Tianna
I sat with my stepmom, Jamilla, outside the emergency room, feeling sad and shocked. The doctor walked out with a clipboard and a serious look.
“Mrs. Cañaveral, Ms. Cañaveral,” he said softly. “I’m deeply sorry to have to share this with you.”
Mom looked up, her voice barely a whisper. “What happened to him?”
The doctor sighed, looking at Mom. “Your husband had a heart attack. It was sudden and serious. We tried our best, but we couldn’t save him.”
Her face went pale then her eyes slowly filled with tears. “A heart attack? How could this happen? He seemed fine.”
"There were health problems we didn't know about," the doctor said gently. "Sometimes these things get worse quickly."
“But he was always so strong,” she said, shaking her head. “I don’t understand why he didn’t tell us.”
“I’m truly sorry,” the doctor said, placing a hand on the door frame. “We tried everything possible. If you need anything, don’t hesitate to ask.”
As the doctor left, we sat in silence, trying to take in the news. The loss felt heavy, and I could see it was hitting her hard.
We were left struggling with how sudden it was.
The next day, Ciarinise arrived at the hospital, looking tired from her trip. Her face turned pale when she heard the news .
“Heart attack?!” Ciarinise exclaimed, her voice full of disbelief and hurt. “But how did anyone not know about this?”
Mom looked at her with tearful eyes. “I don’t know why he kept this from us either. It’s all so sudden and confusing. “
Before Ciarinise could respond, I found myself interrupting. “Ciarinise, we’re just as in the dark as you are. We need to focus on what’s next.”
“But how could he hide something like this?” Ciarinise kept trying, clearly frustrated.. “There must have been signs.”
I shook my head, feeling unsure. “We don’t know everything. Right now, we need to handle the arrangements and support each other.”
Ciarinise took a deep breath, her anger turning to sadness. “You’re right. We need to move on, even if we don’t get it all.”
Mom nodded, wiping her tears. “We’ll figure this out together. We just need to take it one step at a time.”
***
As we finished in the attic, Eris, Ciarinise, and I carefully carried the old journal we found. It belonged to our great-grandfather, and we were eager to see what was inside. The dusty attic made us feel dirty, so we went to the bathroom to clean up before reading the journal.
After we cleaned up, we gathered in my room, which felt warm and cozy compared to the attic. We sat on the floor with the journal between us, the soft light from the curtains making the room feel inviting.
The journal had a worn cover, with "Darren Ace" written on it. I held it in my lap, feeling its weight and the importance of what we were about to find.
Eris leaned closer, his eyes full of wonder. “I didn’t expect to find something like this. It feels like we’re stepping into another time.”
“This is amazing,” I said quietly as we began to read. The room felt still, waiting for us to explore the past.
Eris looked up, his eyes showing a mix of awe and curiosity. “I didn’t expect to find something like this. It feels like we’re stepping into another time. ”
Ciarinise looked at the unopened pages and said, “It’s amazing to think our great-grandfather had such a hidden life. These entries feel like a peek into another world.”
I nodded, holding the journal in my lap. “It’s fascinating but also a bit overwhelming. What if we find things we don’t fully understand?”
Eris gave me a comforting look. “We’ll go through it slowly and try to figure it out. If we need more info, we can look it up later.”
Eris's eyes moved over the page as he read aloud,
“June 17, 1942
Today, in the busy market, I meta woman named Tema Andrea. She was wrapped in an air of mystery. Her dark hair and deep eyes felt like they held secrets. It seemed like fate brought us together, and time itself stopped.”
He paused, his brow furrowed in concentration, and then continued,
“Her laugh was like wind chimes. We talked about simple things, but there was something more in her words. She spoke of stars, the moon, and connections between us.
Eris looked up from the journal, his expression a mix of curiosity and concern,
“As the day ended, I felt like I’d found something rare. My heart raced, and in her presence, I felt alive and vulnerable. But there was something mysterious about her that made me cautious and curious.”
Ciarinise, focused on the pages, looked up and said, “It’s incredible to think our great-grandfather had such a hidden life. These entries are like a window into a different world.”
She turned a few pages and took a deep breath then read an entry she chose.
"July 29, 1942
Her laugh still warms my heart, but there’s darkness around her. She talks about spells and ancient powers. Her words hint at forces I don’t fully understand.
Even though I love her, there’s a part of me that feels uneasy. I see people look at her with suspicion, and her powers seem both fascinating and frightening. "
Ciarinise handed me the journal. I took it and felt its weight. I flipped through the pages until I found the entry she mentioned. Then I began reading aloud, curious about what it said.
“August 21, 1945
The moon is shining brightly, and I think of her. Her presence is both beautiful and unsettling. We’ve had moments that take my breath away and leave me wanting more.
But sometimes, I wake from dreams where reality and illusion blur. Is her magic a blessing or a curse? How can I keep my family safe from what I don’t fully understand?”
As I read on, I could feel his deep affection for Tema Andrea and his growing unease about her powers. The words revealed his mix of excitement and fear, capturing his struggle with his feelings and the mystery surrounding her abilities.
As we read, we felt drawn into our great-grandfather’s emotions and doubts. The journal gave us a glimpse into a world where love and magic were tangled together. It told a story of hidden passion and mystery.
Eris spoke up, his voice soft. “He was clearly torn. He loved her but was scared of her powers.”
Ciarinise, still reading, nodded. “she seemed anxious about what her magic might mean.”
I looked up from the journal, feeling a chill. “What if her magic was more than just part of her? Maybe it was dangerous. That could be why everything had to be kept secret.”
Eris leaned closer, thinking hard. “If her magic was a threat, it makes sense why he was so conflicted. But it raises questions about her powers—were they a gift or a curse?”
Ciarinise added with concern, “We need to learn more about Tema Andrea. Her powers and why she hid so much could be key to understanding our family’s curse.”
I sighed, feeling overwhelmed. “It’s a lot to take in. Our great-grandfather’s fears are still affecting us today. We need to understand his story to help us now.
”Eris nodded firmly. “Let’s keep reading. If we find out more about how he handled Tema Andrea’s powers, it might help us with the curse. “
Ciarinise adjusted his position and continued reading, his eyes moving over the pages. I followed along, turning the pages slowly. Each entry revealed more about our great-grandfather’s struggles.
The more we read, the heavier his problems felt. His love for Tema Andrea was clear, but so was his fear of her powers. His attempts to protect his family showed just how deep his worries went.
Each entry added to our understanding of his past. Shedding light on his relationship with her. We knew that to fully grasp his story and its impact, we needed to keep reading and uncover all the details.
YOU ARE READING
Cursed Legacy
FantasyEris and his siblings uncover a family secret that has haunted them for years. As they explore into their great lolgrandfather's past, they discover that he was once involved with a woman who had a reputation for practicing dark magic. In a desperat...
