The Bloomer Legacy: 8.2 The Greats Are up to You

Hi Peyton,

So you know when I was saying how dull this place is? Holy cowplant, you won’t believe what happened the other day!

I was bored out of my skull, just walking around the flat aimlessly…

So I ended up picking up this random book – yeah, I was that desperate!

It was written by some guy called Peter Bloomer, I guess he must have been one of my ancestors too…

At first, I wasn’t all that into it… but it turned out to be really gripping. I stayed up all night reading this thing!

It started off with this huge conspiracy, a gang of criminals trying to take over the world. But then there was a whole other storyline about an amazon tribe and a slave that got banished… and he ended up serving the criminals, and even helping their leader escape when he got arrested…

I know what you’re thinking, that I’m getting way too into this book… But get this; it’s all real! It actually happened. And the villain and the slave ended up having a daughter, who was adopted into my family! I’m related to her!

The book really was about her, and how her past made her troubled and hesitant to trust people and fall in love, but it ended with her 18^th birthday. And then I had all these questions, like if she ever got to meet her real parents, and if she started to believe in love… I mean, I’ve never thought about whether I believe in love, but I guess I do hope it will happen  someday…

Anyway. I’m going on a tangent, and I still haven’t gotten to the coolest thing…

Pauline stared at the woman that just materialised in front of her.

“You… wait… what… the book!”

The woman smiled at her, and somehow, it made her feel better. Better than she’d been since moving to Newcrest.

“You must be Astrid’s child,” the woman said.

“Uh, yeah,” the girl nodded, still wide-eyed.

“I can only imagine how odd this must seem,” the woman acknowledged. “I can barely understand what’s happened myself. But it seems that you’ve brought me back by reading my Book of Life. I had no idea my dad wrote this…” She paused, her mind wandering elsewhere.

“In any case, thank you,” the woman sat down next to Pauline. “I feel like there’s a reason why I’m back. I’m Yenn, and I’m your great-great-great aunt. Though the greats are up to you. Personally, I think I’m just alright,” she grinned.

“So,” Pauline gathered her thoughts, “the book was about you? You have to tell me what happened next!”

“I would love to,” Yenn nodded. “But first, let me find your mother. Where is she?”

Yenn walked inside the bedroom that used to belong to Liv. It all felt surreal. But somehow, she also felt clarity. It seemed like waking up from a long nap, refreshed.

Astrid, on the other hand was sleeping. Yenn studied her face. Even in her sleep, she looked worried.

“Astrid, it’s all ok honey,” Yenn said gently.

Astrid turned around sleepily, but as soon as she saw her aunt, she jumped right up.

“What’s going on? Am I dead?”

“No Astrid,” Yenn said calmly. “It would appear I’m alive.”

“But… how?”

“It’s called the Book of Life,” Yenn explained. “I have the ability to write them too, but it never seemed justified. They can bring a person back from the dead, if read till the end. It seems that my father wrote one from me.”

“Wow,” Astrid struggled for words. “But… why for you and not anyone else?”

“I think he was really worried about me, back when he wrote it. I wish he knew that it all turned out just fine in the end,” Yenn trailed of. “But come to think of it… I think he knows now,” she smiled.

“You think?” Astrid asked quizzically. “Do you… not remember anything from, well… the beyond?”

“No my dear,” Yenn shook her head. “The last thing I remember is wishing I could help you, or Estrella, as you called yourself.”

Astrid looked down. “I’m sorry. For everything,” her voice trembled. “I was wrong, and you were right.”

“It doesn’t matter,” Yenn replied calmly. “What matters is what happened next. I’ve met your daughter just now…”

“Pauline?” It was as if the realisation just dawned on Astrid. “It was her who brought you back to life, wasn’t it?”

“Pauline,” Yenn repeated. “What a beautiful name. I wonder who you named her after…”

“I messed it all up,” Astrid whispered. “He doesn’t even know I exist. And that she…” Astrid paused. “Pauline… she hates me. And I deserve it.”

Yenn hugged her tightly. It was as if Astrid was a little girl again, seeking her aunt for comfort.

“You can’t change anything you’ve done, honey,” Yenn told her. “But you have the power to shape every single action you’re about to take from now on. We all do. So make things right.”

Astrid sobbed in her arms. “Oh aunt Yenn… I don’t know if I can.”

Author’s note: Did you really think I would say goodbye to Yenn off-screen, in the sidelines? I’m not letting my favourite character go that easy 😉

But on a more serious note, I always felt like Yenn might be crutial to the legacy further down the line, with the generational goals getting quite vapid (bar, lounge, club…), so I had Peter write the Book of Life for Yenn back in his day to ensure the legacy maintains some depth.