I strode carelessly along the brick path which led to my grandmothers house thankful that work was done as I effortlessly skipped up the steps which led to the stoop of the aged and cracking red door. I opened the door without hesitation and rounded the corner to the kitchen and stopped in my tracks as I saw a strange older women with dark skin and silver hair charring quietly with my grandmother.

“Edith” they were nearly whispered “Ana is a woman now and capable of making her own choices” she continued in the hushed tone of their conversation. Grandmother just shook her head in reply. It was clearly something she didn’t agree with.

“Grandmother?” I hesitantly blurted out starling both women 

“Ana!” Grandmother responded is surprise with a quick look to the other older woman “Have you met my old friend, Ayodele?”

“I don’t believe I have?” I responded turning to the women as my grandmother gestured for her to join them. I strode over to the chair between them and hesitantly took her place. 

“We were discussing you” Ayodele continued, I couldn’t help but notice the odd look that grandmother was giving her old-friend “Do you know who you truly are?” 

I gave both women a puzzled look “Who I am?” I responded looking to her grandmother for an explanation.

“Ana” the old woman said softly as she took her granddaughter’s hand “I haven’t been completely truthful to you”

I looked expectantly at grandmother

“Our family has a long history” grandmother paused glancing at her friend her nodded for her to continue “let me start here...Have you noticed anything odd happening around you?” 

“Or have you had an odd feeling...as if something is off?” Ayodele spoke

I paused for a minute contemplating, I’ve had an odd feeling about myself for most of my life “Yes...” I responded hesitantly.

The older women just looked at me knowingly “That’s because you aren’t as ordinary as you think” my grandmother continued. I looked at them skeptically. How could I not be ordinary? Grandmother all ways told be to ignore those feelings I had.

“I’m sorry I’ve told you to ignore all those, Ana” Grandmother said with a hint of regret in her voice, “I thought it was for your own good...don’t be angry with me?”

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“I could never be” I responded reassuringly 

“Ana…” she paused as she continued “those presences you’ve felt but could not see..” she paused again, “those are the ancestors”

“Ancestors?” I asked 

“Yes.” She continued “they are always with us, guiding us”

I didn’t know how to take it. Ancestors? 

“We’re witches, Ana” grandmother continued suddenly 

“Witches?!” I exasperated “How...I’ve never seen you do anything out of the ordinary!”

“I’ve refrained since you’ve came to live with me,” she continued “Since your parents…” she paused becoming overwhelmed.

“It’s okay, Edith” her friend soothed “she needs to know, everything”

Everything? I knew my parents died when I was young and that I was sent to live with my grandmother.

“Yes...yes...I know” grandmother responded attempting to gather herself. “Ana, we have been in this country since its beginnings and have fought in every major conflict it's endured”

I knew that our family had been in the United States for a long time and had fought in many of the modern wars.

Ipswich, July 1692

“Hang her! Hang the witch!” The crowd yelled as a woman in her middle age was led to the hangman’s tree! The woman could do nothing but hang her head and not give them the satisfaction of a response.

Sarah Porter watched from further in the crowd, she felt ashamed that an innocent woman to pay for her misdoings but her elders insisted it was the only thing to do. If only that foul James Mercer hadn’t tester her patience and her morals. Sarah was not an evil woman and he just would not stop hustling her and she just couldn’t take it anymore - so she cursed him. Cursed him to misery.

Now all she could do was watch. Watch as the women hesitantly stepped on a crate and as her assassin slipped the noose around her neck and tighten it. The crowd was so pleased and Sarah felt so so sick. As the crowd jeered and yelled the hangman all to pleased with the task ahead of him kneeled down preparing to slip the crate from under the woman’s legs which would undeniably end her existence on this earth. Sarah couldn’t bear to watch as she bowed her head and shut her eyes. There was silence and then more cheering it was clear that the deed was done and an innocent had lost her life for her. 

I could hear my heart pound in my ears as the blood boiled in my veins! Was my ancestor a murderer?!

“Sarah Porter, is your six-times great grandmother” Grandmother continued confirming my suspicion “she did what she was told to do”

“An innocent person died for our family!” I yelled my anger more than apparent “and they just let it happen!?”

“Ana, I understand why you’re upset” she attempted to continue “it wasn’t up to her”

“Wasn’t up to her?” I inquired angrily “What wasn’t up to her? Cursing someone or someone else being hung for it? Because they were both her fault”

“Ana” Ayodele called after me as I bolted out of the chair towards the door. I couldn’t hear anymore “Be careful, child” 

I threw open the door as quickly as I could before bolting down the stairs and into the cool autumn air.