Auror A Short Story

“Who am I?” asked Aurora.
“What?” her mother responded. “I said, ‘who am I?’” said Aurora, her voice reaching a stifled yell. “Now why would you ask a silly question like that? Is something wrong, Honey?” said her mother, confused at the question. Aurora’s mother was one who would be considered a trophy wife, and a caring one at that. Her name was Maria. She spent most of her days at home; when Maria wasn't at home she was helping her husband with his campaigning. “There is something you are guys aren’t telling me.”, said Aurora. She had turned away from her mother and began to stare at the photographs on the counter. They were photos of her birthday party the family had held for her two weeks earlier. Aurora had just turned eighteen;
the party had been a huge milestone for Aurora. Aurora’s father, Gustavo, put his coffee down slowly, making sure not to spill it on his expensive suit. ”What in the world would we be keeping from you.” He said in a calm voice. “I’m adopted, aren’t I?” Aurora said, now in a much quieter voice. She diverted her attention from the pictures on the counter and began to look at the ones frame on the wall. They were family portraits, fifteen of them to be exact, one picture taken of the three of them every year.
“Who made you think that you were adopted?” said Maria. There was a subtle crack in her voice. “I got this letter in the mail a couple days ago. I didn't believe it when I first read it, but now I’m having my doubts.” said Aurora. The letter Aurora had been talking about had been addressed to her personally, and signed urgent.
When she opened the letter she was confused at the contents. The letter had come from a married couple currently living in Tucson, Arizona, claiming to have once lived in Guatemala. The fellow who wrote the letter had mentioned that his name was Estevan. Estevan wrote that he and his wife, Esperanza, had been searching for their daughter for a long time. Estevan was an English teacher who lived in Guatemala with his wife and child, up until fifteen years ago. The reason for the sudden move was far harsher than Aurora would’ve liked. The letter continues with the story of how the government had persecuted their family because they had been part of a teachers union. The next part of this letter began to turn Aurora’s stomach. Their three year old child had been taken from them by kidnappers. This child’s name was Ismene. “She was taken in a raid on their neighbourhood in which Esperanza’s brother and two friends were killed. They were members of Estevan’s teachers union” (Kingsolver 136). After reading these lines Aurora had to put the letter down moment and gather her
composure.
Estevan had mentioned that he held valuable information about the union that these kidnappers wanted. Aurora noticed that the next part of the letter had been written darker, almost as if someone had put more emotion into the next words that had been written. “Estevan wrote that he picked the lives of those seventeen people over getting their daughter back. Aurora couldn’t believe she lived in a world where people had to make choices like that” (Kingsolver 137). The letter ended shortly after this, detailing one final statement. Estevan had searched for many years to find out where his daughter had finally ended up, and he was sure that Aurora is his missing daughter.
Aurora looked her father straight in the eyes and said, “What does the name Ismene mean to you?” Gustavo look down at his paper immediately, not uttering a word. Aurora then shifted her focus back to her mother. “How come we only have fifteen family portraits? I am eighteen years old. We don’t even have any baby pictures of me for Christ’s sake!” Aurora was yelling again. Gustavo snapped back at her immediately, “You will not talk to your mother and I in that tone!” There was a silence, and Maria’s eyes began to water and turn red.
“Are you guys even my real parents?” said Aurora.
Maria was now crying. “No” she exclaimed at the top of her lungs. “Maria.” Gustavo said in a consoling voice. “Why wouldn’t you guys tell me something like this? I’m so confused.” Said Aurora, her eyes now watering just like her mother. Her mother ran up to Aurora immediately and hugged her as hard as shed could; they both began to weep. “Why does it matter that you aren’t related to us by blood.” Maria choked out, “We never saw you as anything but our little girl.” “Aurora, we never meant for you to find out this way, your mother and I were just working up the courage to tell you. It’s not easy to tell you something as big and confusing as this.” Said Gustavo. “All that matters is that we love you, we always have and we always will because to us, you might as well be our real daughter” Gustavo walked over to Aurora and hugged her firmly. Aurora noticed something that almost looked like a tear running down the side of his face. “I’m sorry, I don’t know what I was thinking, and I love you both.” Said Aurora. She realized that no matter where she was born, or who gave birth to her, this would be the people she would call
family.