Reintroductions

This is a short character introduction I wrote a while back for a friend of mine. The story behind it is very long and somewhat tragic (though not in a traumatic death way). Someday, I might make this story into a book, but right now, I'm working on my Princess Elf story from last week. ;) 

Let me know what you think!
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Zaria's head was spinning. How could so much happen in only one day? Given, that day was her eighteenth birthday, but it still seemed beyond the realm of believability. Another distant cousin grasped her hand firmly and shook it, smiling brightly and offering her congratulations.

For what?! She longed to scream the words, but the world refused to hold still for long enough. What did I do? That seemed to be the question of the day (that had apparently already been answered twice without any real understanding on Zaria's part). What had she done to deserve the shock of a majority of her extended family showing up on her doorstep overnight? What had happened to merit the biggest birthday bash of her life with people she didn't know?

Someone was tapping on a champagne glass with a small fork, and the noisy chatter began to subside. A tall man with hair that was only just starting to grey stood at the far end of the lawn, near the back door of the house. Zaria watched him. He'd been introduced to her earlier. Uncle Larry? No, that wasn't it. Uncle Liam? Closer, but still not quite right.

“Can everyone hear me?” He had a strong voice, like someone who was (or at least had been) in the military. An image flashed in the girl's mind, of a younger man in a Navy uniform, saluting her mother. Zaria shook her head to clear it, then glanced accusingly at the delicate glass she held in her left hand.

No more champagne for you, Zar.

“We are here,” the man said, in his strong Navy voice, “to celebrate the coming-of-age of my niece at long last!” A cheer erupted from the assembled family. Not just polite applause, but actual yells, shouts, and whistles. Many eyes turned on Zaria, and the girl smiled uncertainly.

“As most of you know,” continued the man, after the cheering began to calm down, “I am Leonard Nelson, Lucy's brother. Though I didn't have the pleasure of seeing our little girl grow up, I have seen her blossom into a beautiful woman.” Again, cheering broke out and this time everyone turned to look at her. She felt the heat rush to her face and her heart pump a little faster than normal. The crowd parted and Zaria was pushed gently from behind. The girl turned to aim a pleading look at the woman who had pushed her. It was her mother, Lucy. The pretty blonde winked at her daughter and shooed her forward with a gesture. Reluctantly, Zaria made her way forward through the aisle in the crowd. Many of them reached out to touch her shoulders and hair, most of them yelling encouragement and still applauding.

This is all madness... Before she could finish the movie-quote, another mental image interrupted her. This one was more vivid than the last, depicting her mother, Lucy, as a little girl, sitting on Leonard's knee. He looked the same... even wearing his Navy uniform. Zaria staggered, reeling from the force of the image. Someone caught her and the applause died down.

“Are you alright, honey?” A middle-aged woman, possibly in her late forties was holding her up with relative ease, long nails digging into her arms.

“Karla.” Though she had been the one that had spoken, Zaria blinked, confusion filling her mind. How had she known the woman's name? Karla flinched a little, but the smile had returned to her face.

“The child is awakening!” Karla's cry was taken up by the others, and Zaria was set on her feet. What in the name of all things good was going on? Somewhere along the way, she'd lost the champagne glass. Now she was propelled toward her uncle Leonard by many hands. Every now and then, she would catch a glimpse of a face or a crooked finger or a broken nose, and images would flood into her mind. A child falling from a tree. A young man clinging to the back of a speeding van. A woman, heavily pregnant and smiling in the sunlight. Suddenly, she was standing in front of Leonard, who bowed in a very Victorian fashion.

“Welcome back, my love,” he murmured, smiling at her. Zaria's mind was a whirlwind of confusion and questions and memories.

“What's going on?” she choked on the words, tears collecting in her eyes. A headache was beginning to pound between her temples and it was getting worse the longer she looked at her uncle. Leonard smiled gently. He really was being rather kind.

“You are remembering. Awakening.” When she still looked (and felt) confused and pained, he took her hand, pulling her closer. “Let me introduce myself properly. Leon William Nelson at your service.”