A Mother's Sacrifice
Dear Gabriella,
Take a deep breath because it will probably be as difficult for you to read this letter as it will be for
me to write it. My name is Alexa Valencia-Goth and though you have no memory of me, I am your
mother.
You are a descendant of a great warrior named Manning Valencia. He was brave, strong, and quite
handsome. He was a great leader who loved eating almost as much as he loved being outdoors. Our
watcher selected him from ‘The Gallery’ to be a mate for your great-grandmother, Karina Kelly. Karina
loved the artistry of nature and loved collecting things from the world around her. In all her life, there
would be nothing that she loved more than her family. Their story began in the Pre-Historic era. They
were cave people. Yes, they actually lived in a cave.
My mother, Nara Valencia, was the first of six children born to Karina. While Karina and Manning
where soul mates, they were never married. Marriage did not exist in the Pre-Historic era so it was
common for both men and women to have many mates. Nara had one full blooded sister, named Lara
Valencia. Then came Mara Flex, Kara Bjergsen, Donning Lothario, and Lunning Munch. They were all
very capable sims and accomplished many things. Their nourishment came from fish cooked at a fire pit
and from fruits and vegetables harvested from wild plants and eventually from their garden.
It has been known that not all living things last forever. As evening fell on a gray and cloudy day, the
Grim Reaper came to claim Manning Valencia. The family gathered inside the shelter of their cave and
mourned the loss of their dear father. Looking back, it must have been then that it happened. In that
moment, your destiny began to unfold.
When Mother became a young adult, it was time for her to find a mate. The family travelled to a
nearby gathering place. That is where she met my father, Alexander Goth. Still saddened by her
father’s passing, their first few days consisted of her crying on his shoulder while he consoled her. They
formed a close bond. Out of their love, I was born. As mother placed me into my bassinet, the other’s
celebrated. In a few days, I would grow to be a child. This would signal the start of a new era.
A spacious Roman Villa was built on the flat land outside of the cave. The adults went about their
lives learning the new skills which had become available upon entering the Early Civilization era. In the
days that followed, skills were mastered, the garden was completed and perfected, father’s hair turned
grey, and my sweet grandmother passed. Once again, we were all present when Grim raised his scythe
and swiped her life force away. I knew now the pain and sadness my mother had felt when her father
died, the pain of losing a loved one.
One day, my father surprised everyone and proposed to my mother. Couples were allowed and
expected to get married in this era. They had a beautiful wedding in the peristyle, a Roman indoor
garden. What tears of sorrow had brought together, laughter soon tore apart. It was later that week, at
a house party, that my Uncle Lunning told one too many jokes and caused my father’s unexpected death
by laughter. Only my mother, Uncle Lunning, and my Aunt Kara were in the dining room when he died.
Of course, Grim showed up with his tablet in one hand and the other hand on his hip. He seemed
frustrated to be there. He looked as if he had a problem to solve.
Shortly after my father’s death, my mother collapsed in the yard on the way to the mailbox. Grim
appeared to do his reaping. He stood, solemnly, defeated, his arms hanging down at his sides. I
collected mother’s urn and placed her gravestone next to father’s and the other’s near the back of the
house. Six of my ancestors had died so far. Six souls Grim has come to collect from our family. What a
horrid, horrid creature! Or was he? For just as I had those thoughts, he tapped me on the shoulder and,
with tears in his eyes, asked me for my help.
Yes, six times Grim had come to perform his duty. But, after the first time, death was not the only
reason for coming. That night in the cave when Manning was taken, so was Grim’s heart. It was love at
first sight. Six times he watched as she covered her eyes as tears of sadness fell for those she loved. Oh,
to be loved by her. But how? Her time was running out. Soon, he would be there to collect her soul.
Soon, she would be lost to him forever.
Aunt Kara was a beautiful girl. She was even more beautiful on the inside. It showed in her paintings
and in her music. Her creativity was endless. Even as a young girl, she crafted such wonderful and
unique garments. Perhaps it was her clothing that had caught Grim’s eye because she was holding her
face in her hands crying the first time he saw her.
He would do anything to save her, even give up his own immortality. Grim offered to tell me the
secrets of immortality but said that immortality wouldn’t come without sacrifice. He promised
resurrection and immortality for all of my ancestors, for myself, and for all of my descendants. But at
what price?
I said ‘Yes’ to the marriage proposal. I said ‘Yes’ and ‘I will’ at my wedding to your father Gabriel
Tucker. I had met him at a dinner party the night my father died. I cried poolside as I sat beside your
father eating cake at our wedding celebration. I cried, because I said ‘Yes’ to the Grim Reaper.
You were conceived on our wedding night. There was no such thing as birth control in the Early
Civilization era. While there might have been a way to influence the gender of your unborn child, it was
not known at this time. There were no fertility potions, fertility massages, or fertility reward traits
either. I had no idea whether you would be a boy or a girl. It didn’t matter to me. I would love you
unconditionally forever and wherever you may be.
Standing in front of the bassinet about to give birth, my face was not covered in pain, but in sorrow,
or perhaps, it was fear. I feared that I had made the wrong decision. I was filled with sorrow because I
knew that moments after you were born, you would be taken from me. I would not get to cuddle you. I
would not get to feed you. I would not get to see you grow up. In fact, I would not get to see you again
until you were an elder woman. I had cried because my sacrifice was you, my first born child.
Minutes after you were born, something unexpected happened. I gave birth to a son. Gabriella, you
have a twin brother named Gabe. He will remain here with me while you are sent off to fulfill your
destiny.
Your father made it into the room just in time to see his new babies for the first time. The two
bassinets were side by side but yours was already empty. My father’s ghost was holding you. You
looked so peaceful in his arms. He would be the one to take you to “the bin”. From there, you would be
placed, by our watcher, into a new world, into the Modern era, thousands of years in the future, where
Potions of Youth are not banned but are used to make immortals.
Gabriella, you must be there now reading this letter. The land you are standing on is yours. You own
it! It is called “Twin Oracle Point”. A fitting name don’t you think? There should be $10,000 in your
bank account to help get you started. Also, I have attached Grim’s instructions.
So, take a deep breath and try to calm your nerves. You got this! I believe in you. See you soon.
Your loving mother,
Alexa
P.S. When you see Grim, and you will many times, don’t be afraid of him. He is not as bad as he looks.
Don’t hesitate to ask him any questions you may have, after all, they are his instructions. He will probably
be willing to help out in any way that he can because he too will benefit from your success.
Time to get started…immortality awaits.
