r to the queen-sized bed. The large room was dim with only a small lamp shining brightly on the right side at the head of the bed. Film-thin strips of drapery surrounded the room, ending as they hung over the windows shading the noon summer day sun from the inside view. Veteran war medals decorated the top of the long dresser drawers at the room’s other side and a thickly dusted army uniform hung proudly on the wall.
The young teen sat down at the side of the bed, white satin sheets crumpled beneath her light weight. Leah placed a small stack of letters, which were clutched in her hands, by the night stand at the bedside. She looked upon the weakened form lying beneath the multitude of warm thick sheets. Her father lay with his thinning curly brown hair graying on the sides. His eyes were closed and his breath was ragged and uneven. Leah gripped onto the frail hand gently, afraid she would lose him in the next moment.
Leah had been with her father as far back as she could remember. She had never left his side even now that she was in high school; she would refuse to have anything to do with the social events of the students. Her father was the most important person in the world to her. He was her only family. Ever since she was born she had lived without her mother. Leah remembered her father telling of the day he took her home from the hospital.
A tall man stood upon trembling legs. His hazel eyes stared beyond the long glass window in front him, at the sleeping babe amongst the dozens of other crying infants. The man couldn’t stop the tears as they rushed forth, as he gazed lovingly at the child, longing to hold her, his daughter, Leah Collins. His gaze then lingered toward the cradle beside her. It was empty. His wife had already been released, fully recovered however, little Leah had to stay for more tests, the doctors saying she wasn’t strong enough, being born six weeks early from the due date, and being second-born.
“David, why do you insist on staying? Isn’t enough that we have one perfect son; an heir to carry the family legacy?â€Â
“And say what? What do we tell to him when he finds out he was born a twin? Tricia, he would never forgive us. I would never forgive myself! I don’t want to abandon my own child just because they have a sickness. That is all the more reason I should stay, to try and help her stay strong through this trying time.â€Â
David remembered his talk with his wife not but two hours before. She had even said before they were married she just wanted one perfect son. David, however, wanted a big family having grown up an only child, and didn’t want his children growing up alone the way he did.
“David, I realize you are very kind-hearted but you are also weak hearted caring for another, whom logically won’t survive. I cannot live with such a person anymore. Goodbye, David, you may keep the girl if she survives and I will take my son. I wish you a good and healthy life, David Collins.â€Â
The new father had watched a nurse come in the room and take the child away. By accident, the hospital bracelet had fallen off the tiny wrist and still laid within the empty cradle, with the name inscribed, Alexander Collins.
Leah was stunned into reality when she felt a fragile touch brush at her cheek. Quickly, the girl reached her own hand to grab the other, green eyes flashed open in surprise and stared into the elder man’s tired hazel ones.
“Daughter, let me see you smile please; Leah please.â€Â
A small tear trickled down her cheek at the meek request. Leah could never refuse her father when he sounded like he was desperate, making a dying request; lying in bed with his heavy head pressed into the silk pillow. The girl looked away trying to pretend she had not heard him; however she felt a gentle hand reach up and cup her cheek using its thumb to brush away the stain the single tear had left. “Please…†Leah looked back to see a hopeful light shining in his eyes, but it was faint like a fire burning its last few embers. Leah didn’t want her father to leave her all alone, to abandon her.
A tug appeared from the corners of her mouth as if trying to make her face brighten the dull room, but the simple action quickly faded. Ashamed, Leah lowered her head, blonde bangs hid her sad eyes from the disappointed sigh she knew she would see, but instead the elder man just closed his eyes and eased back into a sleeping state. “I’m not really that hungry right now, maybe we’ll have lunch in a few hours.â€Â
Leah had thought he went back to sleep and started stand up and silently padded across the room, but before her hand touched the doorknob, she turned for one last look at her father only to see him sitting up again and staring at one of the letters in his hands, trembling, tears streaming down his cheeks. Leah hurriedly rushed over and took her father in a half-embrace on his left shoulder.
What is it papa? What's wrong?†Leah asked, worry filling tear-filled eyes.
