Shiloh Pace

Shiloh Pace lead a privileged life. She was the only child of her parents, her father owned a lucrative construction business that her mother managed, she was given everything she could want as a child, probably even more than that. Her family was close, having family vacations and dinners every night, even though she didn't have siblings, it never felt like she was missing out.

From a very young age, Shiloh showed an interest in sports. Her parents put her into all the groups and clubs until she found her love in soccer. It wasn't just something she enjoyed, it was something she was good at. She maintained that focus through school, becoming team captain for her high school team, she was scouted by a few different colleges, earning her a full ride to basically any school she could want once she graduated.

All of that changed her senior year, during the semifinal game, Shiloh collapsed. She doesn't remember anything aside from running after the ball and then waking up in the hospital but everyone tells her she had a seizure, a grand mal, she spent a few days in the hospital getting tests and seeing specialists but her results came back normal. Low blood sugar maybe, they said, or overexertion. Make sure she eats before her games, take breaks if she needs them. Anxious to get back to it, Shiloh returned to school and practice that same week. Except a few days later, she collapsed again. This time, they diagnosed her with epilepsy. She started medications, she promised her family she would be okay, she would take all the precautions so that she could stay in soccer, but at the practice before the final game, a month after her diagnosis, her seized again. Despite all of her protests and pleas, her father pulled her out of the sport, ruining her career and all of her future plans.

At first, Shiloh was devastated. She went into a depression like she hadn't ever experienced before. Everything that she planned on and hoped for was ruined, every sacrifice and early morning and vacation missed for a practice or game was given up for nothing. She didn't know who she was anymore without soccer. She didn't know who she was at all. She wanted to blame her parents, even if it wasn't their fault. She stopped talking to them, choosing to spend more time in her room, withdrawing from the closeness they had always had before.

One day, while her parents were at work, she went into their room. She was looking for some of her old school projects, trying to reorient herself with who she used to be before soccer took over, when instead she stumbled upon a box labeled "Judah." Unknown to her, her father had a child from a previous marriage. A son. Someone that he kept tabs on. He had years of letters from Judah's mom, money orders of child support sent and pages of stories her half brother had written. Confused and upset that her father never told her anything about him, she kept the secret to herself. Just another reason to avoid her parents. Just another reason for her to feel lost.

While scrolling on instagram one day, she decided to look up her half-brother. He was easy enough to find even if he didn't post very much. He seemed kind, had a nice smile. She wanted to reach out to him but felt like that was something better to do in person. From his instagram she concluded that he lived in New York city. So that night, she told her parents she wanted to move, needed a fresh start and a change in scenery. She couldn't just sit in her room seeing all of her friends go off to school without her. She wanted to be independent, try to figure out who she was. It took a lot of convincing and a fair amount of begging but eventually her parents gave in. She still had no idea what she was doing, or what the future would hold for her, but she knew she wanted to meet her brother, maybe after that, everything would fall into place.