Chapter 1
Chapter 1: A Spark Ignites
Deep Loss
Miriam wouldn’t be the only child for much longer. Five years after that night of awakening, her mom had a surprise announcement for both Miriam and her dad. The happy little accident, Grace Liraz Cohen, was born on March 30, 2000. With a big age gap, different vibes, and all the attention shifting to Gracie the moment her mom went into labor, Miriam often felt like she was invisible in her little sister’s early life.
But things didn’t always feel that way. It’s kinda sad that it took something really bad to bring the sisters closer. Miriam was away at college when she got the call that no kid, no matter their age, ever wants to get.
“Mimi, honey. It’s Claudette,” her mom’s best friend said, sounding all shaky. “I’m really sorry to be the one to tell you—”
“No, no... don’t say it.” Miriam choked, her chin quivering and tears starting to prick at her eyes. “H-How?”
“Drunk driver, Oyster Bay Expressway.” Claudette’s voice wobbled, and Miriam always thought it was amazing how she could look calm even when things were falling apart. “The funerals are in two days. Can you make it back?”
Miriam noticed Claudette didn’t say anything about little Gracie, who was now just ten and all alone. After their parents left their community, it felt like everyone turned their backs on them. “How’s Gracie?” Miriam asked, sniffling. “Where is she?”
There was a long pause before Claudette said it, “Hospital. She was in the back seat.”
Without another thought, Miriam hung up, grabbed her wallet and keys, and hit the road from The University of the Arts in Philadelphia to Cedarhurst, driving six hours straight.
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Once there, she parked in the driveway of the house she grew up in. As Miriam stood on the sidewalk, her eyes landed on the charming house that had stood proudly at the corner of the street since 1906. The brick looked warm and homey, and the white shutters brightened the big bay windows, letting the sunshine pour in.
The porch wrapped around the front, with pretty railings and some potted plants that added splashes of color. It was a place where neighbors could gather, share stories, and enjoy the day. The lawn was perfect, with soft green grass and flowerbeds bursting with flowers dancing in the breeze.
This house wasn’t just walls; it was a reminder of the love and laughter that had filled it over the years. Miriam felt a wave of nostalgia as she gazed at its beauty, remembering all the good times.
Claudette lived next door but stood outside on the porch, her arms hanging limply by her sides. Her usual bright smile was gone, replaced by a look of sadness as she greeted Miriam.
“Where is she?” Miriam asked, not wanting to think about what had happened. She needed to see her sister, who was still alive.
“Inside, upstairs, sleeping. Come on, I have coffee and pastries. You should eat; you look like a walking zombie,” Claudette said, trying to lighten the mood.
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Two days later, they lowered two caskets into the ground, side by side. Miriam hadn’t planned on staying, but what choice did she have? After seeing little Gracie sleeping—her arm in a purple cast, her hair stitched up, and her right hand bandaged from burns she got while trying to save herself and their parents—Miriam thought, “No one was there with her.” She quietly closed the door to Gracie’s room, leaving it slightly ajar. Claudette’s daughter lay in the matching bed on the right.
“What are you going to do about Gracie?” Claudette asked, taking a sip from her cup.
“Beats me. How am I supposed to raise my sister?” Miriam said with a shrug.
“You start by dropping the selfish attitude and doing what’s right by her.” Well, that was pretty harsh.
“I can see why Nina was friends with you,” Miriam shot back, lighting a cigarette. “If you know so much about ten-year-old girls, why don’t you do it?”
With a scoff, Claudette stood up, marched over, and snatched the cigarette from Miriam’s mouth, putting it out in her lemonade.
“I don’t know because you’re her sister! This shouldn’t be a problem! She was alone on a dark highway when her parents died—your parents, too.” Claudette’s voice was firm, her hand on her hip. “You know, the ones you left behind to chase your dreams. Gracie looks up to you, always has, and now that she needs you, you’re all about ‘poor me!’ Newsflash, little girl: the world doesn’t revolve around you!”
Miriam’s eyes narrowed. How dare you! She made a mental note. “Fine, fine. I’ll take her back with me to Philly... happy?”
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The Next Morning
Walking downstairs, there was an awkward silence that felt heavy in the air. “Morning, Gracie,” Miriam yawned, trying to sound cheerful. But her little sister’s face didn’t look happy at all. “Have you eaten yet? If not, you should now. We have a long drive ahead of us.”
Gracie flinched at the words “us” and “long drive.” She heard everything last night. It made her feel all twisted inside to know that her sister, whom she’d always looked up to, didn’t want her. It’s not like she was a little baby who needed taking care of. Gracie was always told she was an independent kid; she could dress herself at three, make her cereal, and pour her drinks by four. She didn’t need Miriam to “take care” of her. And if she knew her at all—which she didn’t—she’d know that. Gracie even knew how to do laundry and clean her room!
“I know you don’t want me to stay with you,” Gracie said, her voice flat and distant. She felt like she had to face the truth that even after their parents were gone, her sister still didn’t want her around. Just as their hazel eyes met, and Miriam looked like she was about to say something, Gracie took a deep breath, closing her eyes to steady herself. She’d cried enough for her mom and dad; now, she had to deal with her sister, too, whom she’d hoped to get to know. “Well, you don’t have to worry about me, Ms. Cohen. I talked to Claudette and Birdie. I’m going to live with them, and Claudette is going to get guardianship papers ready. I think you should sign them.”
“Gracie, please... I know how it sounded last night, and I’m really sorry—” But before she could finish, Gracie held up a hand to stop her.
“You don’t get it, Mimi. I—I needed you, and you showed up, but you didn’t want to take me home with you. So, just sell the house, take your share, give me mine for my future, and leave me alone.”
Miriam blinked in disbelief, grabbing Gracie’s arm and standing there in silence. Gracie suddenly broke down in tears, pulled away from her sister, and walked out of the kitchen, then the living room, and finally out the front door. Over the next five years, Miriam would feel like an orphan without any siblings. She let her choices and anger change her—staying alone in her sadness, her successes, and her failures, not realizing how wide open that left her heart to be hurt again and again, with no safe place to land.