“Leah, you look so much like your mother.â€Â
Leah was confused. Her father rarely spoke of her mother anymore. The only story he ever told was the hospital one. Leah didn’t know how to calm him now, though she had been prepared to help him if there was an attack on his body, but not this. It pained her so much to know she couldn’t do anything to help. She just clung tightly to her father shoulders. After a few minutes, her father had finally calmed down and looked over at his daughter still hiding her face in his shoulder. He laughed remembering the times she hid behind him whenever they met new people, hiding herself in his clothes. He looked back down at the letter and sighed longingly and sadly. He pressed into Leah’s hand and wrapped her fingers around it. When she looked up him with confusion, he answered.
“Here, take it,†he pushed the letter closer to Leah, “I don’t think he would want to see me in this state.â€Â
Leah sat in her room, her hand still clutching the letter, staring at it and she re-read it for the third time since she left her father’s room, leaving him sleeping peacefully.
Then she picked up a dusty photograph, the edges were frayed, from empty bottom drawer of her nightstand. The young girl stared into the green eyes of the woman within. She was indeed beautiful, tall with golden blonde hair and fair skin that had paled from the dimmed hospital room in the background. Next to her, Leah noticed it was her father, his hazel eyes shining beneath light brown hair. He was smiling. Looking below them in the adults’ arms were two children wrapped in white cloth blankets. Leah knew it was herself in her father’s arms, as he held her carefully afraid he would drop her. Leah looked over to the other child, and tears started to fall. She had a twin brother and she didn’t even know it.
Leah dropped her head down heavily onto her desk in front of her computer. Why? Why did her brother have to complicate her life? Everything was so simple. She had her father and she took care of him. That’s it. Tears leaked from her eyes and landed on top of the wooden desk. She did admit that there were times she was lonely and wanted a companion to talk to and to be comforted by, but why did she have to find out now that she could’ve had one all along who was even closer than a friend?
The teenage girl cried within the silent darkness of her bedroom, with only the faded glow of the flat screen monitor shining upon of her. She nearly cried herself to sleep. That is until a chiming beep woke her from dreaming. It was her IM chat box signaling that someone wanted to talk. Leah’s face brightened slightly, as she noticed the name of the person, GOLDENEAGLE76, had typed, “What’s up?â€Â
Leah had known this boy since her freshman year of high school. Everyday when she got home from school, he would be there waiting for her. They would talk about everything and over the past four years have become best friends. The two had so much in common and not just in name, hers being SILVERFALCON67, they were the same age, had the same reading preference for adventure and romance, and the coincidence had even gone as far as they had the same birthday. The two trusted each other and no one else with secrets one wouldn’t normally reveal on the internet, but they knew in their hearts this was right thing to do. The person had told her, she was lucky to have a father, saying his mother had passed away two years before they met, and he had been living under the care of foster parents.
“Nothing; except the sky at the moment.†Leah replied to her only friend.
He laughed out loud and replied, “That’s not good, come on smile, just a little.â€Â
“Sorry, my father already tried that.â€Â
“What’s wrong, if you don’t mind me asking?â€Â
“I don’t feel like talking.â€Â
“Too bad! I’m going to pull it out of you.â€Â
Leah really didn’t want to talk, that was what was different between him and her; he was a social butterfly, making friends at the drop of a hat. She pulled her mouse cursor to sign off when goldeneagle76 started again.
“Wait! Don’t sign off!â€Â
How did he always know what she was planning on doing before she did it?
“I have to know when we are going to meet, I have to know soon.â€Â
“No.â€Â
“But! You always say that! Please!â€Â
“No.†Leah kept resisting his very insisting pleas, though it was hard at times, but she made her stand.
“You’re so mean.â€Â
“No, I’m just careful when it comes to who I meet on the internet.â€Â
“Oh, shit! I have to go! I’m meeting someone! Bye! Say hi to your dad for me.â€Â
Leah was about to reply back but goldeneagle76 had already signed off. She leaned back in her chair and sighed running a tired cramped hand through long freely flowing golden locks. She looked over at her digital clock beside her bed; 11:01. The letter said her brother was waiting for her at noon downtown at the Barnes n’ Noble. The girl stood up and proceeded to the door connecting her bed room to her personal shower room. Assuring privacy, the young teenager closed the door and clicked it shut.
An hour later, Leah kissed her father’s forehead. She had changed to comfortable white skin tight pants and loose white peasant shirt, draped over top was her favorite cloak from her childhood, black that came down to her knees and a hood in back that covered her eyes. “I’m going out for a while father, do you want me to get you anything?â€Â
“No daughter, just have fun. Maybe Alexander can find a way to bring out that smile of yours I love so much.†And with that said, he fell back to sleep, completely missing Leah’s smirking grin. Taking her keys from the front hall latch, she let herself out and turned to lock the door behind her.
