Grace.

Chapter 1

I returned home from my grandparents place in Spain a week before school opened. I had spent the whole summer there, my parents sent me away as soon as I came back home from school.
My grandparents live on a farm and I spent everyday reading, doing chores, horse riding, going for swims at the beach with the kids from nearby, and indulging in Horchatas. It was fun. See, I'm a simple girl, really. But I've got a rebellious side that only a few people know. My friends especially.
Most would say that I'm a nerd because I'm top in the grade and I'm in a lot of clubs at school and this and that. Well, sort of. I was a good girl, with bad habits. I went to parties. I drank. I smoked weed and I occasionally had molly.
But I never let that define me.
There's a time and place for everything.
But even though I had a rebellious, bad child side to me, one thing I had never given into is dating. Never! I never kissed a boy. Touched a boy. Texted a boy. My parents were always so strict about boys because of the incidents that happened to me and my sister, Gloria.
When Ria was twelve one of dad's closest colleagues did something terrible to her. She never spoke up about it until she was seventeen. I remember that day and life after that like it was just yesterday.
At only nine years old, I had to take care of my sister who had severe depression. Although our parents had got her help, having been the one who'd spend more time with her, I was the one to see her cry most of the time or not eat or sleep constantly. I slept in her room with her for months just to make sure she was okay. I'd rush home from school and prepare food for her and do her homework with her or anything with her because at such a young age I didn't know how else to help her.
Giving her everything I knew she liked was one way I thought would show her that I love her and she's not alone. But Gloria being Gloria, she'd always say she's okay and what not but I never believed her. Honestly, she used to push me away until I myself fell into depression because of the bullying from school.
I came back home one afternoon and just threw myself into our pool. It was so peaceful in there. I didn't want to come out. I guess Gloria must have heard the splash because she came running out and called my name.
I didn't hear her. I was too focused on the peace and quiet for once. No laughs from the other kids or the names they'd call me echoing in my head.
It was only when I felt her pulling me out did I realize what I had almost done.
"Grace?! Are you insane?! What's gotten into you?!" She panicked.
Obviously she told mom and dad. And next thing I knew, I had therapy sessions at the hospital three times a week.
Papá is an Neurologist. Whoa! I know. He's a very, very smart man. He's who me and my sister took after. Mom is just as clever too. She's a pediatrician. So you can just see how easy it was for them to get us the best help we needed, right under their noses.
It was the help I never knew I needed. I was always so sure that I had everything under control and that I'm fine because I was so lost in taking care of my sister that I didn't notice that I too needed taking care of.
When we were younger, mom and dad worked a lot. So it was always me and Gloria most of the time. We refused to get a babysitter. All we did was study together — a lot. We'd also watch a lot of movies. I'd watch her cook sometimes and I'd do the dishes.
Mamá and papá have never been bad parents. No matter how late they'd return, they'd always check up on us.
Dad's my most favorite parent. I'm his girl. Gloria and mamá are the besties. But there's no hate in our family, whatsoever. I think it's because I'm more like dad and Ria's more like mom.
When I was a kid I'd sometimes wait for him to come home while reading a book under my blanket with a torch light on. I'd always be so happy to hear him open the door.
"I see this little monster decided to have a late night," He'd say.
I'd giggle so much whenever he tickled me.
"What are you reading there?"
"The little mermaid."
"Ah! Ariel! Is she still under the sea with Samuel?"
"It's not Samuel, Papá! It's Sebastian!" I'd giggle.
And then we'd sing Under the sea. Dad is a very good singer, but my favorite song had always been: Part of your world. Only when mom would walk in after checking in on Gloria would I go to bed. Our beautiful mamá. "Bonita," she'd call me.
The sound of her voice always made me feel like I was three again. Dad would kiss me goodnight and she'd step forward to make sure I was tucked in.
"Did you brush your teeth?" She'd ask me, caressing my cheek.
"Yes, Mamá," I'd reply softly.
She too would give me a peck on my forehead before heading out and I'd fall right to sleep.