A Twin’s Life

Two.

Two is such a great number. It’s equal. It’s prime and it’s just about everywhere you look. Shoes come in twos, socks come in twos, eyes come in twos, hands come in twos, and I; I come in twos.

I am a twin, a double. One of two persons closely related to or resembling each other, as Mr. Webster likes to put it.

I don’t know if you know, but being a twin is one the most magnificent things in the world. Although I have to say, I don’t really know what it is like not to be a twin.

Well, let’s put that fact aside, and let me tell you my story.

On December twenty-third at 3:00 am, my mother gave birth to my sister Vanessa. A minute later…. tick…. tock… I was born!

From day one, I like to say that my sister and I could communicate. I could identify her cry one from the next, and I always knew exactly how she felt.

We shared this sort of twin telepathy where we always found ourselves finishing each other’s sentences. Being a twin is just so wonderful, and I can’t emphasize that enough. I have someone to talk to, someone to laugh with, someone to study with, and someone who, no matter what, will always love me.

But let me get back to my story, I know I said that being a twin is magnificent, but there are some exceptions.

You know how people say that twins share this special connection where they can feel what the other one is feeling? Whoever said that was absolutely, positively right!

One summer, my family went camping. Since the weather was so nice, they decided we needed to go on a good horseback ride. On this perfect day, things went so perfectly wrong. Although everyone was mounted on their horse, and everyone was excited to ride, something told me that something good was not about to happen.

“Everything is going to be fine,” my other half assured me. “Ok,” I said. She always knows what’s best.

As we began our trail into the forest, what I most feared was about to take place. I remember looking over my shoulder and seeing my sister fall to the ground.

“Vanessa, are you fine? Speak to me!” I tried to get off of my horse, but her horse had spooked mine. I pulled on the reins to stop my horse, but it would not listen, and my sister slowly faded in the distance.

I was the first to return to the campsite. Tears coated my cheeks, and my heart’s drum kept beating faster and faster. Questions soared through my mind. Was she fine? Was she ok?

Just then, I saw her. Sitting triumphantly on her horse, she came riding back to the campsite. She’s brave. I don’t think I could sit back on the horse that threw me.

Now, let me tell you the aftermath of her fall. It was not her that felt the pain. It was not her who felt a single thing at all. I was the one who felt as if I had been shoved to the ground and bruised in a million directions.

Being a twin has its ups and downs, but I don’t think I would change it for anything in the world. I like being the only even prime number in the numerical system.

It’s just like that Chinese saying, “The best things come in pairs.”

This is for my sister. Happy Birthday Twinsie! I love you!