Nervously, green eyes glanced again at the delicately thin silver watch attached to her wrist; fifteen ‘till noon. Leah shifted uncomfortably upon the torn and ravaged leather seats. Up and down the girl bounced as the old rusty public bus rumbled down the dirty black street, the sides littered with discarded trash. Impatient drivers banged on their horns while yelling profanity out their windows.
Leah looked down at her watch for the tenth time. She was so nervous. The teenage girl was on a public bus, on her way to meet some boy, a brother, she had never met. Leah could feel a burning sensation deep inside her stomach; she had to do this. She had to see her brother, if not for herself than for her father. Leah felt sick. She leaned her head against the seat in front of her; the black hood of her cloak fell over her head hiding her eyes. She held her stomach like she was about to throw-up. The bus rumbled to a stop; two stops to go. Leah tilted her head to look out the grime-filled window. Just then a gentle hand came down and started rubbing her back. The black cloak wrinkled under the soothing touch.
“Does that feel better?â€Â
Such a calming voice, Leah sighed as she relaxed into the touch, accepting it with a nod and small murmur, “Thank you…†She did enjoy it and yet there was something familiar about it, like she had experienced this before a long time ago. Leah knew she should know but had no memory of such a feeling. Tears burst forth, though she tried to hide it. Her stomach hurt even more as her mind sorted through the jumble of lost and forgotten memories. The boy, seeing the other girl start to cry hunching over even more, started to panic and hurriedly thinking of a way to calm her.
Without thinking at all, the boy quickly encircled his arms around her, and pulled her close.
Leah’s eyes flashed open, and for a moment she thought she was five years old and a bully had pushed her to the ground after school and her daddy had rushed over to her pulling her into his embrace. She looked and time seemed to freeze as she locked with a matching pair of vibrant green eyes hidden beneath shifting thick golden hair.
“You…You’re…†Leah stuttered, unable to find her voice.
“Oh, sorry,†the identical boy pulled away, with a slight flush coming over his cheeks, “I’m Alex, are you going to be okay?â€Â
All Leah could do was nod, she couldn’t believe it, this was her twin brother. He looked some much like her but definitely had the tone of her father in his voice, deep and powerful at the same time, gentile.
“I’m Leah.†She found her voice, starting as a meek whisper, still nervous, “Yes, I’m fine, thank you.â€Â
“That’s good; you had me worried for a minute,†Alex shifted uncomfortably, his face becoming even redder, “that’s a… pretty name, Leah.â€Â
Leah reached her hand to place it over his and was shocked as he swiftly pulled it away. “Umm…Alex I was-â€Â
“I am sorry, Leah…†Alex turned to face the girl, his whole body was trembling. “I’m just really nervous; I don’t mean to be rude but I’m meeting someone I have never met today and well…†The words just tumbled out of his mouth. Leah relaxed greatly.
“I know how you feel; I’m meeting someone today I have only heard about recently, I’m scared too.â€Â
“I’m not scared!†Alex replied quickly.
Just then the rickety bus jolted to a stop and Leah glanced quickly out the window. This was her stop, and started to stand up. As she started to make her way down the narrow aisle stepping over the many oversized shopping bags, she smiled noticing that Alex was following behind her.
The two stood outside near the curb of the sidewalk, just in front of the giant building front above was a sign elaborately reading ‘Barnes n’ Noble’. Leah looked over at Alex as she saw him glance frantically left to right peering through the multitudes of crowds each grouped in random places up and down the sidewalk and across the street.
“Alex, who are you looking for?†Leah shouted over the incessant chatter that erupted all over the city.
Alex looked over to her and shouted back, “I’m supposed to be meeting my twin brother today; we were separated when we were born!â€Â
Leah was shocked once again, where did her brother get the idea that he had brother and not a sister? It was probably a misunderstanding.
“Alex, there’s something I should probably tell you!†Leah whispered, leaning over to next to her brother’s ear. To say the least, Alex was completely flushed with a confused gaze, as Leah grabbed his hand and pulled him toward the large bookshop.
