Hermione's ABCs Chapter 43

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Hermione’s ABCs Chapter 43 Hope

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Recap In Chapter 42 of Hermione’s ABCs, Inigo, the heir, found that his estranged twin sister, Imago, had died in a massive inferno that seems to be a suicide. Inigo is utterly desolate and blames himself. Both twins were once Seers, but Inigo gave up his powers, which began the rift between the twins.

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The rain pounded on the windows of the house. Vanessa stood outside the door, and she was extremely worried. “I-Inigo? Are you okay?” she asked tentatively. There was no answer.

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Inigo hadn’t been himself all day. Of course, it was to be expected; he only just got the news that his twin sister Imago had died. He had been wandering around the house listlessly, at first playing a heart-wrenching, out-of-tune melody on the piano, and then aimlessly walking into a room and out again. He hadn’t said a single word to her, except to tell her that horrible news of Imago’s death. He hadn’t even noticed she was pregnant.

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Finally, he had gone into his childhood bedroom and shut the door. This was the door Vanessa waited outside of. “Inigo? I’m worried about you. Please say something,” she called. There was still no reply. She decided she had to go in, and slowly turned the doorknob.

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He was sitting on the far side of the room, staring out the rain-spattered window. He gave her half a glance as she walked in, and then turned away from her.

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“It’s my fault,” Inigo croaked out. “I might as well have started the fire myself.” “No, it’s not,” Vanessa said automatically. “It is.”

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“I promised her I would take care of her. I should have known she’d do something like that…she was so impulsive. She never thought twice. I don’t think she ever really grew up, but I just couldn’t see that. I thought she could take care of herself…” Inigo trailed off. His voice was trembling, and he sounded so broken.

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“Inigo, it wasn’t your fault,” Vanessa said again. “She was angry at you, but she didn’t hate you. She hated me. If anything it’s my fault.” “You’re right. It is.” Inigo said, his tone suddenly scathing.

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“What? No, that’s not what I meant!” Vanessa cried, sounding stung. The stress of the day seemed to weigh down on her, especially because she was already emotionally worn out from the pregnancy. Everything she did to try and help him seemed to backfire on her. It was all too much for her.

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“Inigo, I know you feel upset and guilty, and I’m sorry, but you can’t fall apart. Not now…not when I need you the most…” she said, feeling a wave of tears coming on.

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She broke down into racking sobs, but still he didn’t turn. She remembered the last time she’d cried in front of him; it was the terrible and wonderful night when he’d left her only to return with an absurd story that somehow explained everything. From then on they’d been together. His sister had always wanted to split them up, and it seemed she was succeeding. Inigo sighed. “Why now? What does it matter?” he said, his tone defeated.

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Vanessa collected herself and managed a smile. “Well, I have some news. I didn’t get to tell you yet, I only found out this morning.” she started.

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“Inigo, I’m…I’m pregnant.” It was like he had awoken from a trance. The numb feeling went away as the words sunk in and repeated themselves in his mind.

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At this, Inigo sprang up and turned to Vanessa. “You are? Really?” he asked. Vanessa smiled and nodded. “Yes. We’re going to be parents. Isn’t it wonderful?” All at once, Inigo felt a thousand emotions. Anxiety, fear, and shock; but also happiness, a sense of responsibility, and a feeling like a great warmth from his head to his toes. He was going to be a father.

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“Vanessa, that’s…that’s amazing!” Inigo said, a wonderful smile spreading over his face. “It really is,” Vanessa replied. Especially because it made you yourself again.

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Inigo insisted on making a fuss over the baby bump under Vanessa’s sweater, completely lost in their happiness. For a moment, the horrible news of this morning was pushed aside.

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But soon enough, the smile slipped off Inigo’s face. “We have to tell everyone,” he said quietly. “About Imago, or about the baby?” Vanessa asked. “About Imago first.” Inigo said. And they set to work with the grim task of preparing a funeral.

