A crossed road

Denera

“Elena’s mother, also known as Denera, was my cousin,” Luna Danielle revealed.

Her words hit me like a thunderbolt, leaving me momentarily speechless. The room seemed to be still, the air thick with the weight of her revelation.

“You knew my mother?” I asked, my voice barely above a whisper, still reeling from the shock. The connection felt surreal, a thread in the tapestry of my life that I had never expected to find.

Danielle chuckled softly, a warm sound that eased the tension in my chest. She reached into her pocket and pulled out a folded piece of paper, handing it to me with a gentle smile. “I didn’t just know her; she was my first cousin.”

As I took the picture from her, tears prickled at the corners of my eyes. The photograph was worn but vibrant, capturing a moment frozen in time. I held it carefully, my breath catching in my throat.

In the picture, a younger Luna Danielle stood beside Aunt Rosa and…my mother, Elena. They were all smiles, laughter lighting up their fa