Grace

Insert 1

Hey everyone, been a bit longer than I intended due to stuff flaring up in my personal life. But I'm back... With an insert?

Ok, so, whilst I was writing this end section of the story, I skipped over the weekend break and Grace's musical performances with Gabriella because nothing was going to happen in that chunk of time that was going to affect the plot. If I were going to do the section justice, I'd want to spend a couple of months over it to get all the edits in as well. I didn't want to take that long over something that has no story significance, so I've written a linking section that bridges over what's missing. I will get to writing that at some point and either insert the chapters here, or release it as a separate piece.

Anyway, here it is.

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We spent the weekend not doing much at all. Clara and I took turns on the piano that was in the house and sung duets, I played tin whistle and we spent the evenings playing card games with our hosts. These people, they either somehow didn't know who we were, or simply didn't care.

The walk to the house from the station and the walk back seemed to lift Clara's spirits more than anything else. It was an adventure for her where she was able to relax her mind and think. I'd read that being in the outdoors was good therapy in and of itself, but I hadn't believe it could have such an impact so quickly. She seemed almost like the old Clara as soon as she stepped foot outside. I knew she was never going to be the same again, too much had happened to her, but it was good to see that we hadn't lost her and what happened hadn't changed her beyond recognition. Now, more than at any point before, I was sure she was going to heal.

Even though she didn't come to the concerts in London, I could see it at each of the ones she did attend. Being around people was good for her as well, even being around the press who followed us to each concert. Some were from national newspapers, some international, some from fashion magazines and others from local news. If she felt any fear of them, she didn't show it. She smiled and laughed throughout the event and I laughed along with her, glad to have her with me. At the end of each night, she was exhausted, but happy that she'd been able to be there.

For me, the week was a blur. One venue to the next with sound checks and no time to see the cities we were in. It was equal parts thrilling and amazing with a little nervousness thrown in. Each was as good as the last and every time, I felt pride in my chest for all of us.

The performance for the Queen and foreign dignitaries was fine, but meeting them was nerve wracking. Ben was with me the whole time, but they all treated me like they were meeting the next Queen of England. I smiled and conversed under his gentle guidance and then it was back to school like nothing ever happened.

I'd never had a holiday like it. It was difficult personally, but so wonderful and filled with so much joy and amazement, it was like nothing else I'd ever experienced. Mum, Dad and I spent that night in the palace and went to school the next day, and what a fuss that caused.