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The news spread through Sahara Valley to the members of Generation I. They were all shocked and saddened by the news of the arson. Some were left wondering why Imago would end her life, and some thought maybe they could have done something to prevent this. For most people, their last words to Imago had been harsh.

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Downtown at 84 Vine Street, Ignotus picked up the phone. “Hello, Copur residence. Hi, Inigo, what’s going on? It’s kind of early…what? She’s what?!” Ivy looked up from her book as Ignotus’s voice became horrified. What is going on?

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“She’s dead? What the…how did this happen? Inigo, you must feel terrible. I wish I could be there for you. Yes, of course I’ll come to the funeral…okay. Tomorrow at noon. Okay. Yes, I’ll be there.” With that, he hung up the phone. Ivy closed her book and immediately went over to him.

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“Ig, what’s wrong? Did something happen?” she asked, concerned. “You could say that,” Ignotus replied grimly. “My sister died in a fire last night.”

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“Oh my God, that’s horrible! I can’t believe it…I met both of them, they were so nice.” Ivy said, distressed. “No, no, it’s not Imp or Isla. It’s my other sister, Imago.” “I never--” “I know. You never met her. She sort of drifted away from the rest of us a couple years ago.” Ignotus said. “You never told me you had another sister.” “It never came up.” Outside Ignotus’s carpool honked impatiently, and he sighed. “Look, I have to go. We’ll talk later, okay?”

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“Who died, Mom?” Leonard piped up. “Leo, go to school. It doesn’t concern you.” Ivy told her elder child impatiently.

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“It does too! My birthday is tomorrow, so I’m almost a grown-up. I’m not going to school until you tell me.” Leonard replied stubbornly. “Leonard, it doesn’t concern you!” He scowled. “Will you tell me later?” “Will you go to school now?” Ivy countered. “Fine.”

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With that, Leonard dashed off and slammed the door behind him. Ivy sighed and picked at a hangnail. So Ignotus had another sister, a sister Ivy would never meet for she was dead. Ivy wondered what else about her husband’s family she didn’t know.

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That day, with the house empty, Ivy did as much research as she could on the death of Imago Granger. She wasn’t sure what, but something about the incident just didn’t sit right with her.

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Across town in Sahara Valley, Isla Granger sat in her living room with her head in her hands. She was wearing her pajamas and she looked a wreck. Her hair hung lank and unkempt around her face, which was stained with tears. Her glasses were nowhere to be found, almost as if she didn’t want to see anything. In the next room the phone rang, and her young son Arthur said, “Hello, who is it?”

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Isla sat up and listened. “Who is it, Arthur?” she asked, her voice listless. “It’s Uncle Inigo, Mom,” Arthur called. “He says it’s important.” With a sigh, Isla got up and took the phone.

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“Hi, Inigo. What is it?” Isla asked as Arthur darted back upstairs. She listened and her eyes grew wide, and she could feel yet another flood of tears coming on. She had cried so much last night into this morning, and thought that she had no more tears left.

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But she was wrong. Tears came again and they streamed down her face as she hung up the phone. Her younger sister was dead. No, worse than dead; Imago had killed herself. It was all too much.

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Isla collapsed in a heap on the floor, stemming the latest round of weeping. Everything seemed to be falling apart at the seams. She was so tired. At that moment, only Arthur kept her from following Imago’s lead.

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Imago’s funeral was the next morning. The rain was still pouring down relentlessly. There was no body, so a bouquet was laid where it should have been. Inigo hung some old family pictures up as well. It wasn’t much, but it would have to do. The family gathered in the rain underneath umbrellas. The weather only seemed to add to the somber mood.

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A makeshift podium had been fashioned, and there Inigo stood, with Vanessa by his side and his family standing before him. “Everyone’s here. You can start,” Vanessa whispered.

