Moving Objects

Chapter 4

I was sixteen when I first noticed it and it was in a situation that I hope you never have to discover. Strigoi are ghastly things and the first time I saw one, I froze. Pavel, my friend, was a Novice in training at the time and stepped between us. He had lifted a stake off of a Guardian before we felt campus, and I have never been more grateful for that.

When the Strigoi pinned Pavel and he lost the stake, all I could think of was that I wished I could get it back for him. That thought alone was a catalyst, and that stake rolled right back to me. I hope that despite the fact that you may have your heart set on becoming a Guardian, you never suffer that feeling of fear.

I hope that one day I will be able to see you again, to be able to teach you how to harness your raw talent. Maybe one day, we will be that lucky.

Regardless, I want you to know that the moment we knew you were coming, we couldn't have been happier. We both love you more than we thought was physically possible. Your mother may have a hard time showing what she feels, but you were the biggest thing in her heart.

Much love from your Baba,

Ibrahim

I set the paper down in my lap so that I could wipe the tears from my cheeks. I was wanted! I wasn't a mistake my mom made when she was twenty. I pulled the other photos from the envelope and flipped through them. Ones of me and mom, me and Ibrahim, all three of us together.

The last picture was the one that made me the happiest. I didn't know who would have taken it, but it was all of us. Ibrahim laying on his side beside me with my mom mimicking the same position on my other side, both of them smiling at me as I reached up for them.

That was the upbringing I always wished I had.

I shuffled down in bed and laid the picture beside me, running my fingers over their smiles. It wasn't often Mom smiled, and I really did like seeing it. It was the same as mine.

______________________________________

"Alberta?" I said as I knocked on her open door. She looked up from her paperwork and held her finger up for me to wait. The four Guardians in the room, one of which being Dimitri, all turned and looked at me, nodding in greeting.

"What do you need?" Alberta asked as she handed papers to one of the Guardians. I shifted on my feet.

"Do you have my Mom's phone number? I need to talk to her about that letter," I said, clearing my throat. Alberta nodded and clicked on something on her computer. She wrote down the number and the connection codes before handing it to me on a sticky note. I smiled and took it from her.

"Did you know what was in there?"

"No."

I nodded and turned to head out the door, allowing her to finish with the Guardians. I got halfway to the cafeteria when I felt the mammoth presence behind me. I smiled to myself and turned my head enough to see him come to walk beside me.

"You're calling your mom? Willingly?"

I snorted and nodded my head. It was shocking considering we didn't usually reach out to each other, but this was something I really needed to talk to her about. I slowed my pace and walked leisurely which earned me a look from Dimitri.

"Oh, c'mon. Don't pull the mentor card. There are only fifteen minutes left of class and I really do need to call my mom. She should be ending her shift now," I pouted, batting my eyes at him. I knew that it didn't work on him, but he shook his head and stirred me out of the hallway.

"When are you scheduled on shift?" I asked as I stepped into an empty classroom. Dimitri closed the door and leaned against the edge of the main desk.