Is this love what I am feeling?

Prologue - no more parents

Eighteen-year-old Clara Davis has been navigating the tumultuous waters of life since she was just twelve, when she lost her father. Her mother, Jenny, a talented graphic artist, found solace and companionship in John Williams, a successful pharmaceutical businessman. After their marriage, Jenny adopted John's surname and helped raise his daughter, Alice Williams.

Alice had only known her mother as a fleeting memory from her toddler years. For her, Jenny was the maternal figure in her life; her real mother in all but blood. Clara and Alice grew up as sisters, their family dynamic intertwined with the complex realities of a blended household.

Presently, both Clara and Alice find themselves in a Manhattan apartment, mourning a devastating loss. Tragedy struck again in Clara's life, as Jenny and John recently lost their lives in a horrific car accident. The cruel twist of fate left them grievously injured, leading to their untimely deaths after prolonged hours of agony in the hospital. Back at the apartment, the absence of their loving presence was a raw wound, its pain almost tangible in the air.

Clara and Alice sat close together on the plush couch, their shoulders touching, lending each other the strength they were rapidly running out of. Tears trickled down their faces in an endless stream, as if their sorrow had taken physical form. Hugging each other tightly, they found a modicum of comfort amidst the profound grief.

"It's just...it's just not fair," Clara whispered, her voice hitching, her words encapsulating the profound injustice of their situation. Alice, her face buried in Clara's shoulder, merely nodded, her silent agreement echoing in the quiet room.

A long moment of silence stretched between them, filling the space with echoes of memories, laughter, and shared moments that were now poignant reminders of their loss. Yet in this quietude, an understanding passed between them, a shared resolve that was born of their grief.

"We need a break, Alice," Clara said after what seemed like an eternity, her voice stronger than it had been all evening. "After the ceremony, after we've taken care of the paperwork and the inheritance...we should get away. Go on a vacation or something."

Alice lifted her head, red-rimmed eyes meeting Clara's. A moment passed, and then she nodded, a small yet determined smile making its way onto her face. "Yeah," she agreed, her voice raspy. "Yeah, we should. They would have wanted us to."

Amidst the tears and the grief, the two sisters found a sliver of hope, a plan for the future that they knew they had to face together. It was a promise, a pact, born of loss but looking towards healing.

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Clara's sense of isolation at the funeral was almost more than she could bear. She was surrounded by the Williams' family, a sea of unknown faces connected to Alice and her father. Her mother's family from Montana, people whom Clara herself had never met, were notably absent, the geographical and emotional distance between them too vast to bridge during this time of shared grief.The caskets lay side by side, their lids closed to conceal the grim reality of their contents. Jenny and John's bodies, badly burnt in the accident, were hidden from the eyes of their loved ones. The sight of the twin caskets made Clara's heart constrict with pain.Alice's family paid Clara polite but distant condolences, their unfamiliarity with her causing an awkward tension. Clara felt as though she were in a room full of strangers, amplifying her sense of alienation.Sobbing, Clara laid her hands on her mother's casket, the cool hardness of the surface providing a stark contrast to the warmth her mother once embodied. Her cries filled the room, a piercing note of sorrow in the heavy air.Alice was by her side in an instant, pulling Clara into a tight hug. She held her step-sister, letting her cry and providing silent comfort, even as her own heart ached with shared loss. Clara clung to her, Alice's presence her only anchor in a world that had just been turned upside down.With her father long gone, her mother taken too soon, and her extended family distant and unknown, Clara realized Alice was all she had left. Alice was her family now, the sole tether in her life that linked her to a sense of belonging and home.This realization grew even more poignant as the two young women found themselves seated in their family lawyer's office following the funeral, the sterile environment serving as the backdrop for the complicated process of sorting through their parents' legacies.The lawyer's tone was somber as he explained the provisions of the succession. Clara was to inherit all of Jenny's belongings, including a variety of artworks that were kept in a storage unit upstate. Her mother's talent as a graphic artist had accumulated a collection of personal value that now belonged to Clara.Alice, on the other hand, was to inherit the Manhattan flat and all of John's financial assets. The couple had opted for a separation of property in their prenuptial agreement, keeping their individual assets distinct. A significant portion of John's wealth was intended to be passed on to Jenny, with his will specifying that two-thirds of his belongings should go to his beloved wife.However, the cruel twist of fate that saw Jenny passing away a few hours before John, and John being in a coma with no ability to change his will, rendered the provisions void. As per the law, Jenny's share of the inheritance couldn't be transferred to Clara posthumously, leaving Clara with her mother's personal effects but none of John's fortune.Clara understood that her mother had chosen this path deliberately, to fend off the insinuations that she married John for his wealth. John, in his love for Jenny, had attempted to ensure her financial security through his will, but fate had intervened.As the reality of her circumstances sank in, Clara felt tears welling up. She wept silently, her tears a reflection of the complexities of her situation and the loss of her parents. Alice moved closer, wrapping an arm around Clara. With a reassuring squeeze, she whispered, "I'm here for you, Clara."

Following a restorative night's sleep, the sisters awoke to the harsh reality of their new life. They were no longer children, sheltered by the protective wings of their parents. Their world had been altered, pushing them into an unwanted adulthood marked by an unspeakable loss.To find respite from the overwhelming grief and to begin the healing process, they knew they needed to distance themselves from their immediate environment. The vacation they had discussed earlier now seemed like a beacon of hope, a much-needed break to mend their shattered hearts.They settled on Fuerteventura, one of the Canary Islands, known for its natural beauty and acceptance of nudity. This was not a random choice, but one steeped in childhood memories of family holidays where they would often spend their days basking in the sun, nearly or completely devoid of clothes. It was a nod to their mother Jenny's bohemian, free-spirited outlook on life, an aspect that even the pragmatic John had come to adopt during their family vacations.A hint of a smile crossed their faces as they remembered the freedom and joy those vacations had offered. The sensation of the sun warming their skin, the sand beneath their feet, the cool evening air warranting nothing more than a light pullover - all these memories painted a vivid picture of happiness that seemed slightly out of reach now. Yet, it became the force that propelled them to plan their escape, their reprieve from the tangible sorrow that had taken up residence in their lives.

With a focus that was both therapeutic and energizing, they began organizing their vacation. They booked a cozy bungalow just a ten-minute drive from the beach. Alice, the one with a driving license, arranged for a small convertible jeep that would take them around the picturesque island. Their itinerary included a plane ride the next day, with a short stopover in Madrid before they would reach their ultimate destination.

Packing, a mundane task under normal circumstances, took on a new tone of adventurous excitement. They opted to leave behind their youthful bikinis, giggling at the thought. Their decision not to include panties in their vacation wardrobe felt rebellious and freeing. Shorts, pants, bras - everything that symbolized restriction and conformity was deliberately excluded from their suitcases. Their motto was simple: they were there to have fun and relax, not to be burdened by societal norms.

Their luggage instead filled up with light sundresses, straw hats, sandals, and sunglasses - everything that screamed 'beach holiday.' They posed in front of the mirror, modeling their outfits, comparing their bodies with an easy camaraderie. Clara's round, fuller buttocks were a stark contrast to Alice's smaller ones, while Alice's breasts took the win in terms of size. Amidst giggles and shared laughs, they took turns to shave their legs and pubic areas, opting for classic, neat haircuts - a small, sharp triangle and smooth lips.

For the travel, they settled on short sundresses. True to their newfound pact of embracing their bodies, they decided against wearing panties, even for the journey. They paired their dresses with sneakers and long socks for comfort during the flight, ready to embark on a journey that symbolized more than just a geographical displacement.