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Inigo nodded, but his breath caught in his chest. He had an eulogy prepared, but even so, he didn’t know what to say. He was giving a speech about his dead twin sister, and even though he had pulled himself together somewhat, the horrible tragedy still cut him to the bone. Trying to prepare himself, his eyes drifted across the yard.

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His brother Ignotus and his cousin Knox stood together. They had grown very close at La Fiesta Tech. Inigo wished he and Imago had gotten closer in college, but they had only drifted further apart.

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His parents looked up at him, waiting for him to begin. They were close together under the same umbrella. He wondered how much losing their youngest child hurt them. Even now, they were in the dark about his and Imago’s powers. They had kept so much from their parents.

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His grandparents had their eyes focused on him. Gabrielle was leaning on her husband, who was decorated in his general’s garb. Their granddaughter, who was once a bright-eyed little girl, had become a bitter, depressed woman. He imagined they were in shock that she would do such a thing.

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He saw his cousin Faith, heavily pregnant with her third child. She and Imago had never really been close, but despite this, there she stood, waiting for Inigo to begin to speak.

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But his sister Isla was utterly inconsolable. She was crying as though her heart was breaking. Imperius was comforting her as best as she could, but Isla was in hysterics. This puzzled him. Isla and Imago hardly ever spoke. Then again, Isla was by far the most empathic of them all.

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Finally, his eyes drifted over to Vanessa. The folds of her dress were stretched over her baby bump, and she was surveying the scene with pity in her eyes. The only words she had ever exchanged with Imago were angry ones, but she was still out here in the rain in Imago’s memory. He wondered how Imago would have reacted to that.

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Inigo took a deep breath and began his speech. “Friends, we are gathered here today to remember Imago Granger. She was a sister, a daughter, a cousin, and the greatest friend I ever had.”

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“She was my twin sister. I grew up with her always by my side. We shared everything, and I think I knew her better than she knew herself. I’m confident I’ll never meet anyone like her ever again; she was spirited, funny, and wonderfully unique and special. But she was far from perfect. She was impulsive, easily provoked, and obstinate in every decision she ever made. But she was my best friend and I loved her.”

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“Knowing that she’s gone hurts. It hurts like nothing else. I miss her like crazy. There are so many things I said that I wish I could take back. My mind is filled with scenarios I could have done differently, wishing I could re-do anything I did that might have hurt her, that might have led her to her death. But I can’t, and I accept that.”

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“Death hurts. Toward the end of her life, Imago’s actions became more erratic. I’m sure we all wish we could undo something we did or said. But life isn’t about wondering and wishing. We can’t waste our lives away living in the past.”

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“Life is filled with sadness and pain, but there is always hope. Sometimes we all feel that all we will ever know is hurt and misery, but we must never lose hope.”

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“All around us is new life, a new chance at something wonderful. If we are too busy regretting history so that we miss the beauty of the present, we are cheating ourselves.”

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“Imago will be missed by all of us. But she loved life, and she was always eager to live life to the fullest. If we can follow that example, this tragedy won’t hurt as much. We’ll never forget her, but if we remember the fond memories of her, we won’t be so lost in a fog of desolation.”

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Silence settled, save for Isla’s crying, which had only intensified during the eulogy.

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“That was wonderful, Inigo.” Vanessa said softly. “If it wasn’t for you and the baby, I never would have found hope again.” “No…” Vanessa shook her head but smiled. “You just found something to hope for.” The family retired inside, out of the rain. Together, they told stories of people who had passed away, and soon, everyone was smiling again.

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Everyone, that is, except for Isla. Finally, Almeric noticed her sitting miserably, and said, “Isla? Are you alright?” The conversation died away as everyone glanced over at Isla. “No. Nothing is alright,” Isla finally said, her voice hoarse. “My sister is dead. My entire life is falling apart.” She got up and crossed to the other side of the room, amid inquiries from the rest of the family.

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She stared at the wall, arms gathered around herself. Her breath was unsteady. “Isla, tell us what’s wrong.” Imperius insisted. Isla sighed. “Samuel left me.” A shocked silence met this statement. Everyone glanced towards Isla’s hand. Sure enough, her wedding ring was missing.

