The next day, we wake up with the intention of finishing my business in Texas, once and for all.

I sneak in to see who's still staying at the warehouse. A few people are still around, but new people have joined. I wish there was a way I could help, but I've barely started getting my life together, how can I help them? Estel also reminded me that I can't save everyone from their fate. I questioned her about how this type of life was anyone's fate. She couldn't give me answers, and I didn't expect her to. I'm just going to have to accept that this is the fate for some people and move on. Something in my gut tells me that there will come a time when I will be able to save a few people, and that helps me move forward.

I try to sneak out, but, of course, my luck runs out.

"Mick. Why are you here?"

"Defensive, aren't you?" I respond.

"You said you wouldn't be back." He says.

"Can't a girl change her mind?" I smirk.

His mouth opens and shuts.

"Hey baby, what's taking so long?" A girl with long blonde hair says while wrapping her arms around Boyd's waist.

"Talking with a friend. I'll be along in a moment."

I laugh.

"What's so funny?" She huffs.

"He'll "be along in a moment" or two, but there's no telling what he will do in between. I'd watch out for this one honey, if his needs aren't getting met, he'll find a way to supplement what he's missing."

"What's that mean?" she asks.

This girl really is oblivious.

"Mick." Boyd warns.

"What Boyd? Does Little Ms. Sunshine not know about your extracurricular activities?"

The girl looks between me and Boyd. "What's she talking about?"

Boyd looks everywhere but at the women in this room.

"Hmm ..." I start. "About ... ummm ... what was it, Boyd? Less than five months ago?"

"Mick." He tries again.

"See, Boyd here and I were together for almost a year, and then one day I found him fucking another girl. I bet you can't guess his response."

"That's enough Mick!" Boyd tries desperately to get me to shut up.

"You think so. Was I that easy to get over? Or is it that the truth hurts? Or is it that you hide part of yourself from others? Or is it just that you make stupid decisions?" I tap my chin. "I can't decide."

His face turns red, but I can't tell if it's from anger or embarrassment. "Stop being a bitch, Mick!"

Items around us start shaking. "I'm being a bitch. ¡Puta madre! You're one to talk."

I turn to the girl now standing clueless. "What you need to know is that after one year in a relationship, he decides to fuck someone else because I wouldn't give out. Since you're with him—you've either giving out or he's supplementing his love life when you aren't around."

The poor girl stands there with her eyes watering.

I chuckle at the fact I cut to the heart of the matter.

"I see. You must be already giving it out." I turn to Boyd. "Is she a good fuck, cabrón?"

"When did you turn into such a bitch?"

"About the time you betrayed me. Now, I'm not just a bitch—I'm one bad bitch!"

The world crumbles. My vision goes hazy. My heart rate and breathing are faster than a tumbleweed. Noise is coming from my left, but it sounds like a voice under glass. My ears pick up the sound of crunching and breaking, but no other noises. My throat dries, and my nose fills with the musty remnants of old buildings. Something is shaking me. Harder and harder, but I don't want to come away from the world I've created. Faster and faster everything turns until ... Smack!

Colors come back into my line of sight. The world stops shaking. Voices can be heard, but the words aren't pleasant: "You bitch! What are you doing to me?" "What's happening?" "Why is all of this happening?"

"Michaela!"

I snap around to the voice.

"There you are. Look at what you are doing," Estel says. [relief]

When I do, I am surprised by what I see.

Boyd is up in the air. Although, this sight doesn't make me upset. In fact, it makes me grin. Little Ms. Sunshine is balled up in the corner. I do feel bad about that. Items are scattered around the area. That's not so unusual.

I nod at Estel.

"Let me have one last word. Please," I beg.

"Fine, but you've made one fine mess I have to clean up."

"I'm sorry, madre," I say and hug her.

She pats my back. "Mi loba, you need to learn to control that temper. Remember the first day of training?"

My cheeks heat.

"Say what you need to, so I can get everything back in order."

I nod and walk over to where Boyd is hanging in the air.

"Do ya regret what you did to me? Why'd ya do it anyway?" I ask.

The anger in his face fades, and the person I used to know emerges.

"Yes. Is that what you want to hear? I was ready to move our relationship forward, but I was getting frustrated by the pace. I went out and ran into some old friends. They got me high again, and I just lost my mind. I did things I wouldn't have normally done. The drugs caused me to think I was justified in my actions, which is why I didn't apologize. After I came down, I realized what a mistake I had made, but I wasn't sure I could fix it. I did try to come and talk with you, but there were so many people guarding you. I couldn't get close enough to apologize and see if there was a chance for me to fix the mess I caused."

"Michaela." Someone says from behind me. I turn to see an apologetic looking Estel.

"You need to hurry. I can't keep the shield up much longer," she says, and for the first time I notice how drained she looks.

"I'm so sorry. What needs to be done?"

"Finish what you are going to say. I'm going to have to erase their memories of the past half hour or so."

I nod.

"I forgive you, Boyd, but I can't forget. Up until you came along, I had shut my emotions off from everyone. You broke those walls down, and then stomped on my heart. I can't forget that. I'm sorry."

His eyes water. "There's no hope."