It was peaceful and quiet except for the stomping yet padded hard steps as the girl pulled her twin brother through the numerous rows of shelves; biographies to fantasy. Until finally Leah found her favorite spot; quaint little coffee shop right in the middle of the huge bookstore maze. Sitting down they relaxed into a dark flannel blue loveseat sofa. Leah looked down at her hands nervously twitched as they rubbed together in her lap.
“Alex, you don’t have a twin brother, you heard wrong,†she started out plainly, “you have a twin sister.†This time it was Alex’s turn to be shocked.
The girl reached down into her shoulder bag that had been settled on the floor beneath the table. She pulled the letter her brother had sent her and her father, and placed in the center of the round table. Leah had brought just in case her appearance didn’t prove herself already.
“You wrote this letter and sent to my father.†Leah then pulled back her hood letting loose her long flowing golden hair and the two locked gazes; calm green to shocked green.
“But, how…?†Alex stuttered, “Mother once told me that I had a twin brother but he was sick didn’t make it out of the hospital.â€Â
“You must have heard wrong,†Leah began as she placed a calm hand on top of a trembling one, “my father told me that yes I was weak when I was born, because I was born second to you, and I had to stay in the hospital for some tests, and mother didn’t want to wait for me to get better.â€Â
Alex glanced down at the letter then shifted to their joined hands, and his callous grip tightened on her petite hold.
“Mother said that I was her favorite; that I was to be born perfectly. That’s why she didn’t want me to be a twin, right?â€Â
Leah’s gaze shifted. She couldn’t bear for him to see her upset over their mother’s decision. She looked away and nodded silently. Her hand, clenched in a fist, reached her chest, tried to calm her throbbing heart. It was then she felt a lump underneath her shirt. Carefully she reached in and pulled out a silver locket dangling on a matching chain. Eyes wide, she looked up at Alex and asked at his concerned face, “Alex do have a locket like this one?â€Â
Alex looked at the pendant for a moment or two, and then smiled and nodded enthusiastically as he reached in his shirt to pull out a golden locket, identical to Leah’s.
“Tricia, wait!â€Â
David ran through the pastel white hallway, racing through the invisible smog of disinfectant and blood, as he approached the woman, who was just about through the front door.
“David, there is nothing more to discuss; I am taking our perfect son, and you are going to take a child too weak to survive.â€Â
David wanted so much to yell and scream profanity at his ex-wife, but restrained knowing that a man of his reputation and social status would never act in such a manner. Instead he swallowing his pride and reached into his coat pocket.
“Just in case there the doctor says Leah is able to come home with me; give this to Alexander. Maybe one day, the two will want to know the truth of their birth, and find each other.â€Â
Tricia took the gold locket and opened the latch to find words engraved on it. The silver one had the same.
Alexander and Leah;
May your bond be forever strong that
Nothing can keep you apart.
Silence overtook the air around the newly found twins, so that all they could was to stare into their reflections, smiling, hands still grasped tightly on the table next to the folded letter in the center. No words were spoken because no words were needed.
After a few minutes, the two stood up at the same time, and laughed seeing as they were really twins doing things together. The silent air was broken.
“Alex, would you like to meet father now?†Leah smiled.
“Sure, and one day, I can take you two to meet mother, okay?†Alex smiled in response.
With hands clasped, they head out the door of the bookstore, and started down the street not feeling like taking the bus this time, in case Leah got queasy in the stomach again. Alex looked down between his golden locket and Leah’s, his twin sister’s silver locket. Then he smiled in realization.
“I can’t believe I didn’t see it before!â€Â
“What?â€Â
“You’re SILVERFALCON67, aren’t you?â€Â
Leah smiled even more that day than she ever had in her entire life time. She knew there had to be a reason she was so close with GOLDENEAGLE76. Sometimes you can meet the most surprising people on the internet.
CHAPTER 2: Unexpected Love
With hands clasped, they head out the door of the bookstore, and started down the street not feeling like taking the bus this time, in case Leah got queasy in the stomach again. The two talked about everything as their hands joined together. They walked down the street, their strides matched perfectly. They caught up on past events in each other’s lives that they have missed. It turns out that they actually did go to the same high school and had two of the same classes; they were just so wrapped up in their own worlds that they didn’t even notice the other. Alex said that he did in fact notice her a couple times at lunch but he didn’t register the fact they were the same, also he was too shy to talk to Leah then.