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“What?!” Imperius cried. Murmurs arose from everyone in the room. “We’re getting a divorce. He’s not living with Arthur and me anymore,” Isla said, sounding as though she was on the verge of tears. “Isla, tell us exactly what happened.” Faith said. Isla nodded and began.

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“We had been fighting a lot. Ever since Arthur was born, we started disagreeing on everything, especially about raising our son. Finally, we had our worst argument yet two nights ago. He wanted another baby, but I said no. Then he said if we weren’t having another baby, he wanted me to go back to work.”

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“I told him I wanted to be a stay-at-home mom for Arthur, but he said I was coddling him. He said his parents both worked when he was a child and it taught him independence. But I told Samuel I didn’t want Arthur’s childhood to be messed up like that.” Isla sighed. “Well, that was it…I didn’t mean to insult him, but he wouldn’t listen.”

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“I told Samuel that I raised Arthur while he worked and I knew what was best for him, and he said he didn’t want to listen to this anymore.” Her voice trembled. “And I…I said then he could leave. I didn’t m-mean it, but he thought I did.”

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“He said he was leaving, and he didn’t want to be with me anymore. And then he just walked out.”

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By the end of the story, Isla had began weeping again. This time, Ignotus put an arm around her. “He j-just left! And I don’t know what to do! I d-don’t want to live there anymore, but I have nowhere to g-go…” “Shh. Isla, Isla, it’s okay.” “No! It’s not!” “Don’t cry, Isla,” Ignotus said gently. “A whole bunch of apartment complexes just opened Downtown. They’re cheap, and I can help you get one. Okay?”

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“R-really?” Isla whimpered. “Yes, of course. It’s okay. You and Arthur can pack up and I’ll help you both move in. Everything will be fine,” Ignotus said. Isla nodded weakly. With this, the family began to leave for their own homes. By the time night fell, the main line Grangers were exhausted and went to sleep early.

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2:23 It was late, and the night was quiet. The rain had finally stopped outside. Most of the house was sound asleep, but not all.

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Inigo tossed and turned, mumbling in his sleep. He was breathing rapidly, erratically, his bedsheets tossed off of his body. In his dreams, there were flames everywhere. He had to get out…he had to save her… “No…no…Immy, please…let me help you…please!” he cried. “Inigo?” Vanessa asked blearily, waking up. “Inigo, are you alright?”

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“Inigo, wake up!” His eyes flew open as Vanessa pulled him away from the dream. He steadied his breathing and got out of bed, clearly terrified.

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“Inigo, what happened? You woke me up.” Vanessa asked, going over to him. “I had a horrible dream.” he told her. “I saw Imago, and there was fire everywhere, but she wouldn’t let me save her. She just ran into the flames.” “You had a vision?” Vanessa asked uncertainly. “No, no, that’s impossible. I gave up my powers. It just seemed so real.” Inigo said. “It was horrible. Every time I close my eyes I see it all again.”

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Suddenly, something lit up in Vanessa’s eyes. “Inigo, it was just a nightmare.” “What?” “A nightmare. Like a scary dream. All your life, your dreams have been visions…you never had a nightmare before.” “I…I guess you’re right.” “Dreams are supposed to be representations of your psyche, and nightmares as well. Imago’s still weighing heavily on your mind, so you had a nightmare about her. That’s all. It’s nothing to be scared of.”

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“It was just…jarring, I guess.” Inigo said, smiling. “You’re right. I never had a real nightmare before.” “Well, when I was little and I had a nightmare, I talked about it with my mom. It always helped,” Vanessa suggested. “But for now, I think we should go back to sleep. Okay?” He nodded, and before long they were both sound asleep again.

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The next morning, Inigo found his mother in the kitchen. “Hi, Mom. Can I talk to you?” he asked, taking a seat next to her. “Of course. The funeral service was really beautiful, honey,” Helena said with a sad smile.

