A few years had passed...

April 20th, 1992 (Monday)

The day was cloudy, with chance of rain, but that didn't make morning at the Smith Toledo's house any less happy. Andrea was turning fifteen years old. She had an impressive beauty and simplicity. Physically, she looked a lot like her mother, but her eyes were just like Jackson's, with the same shade of a very light blue. She continued shining. A year ago, she had decided to study the Kardec's Doctrine and started to attend classes and lectures at a spiritism's house. She was a mediator, gift that she had inherited from her grandfather Walter.

Regina and Robert wanted to give her a big birthday party, just like all the teenagers wanted, but Andrea preferred a family celebration, at the farm. The event would be on the weekend.

In the early morning, the birthday girl was already receiving all the love from her family, including the guests that arrived for breakfast: her grandma Rosie, her uncle Edward and her aunt Louise with their kids John Peter and Arvin Junior, and Jackson.

The twins were almost eight. The cousins John Peter and Arvin Junior were, respectively, six and four.

Her aunt Rosalee had been released from the clinic some time ago but was still on therapy and never left the house. She started living with Edward's family, where her grandma Rosie already lived too.

In the afternoon, when Andrea returned from school, her grandma Sonia said that she would like to talk to her in private and took her to the room in the back of the house.

─ My little granddaughter, a long time I've been wanting to tell you this story. Your grandfather would have told you if he was still among us. I believe this is the moment for you to know a little bit about our ancestors. Your shine will make you understand better everything that I'm about to show you and I hope you like my gift for your sweet fifteen.

─ Grandma, I'm curious.

Sonia opened a wardrobe where she took out a painting and a book.

─ When you were little, you used to say your name was Clair. Your mother used to reprimand you by fear that some people would see you as a freak. She told everyone that you had created a stage name. But she knew about the existence of Clair Smith among our ancestors. This is her journal. Clair Smith's journal, who was born in England on the last century. It's in English, but that won't be a problem to you. In here she tells her story since she was ten years old when she lost her parents in an accident. I won't tell you anything else, so I won't spoil it for you.

Sonia took the painting, unwrapped it and showed to her granddaughter.

─ This is the proof that will make you understand why you shine. Your parents only saw this portrait when they started dating. It was a shock for both, but also made things very clear. After listening to Clair Smith's story and looking at this painting, Robert understood the reason you were so sure he had already been your father. You are Clair Smith's reincarnation. Your spirit, that in the past lived as Clair, has returned to complete a mission that was interrupted. None of us has any idea what that mission is, but we are all involved in this as your supporters, or guardians, like your grandfather used to say.

Andrea couldn't take her eyes off the painting.

The resemblance was scary.

If she grabbed a picture of her from a few years ago, she would the identical to the painting on the portrait.

─ Grandma, how did all of this get here?

─ As you can read in the journal, Clair Smith moved from England to Brazil when she was an adult and brought with her the portrait and the journal to continue writing her experiences. She got married and passed on the legacy to her son, who did the same until it got to your grandfather. I ask you to read the diary first and then talk to your parents. They've been through many extraordinary experiences and you three together can find the missing key. The portrait, just for safety reasons, will continue here. He can't be seen by anyone, because we don't know what that could cause. One thing me and your parents know for sure, and your grandfather knew it too: we are a family with a special spiritual protection. We don't know why, but it's clear that it's related to something fatal that happened to our ancestors.

─ And who you and grandpa were in the past? Did you also live with me and my parents?

─ We don't know, honey. If we have been together before, we were nearly supporting actors. You and your parents were the protagonists. The portrait is proof of that.

─ I can't wait to start reading this journal.

Andrea looked at the portrait one more time as if it was still hard to believe that it had been painted on the last century. Then she thanked for the gift.

─ Grandma, this is more than a simple gift. This is the proof that you trust me. Now I'm the owner of the family's legacy. It's also soothing for my mind, because now I know that what I see, and feel are not any kind of psychopathy. Knowing that I have been chosen for some special mission it increases even more my responsibility to spiritism, to the Greater Father.

─ Andrea, promise me you won't tell anyone about this. That after reading this journal, you will only talk to me and your parents. Never talk about the portrait. And keep the journal in a safe place. Don't let other people find it.

─ I promise, grandma.

─ And one more thing. No reading this all night long. You have to study! This is the exam week. So, you need to sleep and eat well.

─ I know, grandma. You can trust me.

Andrea ran to her room to start reading the journal.