everything away, locked the safe, and went back to Yuhi's house.
"Happy Birthday!" Yuhi said when she walked through the door. "Now where were you?"
"I'll tell you…and everyone else at dinner."
"Well I hope you're hungry. The master chief is cooking tonight."
"Really? Who?" She teased.
"Hey!"
She laughed. Soon it was time for dinner. Everyone came and sat down.
"So what have you been up to, Jen?" Aya asked.
"I've been working on my family history."
"What did you find out?" Suzumi asked.
There was silence.
"I found a story of a celestial maiden."
Jen paused.
"If I understand my translations correctly, I'm a descendent. That would explain what happened after Mark…after he…died." She whispered the last word and looked at her hands. Another silence dragged on.
"That's why my family turned its back on me. My celestial maiden blood is really strong so they want to kill me." Aya said.
"It's nothing to be ashamed of." Suzumi said. "I'm also a descendent."
Jen didn't reply.
"Jen…are you okay?" Yuhi asked.
She nodded and looked up. Her eyes were brimmed with tears.
"Thank you all for everything. I'm not afraid of what I am and I don't fear the future now. I know that I've lost my Mom and Mark, but I'll pull through. You guys are the best friends I could have ever asked for."
"Happy birthday, Jen." Yuhi said.
They all hugged and ate. Soon it was time for bed. For the first time in a long time, she (Jen) rested peacefully.
The next day, Jenifer woke up and dressed for school. She cooked breakfast and was serving it when Yuhi came up behind her.
"Going to school?"
"Yup."
'What happened to dropping out?" He teased.
"I can't just drop out. Besides, I'll need something to occupy my time. It's either school or translating all day."
"Good to see you back to your old self."
She smiled as she filled the last plate. School seemed to go by quickly and Jen went to her house. She cleaned. The whole time she felt like she was being watched. It made her really uneasy. She jumped slightly when the phone rang.
"Hello, Amicitia residence."
"Hey Jenifer. It's been a while." Came a male voice.