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“Thanks.”“What is it you wanted to talk about?” “Well, last night I had a horrible nightmare about Imago. I was trying to save her from a fire, but she ran away from me. It really freaked me out, but Vanessa said talking to you about it might help.” Inigo said.

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“It’s perfectly normal to have a nightmare right after something tragic like this. You said yesterday you feel like you could have helped Imago, but couldn’t, and your nightmare probably just showed that,” Helena explained with a reassuring smile. “That’s what I thought. It was just really frightening…I never had a nightmare before, and--” Inigo stopped, realizing what he had just said. Helena looked at him curiously.

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“What do you mean, you never had a nightmare before? Of course you have. I can remember so many times when you woke up from a dream late at night.” Helena said. Inigo sighed. He thought of the funeral yesterday, about how his parents didn’t know so much about Imago, so much about why she took her own life. He decided he was done keeping the secret. “Mom, those weren’t dreams,” he said carefully. “What are you talking about, Inigo?” she asked.

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“You remember Imago’s fainting spells, and all my dreams? Do you remember how you always found writing on the walls in my room?” Inigo asked. “Yes. What about them?” “Imago and I were Seers. My dreams were visions. Whenever she fainted, she had a vision. Those words I wrote? I wrote them in my sleep, and they were prophecies. We saw the future.” “What?” Helena asked, her voice a whisper. “For how long?” “Since we were born. I gave up my powers in college, and Imago never forgave me. That’s why she left the family. That’s why…that’s why she killed herself.” Inigo said.

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“Why did you give up your powers?” Helena asked, her brow furrowed. “Seers are immortal. I couldn’t be with Vanessa if I was a Seer. And Imago just didn’t want to spend an eternity alone.” “Why didn’t you ever tell us?” Helena asked him, looking concerned. “You hated Seers. We were afraid you wouldn’t believe us, or think we were crazy.” Inigo told her. “I don’t get visions anymore, Mom. I don’t ever want to. Seeing the future isn’t all it’s cracked up to be. And…we met Cassandra.” “What?!” Helena cried, looking scared. “She tricked Imago into giving up her sight. I got it back by giving up my powers, but now Cassandra can see. The last time I saw her was in college; she hasn’t bothered us.”

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Helena seemed to relax. “Are you angry?” Inigo asked hesitantly. “No, darling. Why would I be? I wish I could have known, but it’s like you said yesterday…we can’t live in the past. And from your account, living in the future is hardly better.”

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Across town, Isla and Arthur played video games. Boxes of their possessions were stacked up in their new home Downtown, and they were waiting for Samuel to show up and claim the house. “Will we have a TV at our new house?” Arthur asked, button-mashing furiously. “Yes, honey. And some new games for you, too, because you’ve been so good with packing.” Isla smiled. “Uncle Ig and Leo set up a nice new room for you last night.” Arthur cheered and focused on the game again. At that moment the doorbell rang. Isla pursed her lips, set down the game controller, and prepared to face her ex-husband for the first time since the divorce.

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“Hello, Isla. I trust everything’s in good shape.” Samuel said, standing on the porch. “Of course,” Isla said coldly. “I’ve called a cab. Arthur and I will be out of your way soon.”

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“I started working at the university again. I missed La Fiesta.” Isla narrowed her eyes. “You say that like I’m supposed to care.”

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“I just thought you’d like to know. I’m just as capable a parent as you are.” “Yes, because the commute to and from LFT is ideal for a single parent.” Isla said, rolling her eyes. “Snippy, aren’t we.” Samuel said coolly. “We just got divorced, Samuel. I’m allowed to be a little bitter.” An awkward silence fell. “You know, you look nice in heels,” Samuel finally said.

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“You had your chance to tell me I looked nice, Samuel! I don’t care about your job, I don’t care about your life, I don’t even care that you’re taking this house. Just stop talking to me.” Isla said furiously. Samuel scowled. “Fine. Have it your way.”

