Artemis opens his mouth, but Grandpa raises his hand.
“Shut up, son, even though you’re just the product of your father’s bad parenting, I’m also upset with you for turning your back on your brother, for not standing up and supporting him. I feel sorry for both of you, and these are not the moments I want anyone to associate with our family name.” Artemis and my father lower their heads. My grandpa’s acceptance is something extremely important to them. “I hope you can learn something from this and improve. I have faith in you.”
I am struck by the sadness in my father’s and Artemis’s expressions.
Grandpa looks at me again. “I started your enrollment process for medical school at the University you told Apolo about.” Grandpa hands me a white envelope. “It’s a bank account in your name, with enough funds to pay for your degree, college expenses, and inside are keys to the apartment I bought near campus for you. You have my full support. I’m only sorry you had to see your own father turn his back on you. The good thing about all of this is that you experienced not having it all and having to work for what you want. You’ll make a great doctor, Ares.”
I can’t move. I’m speechless. Of all the scenarios I’d imagined, this one had never crossed my mind.
Grandpa shakes his hands and slowly stands up.
“Well, that’s it. I’ll go get some rest,” he concludes and leaves the room. With his head down, my father walks out behind him. I’m still sitting there with the envelope in my hand, processing everything, when Artemis stands up and faces me.
“I’m sorry,” he says, looking me in the eyes. My older brother has rarely said those words to me. He runs his hand over his face. “I’m really sorry, and I’m glad that you can follow your dream. You deserve it, Ares.” A sad smile crosses his face. “You have a strength that I didn’t. Grandpa is right to admire you.”
“It’s never too late to change your life, Artemis.”
He shakes his head.
“It’s too late for me. Good luck, brother.” And with that he walks away, leaving me alone.
I don’t know how to feel. My emotions are so jumbled, but I recognize the main one as pure happiness.
I made it.
I’m going to be a doctor.
I’ll study what I want and I’ll save lives.
The only thing that dulls my happiness is the thought of the girl waiting for my call to tell her what happened. The girl I love, and the one who will be miles away from me once the semester starts.
Grandpa is wrong about only one thing, I’ve never had it all, and this time seems to be no exception.
FIFTY-FIVE
The Prom
- RAQUEL -
Bittersweet . . .
That’s how the news feels when Ares tells me what happened with his grandpa. I’m happy for him, even though the selfish part of me is kind of sad.
Now it’s real: we’re going to be separated. Just imagining being away from him makes my chest feel tight, cutting off my breath. Yet I know it’s his dream. I know it’s what he wants, and I would never do anything to stop him.
But boy, does it hurt.
“Raquel? Are you listening to me?”
Dani’s voice sounds far away even though she’s right next to me.
“Ah, sorry, my mind is elsewhere.”
“It’s our prom day, try to be present.” She touches her forehead to emphasize that my mind needs to stop spinning and enjoy this day. Part of me can’t believe that my senior year of high school is coming to an end, and that summer is here again, heralding almost a year since I first spoke to Ares.
“My love!” I hear from behind me, and I don’t have to turn around to know who it is. Dani rolls her eyes.
“Here comes your intense prince,” she teases as strong arms grab me from behind.
“My Juliet, my beautiful, my everything,” Carlos whispers dramatically. I pull his arms off me and face him.
“Carlos, what have I told you about hugging me all the time?”
If Ares knew . . .
Carlos pouts. “But hugging is a normal thing between future spouses.”
“Future spouses. . . . You get crazier every day.” Dani rolls her eyes and grabs him by the ear as usual.
“Ow!” Carlos groans in pain but still manages to make eyes at her. “Crazier with love, you mean.” Dani squeezes his ear again. “Ow! Ow!”
“You’re so cheesy.” Dani lets him go, falsely retching. Carlos rubs his ear.
“How are you spending prom day?” I ask, leaning my back against my locker.