Beyond the Stars

Chapter 18: Dear Angeline

Dear Angeline,

If you're reading this, that means you're ready to find out the truth. I want you to know that I always loved you and I'm sorry if I needed to lie to you.

My eyes stung instantly, the first line alone shattering the dam I had been trying to build inside myself. A trembling breath escaped my lips. I pressed the letter closer, afraid it would vanish if I let go.

Your father and I were infertile. We wanted to have a child but we just couldn't. That's where we saw you at our doorstep. You were an angel brought to us by the Lord, so we named you Angeline.

My throat tightened. That name... my name. All my life, I thought it was just something my mother liked. But no. They had called me Angeline because they believed I was a gift, an angel sent from heaven.

Even though you were different from other kids, we saw you as a normal child.

A sob ripped through me. "Nay" I whispered into the silence. She had always told me that—You're no different from anyone else, Anak. And I had believed her. Now I understood how much she had meant it.

One day, a group of strangers came knocking on the door. They claimed to be handymen, but the moment they came inside, they targeted you.

I froze. I could almost hear it—the pounding on the wooden door, the shouts of unfamiliar men, my mother's terrified cry. My chest heaved as I gripped the paper harder, my nails denting it.

We ran as fast and as far as we could. We transferred house. We don't know who those men are, but they're clearly after you. I don't know why, but after a few months, we saw something no normal being can do. You played with your toys without touching them.

Images flashed in my mind—my little blocks floating in the air, spinning as I giggled. I had thought it was magic. I hadn't realized it had been the beginning of danger.

People's attention turned to you, and I know you don't deserve that. You're still a child. That's why we gave you a calming medication for you to stop doing those. We lied and told you, you were sick. We're sorry.

I gasped, my heart breaking. All those years of bitter syrup, all the restrictions, the pitying looks from classmates who knew I was "weak." It wasn't an illness. It was them protecting me. And I had hated them for it.

"No..." I buried my face into my knees. "I was so cruel to you. I didn't understand. I'm sorry, Nay. I'm sorry, Tay."

We were confused about what's happening. I don't know where you came from and why you can do those things. One day, it felt like a dream but I got a call from a goddess. She gave me a necklace and explained to me your situation.

I touched the charm at my neck instinctively. It pulsed faintly with warmth, as if agreeing with her words.

Instead of abandoning you, our love grew stronger for you. Your situation is hard, and a parent is what you need.

My tears blurred the page again. They had every reason to leave me. Every reason to fear me. But they hadn't. They had chosen me.

Ever since you took the medication, the chasing from those guys stopped. We don't mean to keep all this stuff from you, but we only did what we can to protect you. We don't want to lose you.

My breath hitched. The guilt clawed at me again. They had sacrificed everything—safety, family, truth—just to keep me alive.

The goddess also ordered me to take care of you. You may not know it, but people need you. If you're thinking of leaving the world you are in right now to move back to Earth, I'm telling you, please don't. Cassiopeia is where you belong. People need you there. Please stay with them. There's nothing to come back into this world anyways.

The words struck like a spear. No going back. No home to return to. My breath shuddered out as I clutched the letter tighter.

"You're telling me... I have nothing left?" My voice cracked, the silence swallowing my question whole.

You're a smart child, so I know that you already know where this is going. The moment I made you wear the necklace, there were people banging at the door. They were still after you. After 13 years, they're still chasing you. I had no choice but to take you back to your world. Sorry if I made you leave without explanation. I just want you to continue living.

Hot tears spilled down my cheeks. That night... the chaos, the shouting, the sudden push into light—it all came back in fragments.

The moment you step into that world, I know for sure that I— never mind.

I stared at the unfinished thought, my chest aching. What had she wanted to say? I know for sure that I love you? I know for sure that I'll die? The possibilities tore me apart.

I know what you're feeling right now. You're probably blaming yourself for what happened. Please stop it. Everything that happened is not your fault. We decided for ourselves to sacrifice our lives for you. We already saw that coming the moment the goddess talked to us. Whatever our decision was, you're not responsible for it. Please continue on with your life. Don't let this incident burden you.

I pressed my forehead to the paper, sobbing. How could she ask that of me? How could I not blame myself when their blood was on my hands?

You probably think that you shouldn't have come into our lives. Don't think that, my child. The past 13 years that we had you as our daughter were very much worthwhile. Nothing could ever surpass that. Angeline, thank you for being our daughter.

I choked on my breath. They were thanking me? After everything I had cost them? My heart splintered into a thousand shards.

I and your father are at peace now, so please don't worry about us. Continue on with your mission there. Someday, we will be together again. But for now, enjoy your youth and be there for Cassiopeia. Just look at the stars if you want to feel our presence. We're always there guiding you. We love you, Angeline.

Sincerely yours,
Eden

The last words blurred completely. I collapsed onto the floor, clutching the letter to my chest, sobbing until my voice broke into silence.

I don't know how long I cried. Long enough that my body ached. Long enough that my tears ran dry. My parents were gone. My home was gone. I had nothing left to return to.

And yet... they had given me everything. Their love, their lives, their blessings. Even their last words had been filled with hope for me.

A warmth brushed against my cheek again—the presence. My mother's presence. I closed my eyes, whispering, "I love you, Nay. I love you, Tay. Please wait for me among the stars."

The presence guided me toward the box once more. I hesitated, wiping my swollen eyes, but reached inside. Another folded paper waited, its edges worn with age.

My hands shook as I opened it.

To: My Dearest Tala
From: Princess Hiwaga

The words seared into my mind. My breath stopped.

Tala.

The name the river had shown me. The child of Sinag and Hiwaga. The one hidden in a basket. The one they prayed would survive.

"No... this can't be..."