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The cab pulled up outside, and Isla ushered Arthur out the door to the cab. She walked out the front door, past Samuel, past all the mementos of their married life, and out to the cab. She felt free, and oddly, she felt…happy. Her heels clicked on the stone floor, and she slammed the door behind her with a satisfied smile.

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The apartment complex, a few blocks down from Ignotus’s house, was wonderful. Isla’s apartment was decidedly purple, except for Arthur’s room, but he didn’t mind. It was perfect for the small family.

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The giant TV, which Ignotus had found at a discount electronics store someplace, was an added bonus. Arthur loved it.

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Isla and Arthur soon settled into their new life. They became very close. But while they had a lot of fun playing games, Isla made sure Arthur found time for his studies. He was a smart kid, and Isla wasn’t going to have him wasting his potential. Isla quickly befriended all their neighbors and the landlord; the divorce hadn’t affected her friendly personality.

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One day, not long after the funeral, Vanessa was working on the third floor, developing her robot-building skills. All of a sudden, she felt sharp pains across her abdomen. “Oh my God,” she gasped, throwing her tools down and wincing. “Inigo! Inigo!” “What?” called Inigo from downstairs. “I’m having the baby! Get your ass up here!” Vanessa cried, groaning.

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Inigo dashed up the stairs, willing himself not to trip. He swung the door open, yelling “I’m here, I’m here! Just breathe!” “Why do people say that? It doesn’t help at all!” Vanessa said, gritting her teeth. “I don’t know! I have to say something, don’t I?”

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Soon it was all over. “It’s a girl,” Vanessa announced proudly. “Here, hold her a minute…”

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Well, they thought it was all over… “Twins?” Inigo asked. “Yes. Two girls,” Vanessa smiled, holding her gurgling, younger daughter in her arms. The girls were named Joscelind and Jocunda. Both had red hair and fair skin. Joscelind, or Joss, as she was nicknamed, had blue eyes like her grandfather. Jocunda, or Jo, had her mother’s storm-cloud gray eyes.

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The girls were very curious; they had inherited that from their parents. They loved making noise and playing with anything they could find to see how it worked. Inigo was terrified Joss and Jo would end up like himself and Imago. He was adamant that the girls be treated as two separate, individual people, and didn’t like for them to be called “the twins.” He didn’t want them to become dependent on each other, like he had been Imago’s crutch in their lives.

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“Do you think this is how my parents felt when Imago and I were born?” Inigo asked one night. “I don’t know. How do you feel?” “Kind of overwhelmed, to be honest. There’s two of them and they both need the same thing at the exact same time,” Inigo chuckled. “Well, weren’t you and Imago the youngest? They had way more experience than us.” Vanessa pointed out, tickling Joss as she spoke. “True. But I bet they were overwhelmed sometimes anyway.” “Joss and Jo will be easier to manage when they grow up. Don’t worry.” Vanessa’s words rang true; before long, the girls were toddlers.

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Joss looked just like her mother. In fact, it would have been difficult to tell she was a Granger, save for her sparkling blue eyes. The red hair was certainly new. Vanessa insisted on putting a star barrette in Joss’s hair. The little girl didn’t object; she was very sweet. Joss is a Capricorn like her father, 10/6/1/8/10.

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Jo, on the other hand, looked nothing like her twin. She looked just like Inigo. The only thing of Vanessa in her were her gray eyes. Jo is also a Capricorn, 10/9/1/8/5. The twins were quite similar in personality, perhaps to make up for their differing looks.

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The girls were both very bright, but could be stubborn. This was probably because they preferred to play with toys or explore than sit down and be taught something; they were quite lazy, after all. But once they were in the mood, they were quick learners. They were especially eager to learn how to walk.

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That evening was also time for Helena and Seb to grow up. “You ready, Helena?” Seb asked. “Of course I am. You know I’m always game for a new adventure,” Helena laughed, kissing him lightly.

