The worst part was discovering what my own parents had planned to do to Grace if Daniel had said no.
I learned early that the world could be cruel to my little sister.
Grace was born with Down syndrome.
She was only eleven months younger than me, which meant we were practically raised like twins. Same elementary school. Same bus stop. Same kitchen table covered in crayons and cereal bowls every morning.
But people never treated us the same.
When I was eight, children invited me to birthday parties.
Grace sometimes got invited only because their parents felt guilty.
When I answered a question slowly, teachers waited.
When Grace needed extra time, some teachers sighed.
When I laughed too loudly at lunch, nobody cared.
When Grace laughed too loudly, children mimicked her.
I noticed every single difference.
So did she.
One afternoon in third grade, two boys followed us across the playground making exaggerated faces and copying the way Grace spoke.
She tried to ignore them.
Then one of them called her stupid.