**This story takes place DIRECTLY after my first story: Alone. It is heavy-handed and I have rated this story M. Trigger warning: heavy talks of suicide, depression, and the struggle to keep fighting. Please take this into account when reading. Also rated M for under-aged sex and talks of abortion. Reader beware.**

Chapter 14

Grace

The afternoon after we cremated Emery passed slowly. I wandered around the house, cleaning randomly and trying not to think about how my sister had stayed hidden from me.

That night, I had laid in her bed, soaking in her smell, trying my best to know she would come home when she felt like she had "won" whatever fight she had in her head. That's just how Serra was. When we fought as kids, she would close herself into her room, ignoring me until she felt like she froze me out long enough to feel victorious over me. It was a routine that I was used to, though I would never understand it.

I woke the next morning to a vivid dream about Serendipity calling my name and worrying about disappointing me. I had no idea what it meant or if it was a vision, but Miguel was there as well, and they were safe, which is all that mattered to me.

As I got up and got ready for work, I kept feeling like I could hear her say my name. Eventually, I walked downstairs and poured myself a cup of coffee and held my phone in my hands, trying to decide if I should call her again. I dialed without really thinking about it and listened as her phone rang repeatedly, eventually going to voicemail. Pressing my lips together, I decided against leaving a voicemail, so I let my phone snap shut and set it back on the countertop.

I sipped my coffee, staring at my phone and about dropped my mug when I saw Serra's number flash across my screen. I set my mug down and ripped my phone open, but she hung up before I had a chance to greet her. I held the open phone in my hand, wondering if she would call back, but the screen remained dark. Serra lost her nerve.

I smiled to myself as I set the phone back down on the counter. She was getting closer to coming home.