I shake my head and choke back my emotions. "No. There's not. I've only come back to check on my parents' estate, and then I'm moving. I won't ever be back."

Boyd is crying now, and I can't help my own tears.

"Do it," I say and walk to the far wall and watch.

Estel starts chanting.

Testor maiorum.

I call upon my ancestors.

Vim extermina, quae necesse est ex duobus memoriam in conspectu populi mei.

Erase what is needed from the memories of the two people before me.

Qui Boyd et memoriam relinquere Michaela est scriptor ultima verba.

Leave the memories of Michaela and Boyd's final words.

Utrumque opus curandum progredi.

They both need to heal and move forward.

Lorem muneribus dare.

Thank you for the gifts you give us.

Boyd and the girl's eyes close, and the area shifts back to what it looked like before. Boyd comes down to the ground. I walk over and stand so he can see me when he opens his eyes.

After a few moments, Boyd's eyes open. They are back to those honest eyes I feel in love with.

"I still love you, Mick." Boyd says, and the girl gasps and runs out the door.

"And I love you, but this, "I point between him and me. "Us, just isn't meant to be. I found out where my birth parents are from, and even though they died sixteen years ago, I have found family. Family I didn't know existed. I won't turn my back on that. I can't."

Boyd looks away. "I understand."

Before my brain catches up to my body, I'm wrapping Boyd in a hug. I cry on his shoulder for the loss. For the could-have-been and what-if. For letting go of my first love.

I know what will happen if I stand here any longer.

"I have to go," I whisper into his shoulder and rush through the open door.

Estel follows but doesn't try to engage in small talk.

I'm surprised at what I find in the safe deposit boxes. There are some jewelry that I only saw mom wear on super special occasions. A few things of dad's I remember admiring from childhood. Sometimes I would wonder where items would disappear too. I now know he was putting them someplace safe for me to discover later. I'm not sure where I can keep these, but I won't part from Texas without them.

I urge Uncle Gary to either continue renting my childhood home or sell it. I'm not going back to visit it and I won't see it in the future. Uncle Gary offered to buy it and I agreed with his terms. Too many memories there to open up wounds I've tried to heal. I also let Gary buy dad's 1964

Pontiac GTO car. I can't use it on the Avic Islands. I know he'll take good care of it. It will make me happy to know someone with the same passion as my dad will be able to drive that beautiful car. It's been under a cover for way too long. She needs to be seen. I laugh at that thought. Dad always called that car "Betty". The idea of naming a car is humorous but then I've never even owned a car. I might feel different if I had bought one and babied it like dad did.

We visit my parent's graves before we leave for the last time. I sit and talk with them. I talk about everything I've gone through since they left this world, even though I'm pretty sure they already know. I truly believe they were there in my dance studio the day I broke down. I don't know what's on the other side but I'm pretty sure it isn't anything to be afraid of. I make small holes and bury special spell bottles I made before I came. More like little tokens of my appreciation than a spell because they spell works in this world—or at least I think it only works in this realm. My spiritual journey still has a long way to go but knowing my loved ones are on the other side helps me believe in something higher than myself. It gives me hope for the future and what the future can be. It gives me determination to keep fighting and if I die trying to protect the islands, I will be reunited with both sets of parents and my ancestors. It is a feeling I've never experienced before, feeling this way.

Between the two headstones I plant a [rose] bush as a tribute to the Universe and the lives my parents gave me while they still walked in the physical realm. Another freeing feeling. I'm continuing the grieving process. I might always grieve; I don't know. I hope the sadness will fade even more until hardly a tear falls for the ones I've lost.

We did run into Aunt Angie outside of the lawyer's office. Seems she waited to ambush us. Uncle Gary kept trying to tell her dad didn't leave her anything, but she just wouldn't believe him. When I opened the safe deposit box, there was a letter for Aunt Angie and Uncle Derrick. I wanted to know what Aunt Angie's said but I wouldn't violate Dad's wishes that way. I had Uncle Gary take her hers. He told me later that apparently it didn't say anything good. She was cursing everyone including my dad. I guess he was okay with leaving his sister nothing when he died. I love my dad, no matter where he is. Angie threatened to sue the estate, but Uncle Gary set her straight as to what was and what wasn't going to happen. He told me he warned her not to come after me because I had my own team of legal representation. He winked and told me sometimes it's okay to fib, although Estel told me later that the islands do have legal representation especially since they have to trade with other countries under the pretense they are part of Bermuda. I nod because it's interesting but I don't have the energy to soak in anymore.

Pat got jail time. Not as much as I would have liked, but that would have required me to come back to Texas. That isn't an option. I did hear that several women are going to press charges including the woman that was with him the day he attempted to kill us. I hope they bury him under the jail. Hijo de puta!

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[A/N]

Latin translations per Google Translate.

Testor maiorum. - I call upon my ancestors.

Vim extermina, quae necesse est ex duobus memoriam in conspectu populi mei. - Erase what is needed from the memories of the two people before me.

Qui Boyd et memoriam relinquere Michaela est scriptor ultima verba. - Leave the memories of Michaela and Boyd's final words.

Utrumque opus curandum progredi. - They both need to heal and move forward.