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They both aged up gracefully and happily. “Are you really sure about wearing surfer clothes?” Helena laughed. “Helena, we live in a desert,” Seb said, rolling his eyes. “You can be the dignified grandparent. You look very elegant.” “Your glasses suit you,” she said. “I wish I wasn’t blind as a bat,” Seb grumbled, adjusting the frames on his face. “Seb, three of our children wear glasses. It was inevitable.”

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They hoped they would have many more years to share together.

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But unbeknownst to the Grangers, many blocks away a series of tragedies had been set off. “You should be ashamed of yourself, Mrs. Valence!” the social worker scolded. Talia nervously played with her wedding ring. “Please, give me another chance…” she whispered hoarsely. “No. Your child has been severely neglected. If a neighbor hadn’t seen her starving to death outside in the rain, she could be dead! I’m taking her away. God help any other children you have.”

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“Ma’am, please!” “I’ve had to visit here too many times to allow the child to remain here.” “I’m sorry…I never meant to leave her for so long. See, my husband and I have been fighting, and I guess I was distracted…” “That is no excuse, Mrs. Valence. Good day.” The social worker stormed out from the tiny house, carrying the young child away.

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The next afternoon, Arthur stared intently at his homework. Tonight he had to write an essay about his family, but he didn’t know what to write. Was it normal for a kid to have parents who didn’t live together? None of his friends at school had divorced parents. He decided to ignore that for now. I live with my mom and I love visiting my uncle and cousins; they live really close to me. My cousin Leo has a little sister, and they’re always playing together. I wish I could have a little brother or sister to play with, but I don’t think it will happen. He frowned. His family was all wrong.

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He put his homework down with a sigh. “Are you alright, Arthur? You look a bit sad.” Isla said, concerned. “I’m fine, Mom. Really.” he told her. “Did something happen?” Isla prompted. “Not really…”

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“Well…my friend’s mom just had a baby, and he’s been talking about his little sister a lot. I want a brother or a sister, but now that you and Dad aren’t together anymore, I don’t think it’ll happen…” Arthur trailed off, staring out the window. Seeing him so despondent just broke Isla’s heart.

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“Darling, I know it gets lonely around here sometimes. If you really want a little brother or sister--” “I do! I really do!” Arthur said excitedly. “Well, I think there’s something we can do.” Isla smiled.

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“How? Don’t you need a mom and a dad for a baby?” Arthur asked. “Well, yes, but there are some moms and dads who can’t take care of their babies. So they let other people adopt them. When you adopt a baby, it’s not biologically your child, but you raise it like it is. Do you understand?” “We can do that?” Arthur asked. “Sure. Anybody willing to open their heart to a baby who needs a family can. Would you like that?”

Slide 102: 

“Yeah! Maybe it’s better this way.” Arthur said. “Why’s that?” “Well, my friend says his mom was really cranky for a long time before his sister was born. Her tummy got huge, like a whale!” Isla laughed. “Now, now, that’s not nice, Arthur.”

Slide 103: 

Thus, phone calls were made, paperwork was filed, and Isla was approved for adoption of a little girl. Unfortunately, the girl was to arrive while Arthur was in school, but Isla assured him he could play with her as soon as he got home.

Slide 104: 

The big day finally arrived. Isla smiled as the van pulled up. “Is this the adoption agency?” her landlord asked. “Yes,” Isla breathed.

Slide 105: 

The social worker handed the little girl to Isla. The girl’s hair was tied up in a loose ponytail; she looked quite thin. But her bright gray eyes were curious and friendly. She immediately cuddled up to Isla as though they had known each other all their lives. Her name was Lyla.

Slide 106: 

Isla brought Lyla back up several flights of stairs to the apartment. “This is your new home, sweetie,” Isla smiled, setting the girl down on the floor. She kissed Lyla’s forehead lightly, and her new daughter playfully pulled a strand of Isla’s hair.

