Chasing Sofia

Chapter 1 - Homecoming

Eight months later…

It’s funny how people say we don’t change. We are who we are since birth until we die. But I know for a fact I’ve changed. I’m different. I’m not the same girl who I was eight months ago. I often wonder if she still exists somewhere deep within me. But as time passes, she seems more and more distant. As if she simply were a memory of an old friend I used to know. I’m scared that one day she’ll be gone forever, and all that will remain is this shell of a person I am today.

I spent the better part of last year living in London with my older brother Leo and his family. I just couldn’t stay in Madrid after what happened. I couldn’t face my parents, Nico, and especially not Adrian. So with the excuse of failing my last two classes of high school, I told everybody I wasn’t ready for college and needed some time for myself.

Luckily, my parents agreed and I was able to complete the courses online in London. It took me three months, but at least I was able to officially graduate high school. Yay for me. My university also didn’t have a problem with me deferring one semester. Honestly, I was surprised they didn’t revoke my acceptance letter with such horrid grades during my senior year and was grateful I would be getting a second chance.

I would like to say that I spent the last months soul searching and finding myself, but that never happened. I really just spent most of my days ignoring emails and phone calls from back home and helping my sister-in-law Mia around the house with my adorable nephews. Honestly, I think they might have been the ones to save me without even knowing it. At least they kept me human.

But that is all behind me now and it’s time to get my life back in order. I couldn’t stay away forever and needed to resume my life. If nothing else, I just need to complete my college education and then I can start a new life somewhere else, far away from everybody, and I will never have to think about what happened again.

As I pay the taxi and make my way towards the imposing iron gates of the house I grew up in, I can’t help a shudder from wracking my body. Of course, my parents are in the middle of a trip to god knows where so they wouldn’t be home. Nico had offered to pick me up at the airport, but I told him not to worry about it. Last thing I wanted was to be stuck in a silent car ride with him where he would try to pry endless answers out of me.

What I didn’t expect was for him to be waiting on the doorstep for me. It looks like he has been sitting there a while too, as it takes him some time to stand up and stretch out his big legs. I didn’t think it would be possible for him to get any bigger, but he looks absolutely massive.

He comes towards me rather quickly, but then stops a few steps before he reaches me. Eight months is really a long time, and it feels like an eternity has passed before seeing my twin. His eyes are full of concern and worry, his expression cautious as he hesitates before me.

My throat immediately thickens and my eyes become teary. It feels like we are strangers and it terrifies me. Will anything ever be the same?

Nico surprises me by closing the distance between us and wrapping his muscled arms around me, hugging me silently. God, I really missed him so much. If I’m not careful, I will end up having a full-blown meltdown right in front of him.

“I’m so glad you’re back, sis,” he whispers. “Don’t ever do that to me again.”

I sniffle and nod at him as we separate. “I’ll try not to,” I whisper back.

“Good. You look like shit, by the way.”

I manage to chuckle. I know I look like shit. “Thanks for reminding me.”

“I was always the better looking one of the two of us, but damn princess. It’s not even a competition now,” he says nudging me.

“Ha, ha. Are you going to help me with my bags or what?”