Chapter 1 The Memory “Alex. Alex!” someone called my name, “Alexandra!” I opened my eyes. I saw a doctor standing next to my bed. “W-where am I?” I asked, trying to regain my voice. “San Francisco Hospital,” the doctor said, “Do you remember me?” “N-no.” I answered, still regaining my voice. “Do you remember what happened?” He pushed on. “No.” I finally had my voice back. “It seems that you fell pretty hard,” the doctor said, “Go to sleep. You need some rest. Besides, sleep might help you to remember. I must go now.” With that, he left. I had no idea what to do. Taking the stranger’s advice, I went to sleep... In my dream, I remembered my father. I remembered him the way he was when I was little. He wasn’t only my father. He was my best friend. But then, as I became older and my family corporation grew, my father pulled away from me. I just wasn’t good enough for him anymore. One day, I found a file on my father’s desk. On it, there was a name. Summer Mathews. Mathews? But that was my name! I didn’t understand. I looked around the room and spotted a copier. I made copies of all the files. The people were right. They always said that I was a curious girl. That night, I read the file. I learned that this girl named Summer was three years younger than me – twelve. I also learned that she was my half-sister. She was my father’s daughter with a different mother. I was outraged to learn that. As I thought about what I have read, a thought passed through my mind. I’m not good enough for my father. But maybe she is. Maybe he thinks that this girl is better than me, and he wants to replace me. No. I told myself. No. I am still his daughter. He would never do that. Or would he? The next morning I was going to my gymnastics camp. My father had made me take gymnastics, while he sent Michael, my only sibling, to Harvard College. I wished I was there with him. I hated gymnastics. The camp was to be two months long – over my summer break. I was happy that my bodyguard was to come with me. “I don’t want to go, Will,” I told him, “I will be all alone and you know that I am doing this because I have to.” “Miss Mathews, I have been protecting you since you were a child,” Will replied, “Of course I know that you hate it, but you will not be alone: I will be there.” “Yes, and I am thankful for that, but still… I do not want to go. And don’t call me Miss Mathews.” He smiled at that. William was always there for me, even though I haven’t always seen it. He knew what I liked and what I hated. But as the years passed, I wasn’t this little girl that he had to protect anymore. I was always ‘Miss Mathews’ now. “Don’t call me that.” I repeated, more to myself than him. “We do not want to be late.” he said as he picked up my bags. We were off. “I hate this camp!” I yelled as I sat on my bed in my new room at the camp. Will laughed. I guess it seemed amusing to him. “I want to do something different. Something that I actually like.” An idea entered my mind. “I know! Why don’t you teach me how to fight?” The smile vanished from Will’s face. He looked into my Eyes – moving from one eye to the other, as if trying to find out which one was lying. But there was no lie in my eyes. My face was the picture of excitement. I waited, hoping for a good answer. “Alright.” He finally said, bringing his smile back. “Thank you, thank you, thank you!” I ran over to him and did something I haven’t done for years: I hugged him. Learning martial arts was not easy, but since it was Will who was teaching me, it was fun. In two months, I have tried karate, kickboxing, and even swords. The practice had actually paid off. I was pretty good. On the last day of the camp, I was laying on my bed, talking to Will. “Ooh. I am so sore!” “Hey, it’s the last day. Stop complaining.” “Stop complaining!” I argued, “I am not complaining. I’m just ‘talking’. I mean, I have gymnastics and classes with you. It’s not that easy, you know.” “Well, as I was saying, this is the last day.” Will said. I sighed. I really liked learning from Will. I didn’t want to go back home. As if reading my mind, William said, “I can still teach you at home, you know.” There was a huge smile on my face. “Do you remember what you used to call me when I was little?” I asked. “You mean the one I used when you were acting tough and trying to beat up your older brother?” “Yep. That’s the one.” I laughed. “Kyra.” He said. I nodded with a smile. “You like that name, don’t you?” Will asked, “Well, Kyra, I’m going to start calling you that then.” “Cool.” “Just remember: Don’t ever lose who you are. You are still Alexandra if you like it or not.” I didn’t understand what he meant by saying that, but I nodded nonetheless. When we returned from the camp, we had a surprise. There was an unfamiliar woman with a girl coming to greet us with my father. “Hello, Alexandra,” my father said, “I have some news for you.” I didn’t say anything. I didn’t know what to expect. He pointed at the woman, “This is Jaime,” he pointed to the girl now, “and this is Summer.”