They ignored the passing looks and the whispers from passing men and women, ‘That boy’s hot.’
‘No, that girl’s even cuter, I wonder if she will go out with me.’
Alex and Leah winked at each other before they turned to face the crowds, at the same time flashing dazzling smiles that would make anyone melt. Everyone around them was almost drooling on the sidewalk. The twins turned back and laughed. Leah had never had so much fun. Usually everyone just ignored her thus making Leah an outcast to the students.
“Alex!â€Â
A high-pitched voice shouted over the clamor of the crowds and made the twins’ head turn toward it, eyes wide with surprise. Alex didn’t have time to react though as a petite brunette ran toward him and jumped into his arms, making him stumble back, and he lost his grip with Leah’s hand. The loss of warmth made Leah’s heart jump and her body froze, as she watched the girl latch playfully onto her brother.
“Kristy…†Alex choked out as he tried to push off the girl, who just moved to grasp tightly to his arm. A bright flush came across face when he looked back toward his sister.
Kristy followed his eyes and her gaze quickly scanned over the blonde girl and she scowled, but it disappeared when Alex turned back to face her and she smiled giddily and whined.
“Come on Alex, you promised to meet me at the amusement park this weekend!â€Â
Kristy tugged relentlessly on Alex’s arm while glaring in Leah’s direction. Alex relaxed as he tried gave up trying to pry the girl off his arm. He gave a quick smile to Leah and grabbed her hand again before turning his attention back to the brunette.
“I’m sorry Krissy; I just lost track of time. Can we still go?†Alex smiled, almost pleadingly, before his eyes widened with realization, “Oh, I want you to meet my twin sister Leah Collins. You don’t mind if she joins us right?†Alex turned back to Leah and she could swear his eyes were as big as a puppy dog’s eyes.
Leah nodded. She felt happy that Alex was including her in their social activities. She had no real friends to have such fun with. Leah was really nervous; she felt sick again, but she swallowed her pride and quietly followed alongside her brother. She noticed the glares Kristy’s brown eyes kept throwing at her and tried her best to ignore the girl. Leah suddenly felt like a third wheel.
“Let’s hurry Alex; I already bought plenty of tickets!†Kristy exclaimed hugging Alex’s arm.
They soon came upon floods of people flocking in and out from under a wide ark that was decorated to look like a rainbow covered with thousands of balloons and streamers. Smiling clowns with make covering their bodies from head to toe were stationed by the entrance with handfuls of giant multicolored balloons that hovered two feet above the their heads, out the reach of jumping little kids, hopelessly screeching gibberish about wanting a balloon shaped like a giraffe. Leah saw another smiled grace Alex’s face as he pulled away from the two girls, and rushed to one of the clowns, who was surrounded by a mob of child midgets. He rushed back carrying two balloons in each hand; a red one and a blue one.
Leah smiled as she reached for the blue that he presented her with. She had never received gifts like this before. It was so humble and kind. She always had received nothing but the most elaborate and expensive from her dad, like the two and half foot porcelain doll that he had gotten her for her sixth birthday, imported all the way from China. Those gifts were beautiful and she loved them, but sometimes the littlest things held the most lasting memories.
“Alex, thank you so much! You shouldn’t have gone through the trouble to get me two balloons though. I know you love me but one is enough!â€Â
Kristy had run in front of Leah and grabbed both balloons, hugging the strings tightly. Leah wasn’t sure want to think, but she had a good idea. Had Alex meant both gifts to be for Kristy? It made sense if she was his girlfriend. Maybe Alex was just teasing her, isn’t that what siblings do? Leah lowered her head silently affirming to herself that she was the third wheel.
“Oh, Alex, look over there!â€Â
Kristy pointed excitedly at tall attraction that had an opening that looked like a giant’s mouth and the red carpet flowing out of it was its tongue. Above the mouth opening were words that were splattered in red paint, and looked like a five year old wrote it. It read, ‘Welcome to the House of Mirrors!’
“Please Alex we used to go in there all the time as kids, let’s go now, please!†Kristy whined even louder as she gripped tightly to Alex’s arm, the balloons were tied around her wrist. Alex’s glazed over the kiddy attraction and smiled. Then he looked over to Leah.