Slide 107: 

Isla immediately set about teaching Lyla to walk. While confused at first, she quickly caught on; Isla suspected her old parents had at least attempted to teach her.

Slide 108: 

Arthur burst in through the door a little after three. “Mom, Mom, Mom! I got an A on my science project!” he yelled as he entered, but his eyes immediately fell on Lyla. “Wow. Is that my sister?” he asked, his tone awed. Isla smiled at him. “Yes. This is Lyla,” she said. “You can play with her if you want.”

Slide 109: 

Arthur knelt down in front of Lyla, who was sitting on the floor. “Hiya,” he said, leaning in close to her face. “I’m Arthur, your big brother.” “Arfur!” Lyla said cheerily, laying a hand on his cheek.

Slide 110: 

“Play wiff me?” Lyla asked hopefully. “Okay!”

Slide 111: 

Arthur remembered his mother used to play peek-a-boo with him when he was little, and he hoped Lyla would like it too. At first, the intricate mystery of peek-a-boo bewildered Lyla. “Arfur?” she asked, confused, staring as he covered up his eyes.

Slide 112: 

“Peek-a-boo!” Arthur yelled. Lyla exploded into a fit of giggles. “You silly, Arfur,” she said. “More play! More!”

Slide 113: 

Pretty soon, Lyla had the gist of peek-a-boo.

Slide 114: 

“You know what today is, don’t you, darling?” Almeric asked. Gabi gave a sad smile. “Yes. I don’t really want to die…but at least I won’t be alone.”

Slide 115: 

He kissed her softly. “Don’t be scared. We’ve lived long, full lives. We’ve seen our children and grandchildren grow up, and we even got to meet our great-grandchildren. We’ve seen some tough times, but we made it through. And we’ve done it all together, and we can handle this together, too.” “I love you, Almeric.” “Not as much as I love you.”

Slide 116: 

That evening, Gabrielle and Almeric passed away within moments of each other.

Slide 117: 

Death Stats: Gabrielle Granger, Generation G heiress Fortune Sim, LTW: Become Criminal Mastermind- Completed Gabi is survived by her children Harry, Mimi, and Helena, her grandchildren Imperius, Isla, Ignotus, Inigo, Faith, and Knox, and her great-grandchildren Leonard, Liana, Walter, Arthur, Lyla, Joscelind, and Jocunda. Death Stats: Almeric Granger, Generation G spouse Popularity Sim, LTW: Become General- Completed Almeric is survived by his children Harry, Mimi, and Helena, his grandchildren Imperius, Isla, Ignotus, Inigo, Faith, and Knox, and his great-grandchildren Leonard, Liana, Walter, Arthur, Lyla, Joscelind, and Jocunda.

Slide 118: 

That very evening, Inigo called a family meeting. “What’re your thoughts on moving?” he asked, getting right to the point. His question was met with silence.

Slide 119: 

“Moving?” Vanessa asked. “Why?” “Well, maybe Inigo can explain it better?” Helena asked, giving her son a nod.

Slide 120: 

Inigo sighed. “It’s just…there are too many memories in this house. Sometimes I walk into a room, and it’s like Imago’s ghost is right behind me. I don’t want to watch my children grow up here…it’s almost like a bad omen.” he explained. “My nightmares about Immy just keep getting worse. Maybe getting out of here will help me.”

Slide 121: 

His parents smiled at him sympathetically. “I think it’s a fine idea,” Seb said. “In fact, I saw an ad for a lovely little place the next street over last week in the paper.” Helena added. And so, the family began the moving process.

Slide 122: 

And this is where we shall conclude the chapter. I know it’s been awhile since the last update, but I’ve had schoolwork and exams. Now that it’s summer, the updates should become less infrequent. It feels good to have a chapter out again, and I’m really excited for Generation J!

Slide 123: 

In loving memory- Imago Cassandra Granger Beloved sister, to the bitter end.