"Whatever happens
Even if I'm the last standing
I'ma stand tall"

________________

"You're my mother!", said Florence shocked. "Flo, breathe!", said Esther calm. "Breathe? Breathe?! That's the only thing you have to say Esther?", shouted Florence frustrated. "I have to go I can't be here!", as she said that, she turned around and ran out of the apartment. Cristal wanted to go after her but the man stopped her. "I will go.", he said. Cristal looked at him. "Thank you Anders.", said Cristal. As Anders left them, Esther looked at Roberta.

"Why are you here Celia?", asked the older woman suspicious. "I want my daughter. I want her to have a mother!", said Cristal. Esther raised her eyebrow. "Too bad that you missed 15 almost 16 years of her life!", she said sarcastic. "I know I should've never left her but I didn't have a choice!" "You had a choice! You could've raised her and be there for Florence!", yelled Esther. "Cálmese nina.", said her grandmother and put a hand on her shoulder to calm her down. "Florence? But her name is Sol.", said Cristal confused. "It's Florence. My mother gave her the name!", said Esther. "Your mother?" "Yes, my mother Daniela Rodriguez,  wife of Elijah Rodriguez and stepmother to Florence!", declared Esther. "She was a way better mother for Flo than you would've ever been!", said Esther bitterly. Cristal didn't want to admit it but Esther was right. She left her baby girl but there was a reason why. She was just not ready to spill it.

●●●

Anders searched through the whole neighborhood until he stopped in front of a diner. Leading to the Rodriguez apartment. He chuckled at the thought of Florence hiding inside. "Hello? Miss Rodriguez?", he called as he stepped inside. Anders began to walk around the small diner, taking every detail in that he saw. This place beamed with joy and memories. The smell of burgers and fries coming from the kitchen was nostalgic.

He heard a small sniffle and knew exactly who it was. "Do you need a tissue?", he asked kind. The girl just looked at him with red eyes. "No thank you.", she said emotionless. "May I sit?", asked Anders gentle. Florence gestured for him to sit down beside her. "I guess it's quite a shock to you isn't?", he asked. "You can say that loud.", said Florence with a small smile. "How long didn't you see your mother?" "15 almost 16 years.", answered Florence dropping her small smile. Anders felt bad for her. "Growing up without a mother must've been hard huh?", he asked. "Actually no. I did had a stepmother.", said Florence. "Was it the woman you came home with?", he asked interested. "God no! That's my half sister Esther.", said Florence disgusted. "Her mother, Daniela raised me until she left us 4 years ago." "That girl is your half sister?", asked Anders. Florence nodded her head. "Yes, indeed. She's my annoying older sister who thinks she's the only one with problems", laughed Florence.

Anders chuckled. He liked the sister relationship of the Rodriguez sisters. "You both seem pretty close.", said Anders. "We are!", as Florence said that tears started to fall down her cheeks again. "Oh come here no shh.", said Anders and hugged the young girl. "Why is she back after all those years?", whispered Florence to the butler. "I guess she wanted to meet you.", he answered. "I don't think so! If yes, she would've come sooner to look for me!", yelled Florence.

Suddenly the door opened only to reveal her best friends. Florence got up and ran to them. The kids all wrapped their arms around Florence to comfort her. "Esther called us. We're so sorry!", said Zoe. "We're not letting that witch take you!", said Zack.  Ellis looked at him before Zoe punched his arm. "Take me? What are you talking about?", asked Florence as she looked back and forth between the butler and her friends.

●●●

"How can you let that woman take me!", yelled Florence as she stormed into their apartment. She saw her sister sitting on the couch crying. "I just found out.", she said with a whisper. "You can't let that happen!", begged Florence. "I can't do anything about it my little flower.", said Esther devastated. "If I try she's going to court!" "Then let's run away!", suggested Florence. Esther just looked at her little sister with sad eyes. "I'm sorry flower. Tomorrow you'll go with her.", apologized Esther. Florence just looked at her sister with a disappointed look. "You're giving up on me now too?", she whispered. Esther looked shocked at the words that left her sister's mouth. "How can you say that!", yelled her grandmother Roberta. She always yelled in English. "We don't have a choice niña, of course we don't want to give you away to her, but if we don't agree they will take it to court. We can't risk that!", said Roberta devastated.

Florence looked shocked at her grandmother. She never heard her so devastated. Not even after her grandfather's tragical death. Florence knew the temperament of her Abuela was very strong but that woman that stood right now before her, that wasn't her stubborn yet happy and energetic grandmother. No, this was her weak side. A side she never showed before. A side Florence nor Esther wanted to see.

Her eyes began to water up again at the sight of her family. She thought after her father's funeral it would be the last time she would see them that way. Everyone in their small neighborhood knew, that the Rodriguez woman were strong and independent. But they didn't knew in how much pain they were.

Florence went and hugged her grandmother. "Gracias Abuela.", she said. "You do enough for us and we have to appreciate it more. Te amamos", said Esther and hugged her grandmother as well. "Yo también los amo mis pequeños", said their grandmother grateful. "You're my most precious gift in this world.", she said and caressed their cheeks.

●●●

Esther wanted to bring her little sister to bed tonight. "You know that I'm not 5 anymore right?", she joked. Esther just nodded and smiled. Florence noticed the little tears in her eyes that were waiting to fall down tonight. "What's wrong star?", asked Florence her older sister. "Nothing flower.", she said while trying to blink the tears away. "Don't play with me. I know you better than anyone else in this world!" "I'm scared okay!", said Esther with tears now running down her cheeks.

"You're scared? Why?", asked Florence her older sister. "I'm scared that you might not need me because of Cristal.", said Esther and looked down at her knees. Florence just kept staring at her. She might not need her? "Bullshit!", said Florence offended. "How dare you think of such bullshit?" "Florence stop it!", demented Esther. But Florence didn't have the intention to stop. "I will always need you, you're my sister, my best friend! You're the most confident, intelligent, fashionable and caring person I know. I will always need you Esther!", said Florence with determination and hug her sister leaving her in shock and pride. "You will always need me?", whispered Esther. "Yes star. Always!", said Florence.

"Will you ever need me?", she asked. Esther laughed at her question. "Of course I will. You're my annoying younger sister. You're too protective of me that sometimes it hurts but you're also gentle and caring. How can I not need you!", said Esther and kissed Florence's temple. "I love you flower!" "I love you too star!", said Florence and gestured for her sister to lay beside her. They both kept talking until they fell asleep side by side.

In the middle of the night, Roberta decided to get some water. On her way to the kitchen she saw in her granddaughter's room both sisters asleep while holding hands. Their father would've been so proud of them, seeing his little girls being there for each other. Roberta closed the door while smiling to herself. "I hope you're seeing how brave your daughters are Elijah!"

_____________________

Here's chapter 2 guys! Hope you enjoy!💜

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