Chasing Cities

Mystery

~Sinikka's POV~

By the end of the Bruins' short road trip, a few theories about the portal had popped up. In addition to his original theory about the portal only opening when immediate travel was absolutely necessary, Patrice Bergeron had suggested that the portal refused to open if a user of portal traveling was fighting with a family member.

"It's not like portals can literally think, but perhaps they can sense this thing," Patrice had mentioned to my father and I while we were getting breakfast one morning in Sunrise. "Families sticking together is very important, and maybe the portal somehow knows that."

The Bruins and I returned to Boston a few days later, ending the short but fun road trip. By the time my father and I arrived back at our house, I had come up with another idea.

"Do you think Mom has something to do with this strange portal situation?" I questioned, thinking about my late mother. My father stared at me with wide eyes as soon as I mentioned her.

"Your mother?" Dad questioned in a voice so quiet I could barely hear him. "She passed on nearly three years ago, though. How could she have any control over this situation?"

"I'm not necessarily the kind of person who believes in the paranormal," I told him as he sat down on the couch. "I can't really prove that spirits and ghosts exist. However, I also can't prove that they don't exist. What if my mother is, in fact, controlling the portal from the afterlife?"

"It sounds crazy, but I honestly see it as a possibility," my father responded after a pause. "It's not a bit crazier than any of the other things we've experienced so far. If your mother is doing all this, what do you think she expects of us?"

"Well, I do remember that one of the most important things in her life was family," I mentioned. "It was that way from her very first years of life up until the moment she died. Before she passed on, she told me that you and I always needed to stick together, even if we had the occasional disagreement. She mentioned your short temper and how I inherited it, and she told me that I needed to set that aside sometimes and realize how blessed I am to have a father who loves me."

"If it is her that's causing this strange portal thing to happen, that makes sense," my father pondered out loud. "She was always insistent that I do my absolute best to take care of you, especially in her last week of life. She wanted you to have a good life. You were raised by a wonderful parent for eleven years, so I assume she wanted that to continue for the rest of your childhood."

"You are a great father, Dad," I patted his arm. "I have never doubted that, not even for a second, since you entered my life. We've had our fair share of disagreements, but that hasn't gotten in the way of our connection."

"Disagreements are to be expected when you are a parent raising a teenager," he responded. "That's exactly what I am. When I decided to raise you, I knew that that was going to happen. I knew we would fight and bicker, but I also knew that I would always love you, no matter what. You are my only daughter, Sinikka, and I care about you very much. No dumb argument will ever change that."

I grinned, and my father opened his arms delightedly. Knowing exactly what he wanted, I gave him a big hug. He gladly returned the embrace.

Suddenly, the house shook. My father yelped and pulled away from me. I covered my head, thinking that we were experiencing an earthquake.

What was happening was no earthquake, though. I opened my eyes and saw a bright light hovering over the coffee table. Then a beautiful woman with emerald eyes and long black hair appeared from the light.

My mother.

Dad and I recognized her at the same moment. I stayed frozen in shock, and my father, who looked to be in a trance, reached his hands out towards her. He stopped when his hands were about an inch away from her arms. I wasn't sure if he wanted to touch her or not, but one thing I was sure of was that he couldn't seem to stop staring at her.

"Anja?" His voice shook.

"Tuukka," she said back. "Sinikka. It's so good to see you both after all this time."

"Is it really you?" My father questioned. He looked nervous but hopeful. "How are you—how did you show up here if you are dead?"

"You both mentioned that already," responded my mother. "I am a spirit. I've come to you because of your recent argument, and I'm here to remind you of your promises. Tuukka, you promised me that you would be a good father to our daughter, that you would raise her right and take good care of her. Sinikka, you promised that you would be a good kid and be nice to your father."

"I know," I spoke quickly. "I'm sorry I broke that promise, Mom, I swear."

"Hold on, let me finish," she told me. "You both kept your promises to me. I understand that there will be arguments, and I understand that you being a teenager will make you want to always rebel against the directions you are given by adults, especially those given by your father. Although it may not seem like it, sometimes us adults are right. Also, you never know how much time you have left with them. Don't ever make your last memory of an adult a memory full of anger and hate."

"I never really realized how much I took you for granted until I lost you," I declared. My mother nodded.

"Exactly my point," she responded before turning to my father. "As for you—don't think that the rules don't apply to you. I want our daughter to be treated with respect. It's true that as an adult, you do have some authority over her, but that absolutely does not mean that you can control her every move and make her feel worthless. I don't think you are that type of person, but I've seen way too many parents make that mistake and then wonder why their kids move out and never talk to them again."

"I understand, Anja, I swear," my father promised. "I love Sinikka just as much as you do. I will make this little family a good one."

"Good to hear," Mom smiled, then backed away. "Goodbye, both of you. I love you."

She started to fade away, but I jumped up. "Wait!"

She waited. "What is it?"

"Mom, do you have anything to do with the portal?"