The box left by his Mother The next morning, Jeff groggily reached for his phone and blinked at the bright screen. As he scrolled through his notifications, he noticed a message.
It was from Emmanuel, Edward’s Father.
Jeff hadn’t changed Emmanuel’s name on his phone. His name was still saved as ‘Dad’. Jeff was a little taken aback because this was likely the first time Emmanuel had texted him.
Dad: I’m in Starry City. Let’s meet.
Jeff did not respond to the message and threw his phone aside. Not too long after, his phone beeped again.
Dad: It’s about your Mother.
~ J +15 BONY Jeff stared at the message, the small hairs across his body standing on end.
Reluctantly, trying to get rid of the uneasy feeling, Jeff picked up his phone and tapped out a response.
Jeff: What’s this about? Dad: Let’s talk. I have something to give you.
And with that, Emmanuel sent the address. An hour later, Jeff took a cab to the address.
The coffee shop hummed with the clatter of dishes and the low murmur of conversations.
Emmanuel watched as Jeff, dressed simply in a black pant suit and white T-shirt, walked toward him. As Jeff settled in, there was a tangible tension
in the air that seemed like it cold break at any minute.
The underlying intensity in E Emmanuel’s eyes was barely concealed by his normally indifferent expression.
“How are you? With a gesture toward the drink he had ordered for Jeff, Emmanuel inquired. “I ordered your favorite.” Jeff said, “It is not my favorite; I just drink it sometimes.” He then took a sip of the beverage. “What about my Mother?” Emmanuel wordlessly reached beside him and pulled out a medium-sized box, worn from years of use. Handing it to Jeff, he simply said, “Open this when you get home.”
Curiosity mingled with apprehension, but Jeff held his emotions in check. He ) accepted the box without sayinga.
word, holding it tenderly in his palms as though it were the key to opening his past. “It’s my Mom’s.” Jeff was simply making a statement; it was not a question.
Jeff was eager to ask Emmanuel questions, and it appeared that Emmanuel was anticipating the same opportunity.
Without waiting for Jeff to pose a question, Emmanuel declared, “I knew you were not my son since the very beginning.” “You dated her?” Jeff asked coolly and Emmanuel shook his head.
“I was in love with her. We met on a plane and she was very outgoing”
Emmanuel answered. “Although I did not know who she was engaged to at the time, she was already engaged when I asked her out. I was unaware that it was the Malfoy family’s eldest son.” Sipping slowly from his drink, Jeff listened to Emmanuel.
“She stayed in Arty City for some months and then she suddenly left” Emmanuel continued. She returned a few months later with you, handed me this box, and asked me to give it to you.
Jeff absorbed the words, feeling a wave of intense emotion wash over him.
“Why did you withhold this from me for so long? Why did not you inform me of everything? “Because now seems like the
appropriate time” Emmanuel responded.
“Have you heard anything from her since then?” “No, she just disappeared like that.” As soon as Jeff arrived at his apartment, he wasted no time in setting the box down on his table.
Despite the pressure of his feelings on his chest, he took a deep breath to prepare himself for what he was about to learn.
Slowly, he lifted the lid, revealing a collection of various acupuncture needles neatly arranged inside.
The soft glow from his apartment made their delicate, slender forms
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I sparkle. €» The soft glow from his apartment ) made their delicate, slender forms sparkle. €» Tucked beneath the key were two small, weathered notebooks.
When Jeff noticed his mother’s distinctive handwriting on their covers, his heart skipped a beat. He turned to the first page of the book.
Jeff’s eyes grew wide as he turned the pages of the notebook, taking in all of the information that was in front of him.
The notebook was filled with descriptions, carefully drawn illustrations, and handwritten notes detailing the profound wisdom of traditional medicine.
Each turn of the page revealed a variety I of medicinal herbs, their properties, and the procedures involved in their — preparation.
Jeff muttered under his breath, “My mother is a doctor who practices traditional medicine.” Despite having read a great deal of medical literature, both traditional and modern, Jeff had never encountered anything similar. The detailed procedure, the herbs… It was something he had never seen in his life.
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Jeff looked through the other book, which listed many kinds of spiritual plants along with their characteristics, locations, and other pertinent information. He was shocked and couldn’t believe his Mother was highly
versed in traditional medicine.
Although Jeff had read a little about spiritual plants, he really did not know much about them. They are similar to medicinal herbs in that they can be used for therapeutic purposes, but they are not the same as herbs.
When traditional medicine was still in use, some people kept spiritual plants as pets.
And what about his mother now? Jeff was aware that he needed to find the answers.
Later in the evening, Jeff went out to meet Jamie who said she had something to give him.
Jamie wanted to give Jeff a giftas a
‘friend’ for passing the admission test with flying colors.
It was a small bar located around the city.
“Hey,” Jeff said, settling down in his seat. “Where’s Liam?” “Must I always babysit him?” Rolling her eyes, Jamie produced a little box.
“”Congratulations for passing the admission test. Here is my gift for you.” Jamie brought out a small box and gave it to him. “It’s a necklace. I got it when I went out with Aunty Sophia.” Jeff looked surprised for a moment.
“Oh thank you.” “Make sure to always wear it. You are special, so I got it for you,” Jamie
grinned.
“Really? “Thank you,” Jeff chuckled.
He had never been by himself with Jamie before, so it was a little strange.
After a short while, Jamie excused herself to use the bathroom.
As Jeff was waiting, some drunk girl approached Jeff. Jeff widened her eyes.
It surprised him to see her here.
“Are you dating Jamie Scavo?” With tears in her eyes, the girl enquired.
“You are a jerk. You already have another girl. You realize how disrespectful that is to me?” Upon hearing her words, Jeff scoffed.
“Tonia” he called. “You are drunk. Call your friend or whoever you came
I with.” Jeff didn’t expect what happened next as Tonia leaned to him and placed her lips on his.
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