— Friends, I think we should go to our homes, I say. We've had a long day even though only a few hours have passed. Everything happened too quickly for us; I suggest we each go home. Who knows if we'll encounter that crazy aunt again?

— You're right, Jhon, said Lyna. Well... see you tomorrow, okay?

— Yes, we'll talk about it tomorrow, Nick said.

— First, we need to make sure it's not a dream, even though it seems like one, Emma agreed. Well, take care! She left with Lyna and Nick, leaving me with Lia.

— What did you think? the brunette asks me. That you would go home alone? I'm coming with you!

— Shouldn't I be the one accompanying you home? I ask, puzzled.

— Oh, come on! Let's switch roles! Come on! She pulls me by the sleeve as if I were a little child pulling my mother to buy an interesting toy.

A few moments pass, feeling like an eternity until we reach the exit of the forest. Checking my phone, I notice not only that five minutes have passed since we started heading for the exit but also that I have several missed calls from my mom.

— Calm down, Mom, I'll check my phone. We'll talk at home.

— Who are you talking to? Lia asks me.

— No one, I reply. I look at the phone screen and pretend to talk to my mom.

— Like when you talked to TV characters when you were a kid? Oh yes... I remember you once placed a letter in front of the TV, thinking the characters would read it.

— I thought we were never going to talk about that again...

— Oh, come on! It's funny! she says, hugging me.

— Oh, look, we've reached your home! I tell Lia.

— I said I would escort you, not the other way around!

— But I want some time alone, without offense.

— Oh... I understand. I... I apologize. I didn't mean to...

The girl's reaction next to me scares me; she never apologized before. If she did, it was something serious, not just a simple conversation among friends. Now, I look at the sky, once clear, now cloudy, with thousands of raindrops starting to fall from the gray clouds.

— Lia? Are you okay? I ask, running my finger through her hair, now wet from the rain.

— Yes! Yes! I'm fine! I have nothing! I just thought of something... and I'm sorry! I think you're right; I'll leave you alone for a bit. I don't want to stress you out! We'll talk later. Sorry again for bothering you! She waves at me while quickly entering her house.

Her behavior is becoming increasingly strange, as she didn't act like this before. She has more unpredictable moods, easily shifting from one state to another.

Finally, we've arrived at my house, just a few streets away from Lia's.

Since I don't have an umbrella with me, I'm soaking wet, but I don't let it bother me.

I reach for the golden handle of the oak door and open it, entering the house, leaving a few water traces behind me.

Once my mom sees me, I look at her seriously, squinting my eyes in annoyance, analyzing the woman in front of me from head to toe.

— Jhon! Thank goodness! What happened to you? Where have you been for so long?! I called you dozens of times, and you didn't answer! You're completely drenched on top of that! And what's with that stern look you're giving me?

— Nothing, I tell my mom. I just found out the family secrets, that's all.

— What... what secrets? What are you talking about? I haven't hidden anything from you! She lied to my face.

— You know... about dad! You never told me he was a demon...

— Excuse me?! But... but no one knew that except me and him! It's impossible...! she suddenly wonders.

— So it's true, isn't it? I cross my arms. You're hiding secrets from me, actually... you've hidden this from me my entire life. You're lucky I'm giving you the chance to explain; others would have surely run away from home. But I want to hear everything from your mouth.

— Ugh... my mom sighs. It seems I can't hide this from you now. I still don't understand how you found out...

— Xanilia? I ask her. My aunt, whom I didn't know about until today?

— But how did you find out about her? Forget it. Sit on the couch, and I'll confess everything to you, she says to me, and I sit on the couch, listening to what my mom has to say. A long time ago, I met a very handsome man...

— That was dad, right?

— Let me finish! At first, there was nothing serious between us, just a strong friendship until we slowly fell in love.

— Get to the point, skip the sweet talk and be direct! I scold her a bit.

— Fine, she replies. Eventually, he told me the truth when things became serious between us. He not only told me he was a demon but also the son of Satan himself. I was so scared when he showed me his true form that you can't imagine... in the end, what business did a mortal like me have with a demon?

— Continue, I urge her.

— Still, he warned me that he was expelled from hell for me, as love was forbidden there. When his sister, Xanilia, learned of this high treason, she decided to follow him and kill him. Obviously, her plan failed...

— Then if her plan failed? Why did you tell me he died?

— Because... he didn't die. He became a part of you...

— Excuse me? I ask, surprised. So... I guess? Biologically speaking, I have his genes...

— No, you don't understand... for a demon and a mortal to have a child together, one of them must sacrifice their soul. Initially, I wanted to sacrifice myself, but your father told me that you couldn't live without a mother's love, so he sacrificed himself, taking the form of a new life, meaning you.

I can't believe what I just heard, the fact that my father took my form?

— So are we the same person? I ask my mom.

— No, you're different people. But he is a part of you through his soul, through his heart. In your chest, you carry your father's heart... she tells me, placing her hand on my chest. Both literally and figuratively.

— Then... if you know about this... can you explain the deal with these medallions at least? And why did I find them in the forest? Xanilia knew about them; she said they were some crystals with magical powers.

— I know absolutely nothing, and talking to your aunt is not an option. She's not the most communicative person, if you know what I mean.

— The woman... I say, stopping, thinking that if I tell her about my aunt thinking I was my father, it will greatly worry my mom.

— Excuse me? she

asks.

— Nothing, it seemed like something.

— If you need anything, you can tell me...

— Oh, not only that... I want some time to think.

— Okay, I'm here if you need anything, my son, I love you very much...

— And I love you, thank you for telling me the truth... I tell her as I climb the stairs heading to my room.

Once I enter my nicely arranged and tidy room, I lean my arms on the windowsill, looking at the raindrops falling from the sky, as if purifying the house from all the secrets hidden within.

It seems like a new beginning in my life; a new chapter has begun, and something tells me that I have a lot of things to discover.

Suddenly, someone violently knocks on the door of my room.

— Yes, Mom? What is it? I ask the brunette woman. You can come in... the door opens violently, slamming against the wall.

— Greetings, nephew...