Not a Nobody

MY BLOOD

Unexpected Joys

Fiona had been eagerly waiting for her cousins, who she hadn’t seen in years. As they arrived, she greeted them with a big smile. The familiar faces of her cousins brought her immense joy, and she hugged each one warmly.

“Cousins! I’ve missed you all so much!” Fiona exclaimed, her eyes sparkling with happiness.

Her uncle Wilson and aunt Mel, usually reserved, surprised her by pulling her into a heartfelt embrace. “Fiona, dear! It’s wonderful to see you,” Uncle Wilson said, his voice softer than usual.

Aunt Mel added, “You’ve grown into such a lovely young woman.”

Fiona was taken aback by their sudden display of affection. “Thank you, Uncle Wilson, Aunt Mel. It’s so nice to see you again.”

Just then, Aunt Vidhya approached, holding out a gold bracelet. “Fiona, this is for you,” she said, her voice warm and kind.

Fiona looked at the bracelet, puzzled. “Oh, Aunt Vidhya, I can’t accept this. It’s too much.”

“Nonsense,” Vidhya insisted, gently putting the bracelet on Fiona’s wrist. “You must wear it. It suits you.”

Fiona hesitated but allowed her aunt to fasten the bracelet. She noticed how emotional her relatives seemed, a stark contrast to their usual demeanor. A thought crossed her mind—her mother must have been important to them. Fiona had always believed her mother was dead, but this show of affection made her question what she knew.

As they chatted, a loud commotion broke out. The village square was crowded with people, drawn by a sudden noise. Curiosity piqued, Fiona and her family hurried to see what was happening.

When they reached the square, Fiona’s eyes widened in surprise. Standing in the midst of the crowd was a boy, dressed in elegant, foreign clothing, clearly out of place in the village. He had an air of sophistication and confidence that set him apart.

Fiona’s heart skipped a beat as she recognized something familiar in him—he looked like someone from the world she had only heard about but never truly understood.

“Who is that?” Fiona asked, her voice tinged with curiosity.

Uncle Wilson’s face grew serious as he replied, “That’s Maximus Salvatore. He’s come from abroad. I believe we’ve got a lot to discuss.”

Fiona’s mind raced as she took in the sight of Max. The rich boy from abroad, the family she barely knew, and the emotional reunion...

As Max stood amidst the crowd, his eyes locked onto Fiona. She was turning, and for the first time, he saw her full face. His heart nearly stopped—Fiona was the spitting image of their father. The resemblance was uncanny, right down to the determined set of her jaw and the sparkle in her eyes. It was like seeing a younger version of his father, and the realization hit him with overwhelming force.

Tears welled up in Max’s eyes, a mixture of joy and sorrow washing over him. This was the sister he had come so far to find, the missing piece of his family. For a moment, he was frozen, overwhelmed by the sheer emotion of the moment. But as he wiped away his tears, a sense of urgency took over. He needed to reach her, to finally connect with the sister he had never known.

He took a step forward, his heart pounding with anticipation, but just as he did, Fiona turned away. Without noticing him, she ran off, her movements quick and purposeful as she called out, “Grandma! Where are you?”

Max watched in dismay as she disappeared into the crowd, his outstretched hand falling to his side. The moment he had been waiting for slipped through his fingers, leaving him standing there, torn between the excitement of finding her and the frustration of having missed his chance.

Determined not to lose her again, Max quickly followed, his heart set on finally reuniting with his sister.

As Max hurried after Fiona, he was suddenly blocked by a group of men from the village. They eyed him suspiciously, their voices rising in anger.

“Who are you?” one of them demanded. “What are you doing here?”

Max tried to explain, his voice calm but firm. “I’m here to see someone—”

Before he could finish, another man interrupted, shouting, “We don’t know you! You can’t just wander around like this!”

Fiona, hearing the commotion, stopped in her tracks. She turned around and saw the group surrounding Max. A surge of anger flared up inside her, but alongside it was a strange, unfamiliar pain in her heart—a deep, instinctual concern for this stranger.

“Stop it!” Fiona shouted as she pushed her way through the crowd. “He’s my relative!”

The men looked at her in surprise, stepping back slightly. “Your relative?” one of them asked, confused.

“Yes, he is!” Fiona insisted, her voice steady as she stood protectively between Max and the villagers.

Just then, Meera appeared, her presence calming the tension. “Enough, everyone,” she said softly but with authority. “This is a family matter. Come, Maximus, Fiona—let’s go home.”

Without another word, Meera gently took hold of both of her grandchildren, guiding them away from the crowd and back toward their home. Fiona glanced at Max, still unsure of who he really was, but trusting her grandmother’s judgment.

Max, relieved and grateful, walked beside them in silence, knowing that the time for answers was fast approaching.