𝐑𝐄𝐏𝐔𝐓𝐀𝐓𝐈𝐎𝐍 | 𝘢.𝘮𝘰𝘳𝘨𝘢𝘯

𝐢𝐢𝐢. 𝐭𝐡𝐞 𝐰𝐢𝐥𝐥𝐢𝐚𝐦𝐬

☾︎ 𝕋ℍ𝔼 𝕎𝕀𝕃𝕃𝕀𝔸𝕄𝕊 ☽︎

June 2016

After the Met Gala, Alex and Brooklyn decided they needed a break from the whirlwind of their schedules and the pressures of their careers. With the Olympics in Brazil approaching, Alex wanted to spend quality time with Brooklyn before distance separated them for the summer. After some discussion, they opted for a getaway to London to visit Brooklyn's family. It was a perfect opportunity to disconnect from the outside world and reconnect with the people who provided them with calm and stability.

Alex had already known the Williams family for two years. It was during her first trip to London with Brooklyn, shortly after they officially started dating. From that moment on, Alex had felt welcomed, as if she were one of them. The warmth of the Williams had that ability to make you feel at home no matter how long you had been away.

Ethan, Brooklyn's father, was the definition of a family man. Laid back and with an infectious sense of humor, he always found a reason to laugh. His carefree attitude and storytelling ability turned any dinner into a laugh-out-loud spectacle. Despite being a jokester, his love for his wife Cate and their children was evident in every little gesture.

Cate, on the other hand, was the rock of the family. She was a loving mother, but also firm when the situation called for it. She had raised her children with love, but also with the strength to face the world. Brooklyn always said that her mother was her greatest inspiration, the reason she believed in herself even on her worst days.

Brooklyn's younger brothers completed the family picture. Tom, the eldest of the two, was 18 when Alex met them. By that age, Tom had already begun to make his mark in the film industry. Although he was young, he had a maturity that surprised many. You could tell he loved acting, but he never let success go to his head.

Walker, the youngest, was just 5 years old and was the personification of joy. To him, the world was a place full of possibilities. He saw his older brother as his hero and dreamed of following in his footsteps one day. Walker loved spending time with Alex, whom she saw as a friend and playmate.

During visits to London, Alex enjoyed the small pleasures of family life that were often lost in the whirlwind of travel, games and training. Home-cooked dinners around the table, long conversations in the living room and walks through London parks became fond memories.

However, this visit had a different tone. One night, after a quiet dinner, with Walker and Tom already in bed, Brooklyn's parents asked to speak to her and Alex in the living room.

The atmosphere in the room changed. Ethan and Cate sat together on the sofa, holding hands. The expression on their faces made Brooklyn's heart race.

"Dad, what's wrong?" Brooklyn asked worriedly, her voice reflecting the knot that was beginning to form in her stomach.

Ethan squeezed Cate's hand tenderly before speaking. His normally sparkling eyes dimmed a little.

"We got some results back from your mother's medical tests," he began, searching for the right words. "The cancer is back, Brooklyn. It's a malignant tumor and the doctors are worried."

Silence fell over the room. Brooklyn felt as if the ground had disappeared beneath her feet. Her mind refused to accept what she had just heard.