Fallen Grace

3

Grace tossed her blonde hair into a ponytail as she stood in front of the mirror. She stared at the girl that she saw before her eyes. She studied her reflection but found no similarities to the girl she once knew. Her stark blue eyes had seemed darker and for some reason she liked it more. Grace sucked in a breath and then let it out slowly. She forced a smile onto her face and then tightened her lips into a straight line. Grace hated having to interact with people and it was just her luck that the academic year was beginning. She dreaded entering that place again, having to face it alone this time. Miles was lucky because he finished the year before. Miles was always lucky. He was lucky that he had so many friends, he was a people's person. He knew how to fit in. Grace on the other hand wasn't very good at that.She noticed the letter that was peeking at her from her dresser. It was sealed and had her name on it. Grace rolled her eyes as she grabbed her bag off the bed not realizing it was unzipped. She watched as her books collided with the floor.

"What did the books ever do to you?"

She turned to meet her brother's hazel eyes. He smiled at her with the glowing expression he always wore. Grace groaned and then dropped to the floor to pick up her books as Miles crouched down beside her to aid.

"What are you doing in my room?",Grace questioned the tall boy with the blond hair that was cropped close to his scalp.

"Oh what? Like you would have a boy in here or something",Miles chuckled as he stood up.

Grace stuffed everything into her backpack and then slipped it over her shoulder after zipping it with a deep sigh.

"Or something ",Grace shrugged as she gave him a look.

"Can we leave now?",Miles asked her with a bored expression painted across his face.

Grace grabbed her cellphone off her dresser and then walked out of her bedroom. Miles followed behind her as they made their way down to the kitchen where a delicious scent attracted them.

"Good morning ",the slender woman greeted. She wore a pants suit and had dark brown hair and a soft demeanor. The woman that was up so early and making pancakes with blueberries and fresh cream for breakfast was Sabrina Anderson, successful attorney, mother of two and undefeated Monopoly champion with a record of six out of eight games. Rumour has it that she had a strong. alliance with the banker.

"Morning",Grace and Miles said in unison.

"Something smells good",the voice from the living room piped and then the man entered. His brawny physique was quite intimidating but at the same time he gave the impression of sensitivity. This man was Matthew Anderson, doctor, father, handy man and also known as the banker.

"I made pancakes, I thought it would be nice",Sabrina said as she welcomed the embrace of her husband.

"Can I get in on that?",he asked.

"You have to ask Grace, they're hers. Final year",her mother smiled at her as she placed the plate filled with pancakes in front of her daughter.

"Sure they're all yours",Grace nodded as she stood up. "I gotta get going anyway",she added as she left the kitchen counter and headed out of the room.

No one objected to Grace's statements. They knew better. Instead Mrs Anderson sighed and Mr Anderson leaned forward and kissed his wife on the top of her head before he retreated to eat the pancakes that had now belonged to him.

"Hey wait for me!",Miles called as he ran after her.

Grace opened the front door and let the morning breeze coax her. She began to walk down the pathway and reached the sidewalk. She took deep breaths as Miles caught up to her and started walking beside her.

"I have to walk you",he said in an obvious tone.

"You don't have to",his sister declared.

"I do, we always walk together",Miles shrugged in elaboration.

Grace looked around, a million thoughts going through her mind. She never spoke much. Not like how she used to  because Grace knew that if she did speak it wouldn't change anything. Things would still be the same.

"You do realise you left me right?I have to be in that prison all day without you",she said in an angry tone. Her face tightening.

"It's not like I had a choice you know",Miles explained with a chuckle escaping his lips as he brushed his fingers over his nose.

"Well at least you don't have to suffer through science with Mr Maxwell."

"You got this, just get through this year and we can get out of here. We can go to France, Think about how much you can write about there? And I'll get to see so many tourist attractions."

"A year? A year?",Grace laughed. "I'm barely going to get through this day, so don't talk to me about a year,Miles",she said as she increased her pace of walking and left Miles behind.

He struggled to catch up with her because she sporadically changed pace every now and then. Pace of her walk, pace of her life.

"Why are you saying that? Don't say that you're not going to get through it, because-"

"That's like speaking it into existence,  I know. You tell me that all the time!"

Miles opened his mouth to respond to his sister but he began to cough instead. He coughed and coughed almost choking. He heaved as he tried to catch his breath.

Grace moved toward him and put her hand on his back. She rubbed his back slowly in a comforting way.

"As I was saying, don't accept loss before you even fight the battle",Miles said after regaining his equilibrium.

"I don't have any fight left in me,Miles",she replied to him as she stood up on her tiptoes and gave her brother a slight peck on the side of his cheek.

Grace then turned around and retreated. She looked back once to see if Miles was behind her. He had stopped walking and so she looked forward again and continued walking to school. Alone.