“Yeah, it will be fun, come on Leah!â€Â
Leah gazed nervously up at the attraction. She had been in a fun house once when she little. It was first time her father had ever taken her to an amusement park, and Leah had begged her daddy to let her go inside just once by herself. It was so dark and scary and things kept reaching to grab her. Leah thought she would never find her way out. She was so scared. When she finally found the exit and saw that her father was waiting for her with arms outstretched; she jumped into them and cried, promising she would never go in another maze again.
However, before she could answer and politely refuse Alex’s invitation; he grabbed her hand and pulled her along inside. Once inside the darkness, Alex hugged Leah close and whispered in her ear. “Whatever you do, don’t let go of my hand. You can’t trust you’re own eyes in the mirror maze.â€Â
Leah gave long sigh of relief once they all had escaped the maze. To be truthful, she didn’t know why she was so afraid in the first place. ‘Why is it that the carnival houses are always bigger and scarier to a four year old?’ Leah looked down and smiled. Thankfully, Alex had not let go of her hand even when Kristy constantly tried to pull him away.
The three walked through the numerous rows of games watching the boys empty their pockets trying to win a giant stuffed animal, which their girlfriends were going nuts over. The smell of half eaten corndogs and cotton candy filled the air like the smog over the city of San Francisco.
Alex stopped abruptly and dug into his back pocket and pulled his light brown leather wallet. He smiled. He had just enough.
“Come on girls,†He started as he pulled away and headed toward a nearby game stand with rifles set up and with the targets moving horizontally along the back wall.
“Alex, this is your best game!†Kristy clapped her hands together and bounded over to Alex only to latch onto his arm again; his arm must have been a magnet, “You never lose at this one!â€Â
“Yeah, I know.†Alex said proudly.
Leah walked over to his opposite side. She jumped up in shock each time Alex fired and knocked over a target. Bye-bye yellow duck. Bye-bye blue giraffe. It went on. Alex had hit one on all of his six shots. The owner of the booth, who looked like he should be in college studying, watched in amazement at the excellent marksmanship.
“Uh…well congratulations you got all the shots, so you can pick two prizes.â€Â
Kristy immediately pointed to the giant brown teddy bear that was well over 3 feet tall. As the man took it down with some struggle; the girl enveloped the helpless boy into a tight hug, wrapping her arms around his neck and planted a kiss on his cheek. This made Alex, however, flush deeply in his cheeks and pull away quickly. Even more quickly, he composed himself before turning to Leah and asking with a smile.
“Leah, you pick a prize now. Go on, pick any one you want.â€Â
Leah looked over the wall of prizes again and again. She didn’t know which to choose. Her father had always said these games were a waste of money, but Alex did all that work; it would be rude to not accept his gift of chivalry. Her green eyes caught sight of a small stuffed animal hidden in the corner, congested by all the other bigger prizes. She pointed it out to the game keeper and he plucked it out and plopped it into her outstretched hands. It was small white bird that somewhat resembled a dove, but its eyes were colored differently. Both sparkled like gems, one was gold while the other was silver. Leah smiled, “I’ll take this one.†She looked up to see an affectionate smile and glazed green eyes grace Alex’s face and she blushed. A sister should not look at her twin brother in such a light.
Again the three found themselves walking, Alex was forced to hold the teddy bear as Kristy said she was getting tired, and she walked ahead of him stuffing handfuls of pink cotton candy into her mouth. Leah kept glancing back to Alex, making sure he was alright, but kept getting his assuring smile. Reluctantly, with the stuffed bird balanced perfectly on her shoulder at the crook of her neck, she lightly nipped at her chocolate ice cream cone.
They soon came to the giant Ferris wheel. It was tallest ride in the park, and the rumor is that one could see the entire city at the very top. It was also said to be the most romantic place at night. Leah shook her head; she was getting dizzy staring up at the giant monstrosity. She never did well with heights. Her father never tried to pick her up because she would always scream that it was too high. So affirmed by her fear, she decided to speak up upon seeing Alex and Kristy running toward the ride.
“You two have fun; I think I’ll just wait here until the ride is over!â€Â
At this, Alex halted and turned abruptly around. Leah could see an almost hurt look in his sorrowful green eyes. Her heart was pounding in her chest. It tore her up inside to see him like that. She threw him her best assuring smile.
“Don’t worry, Alex, I’ll wait right here. I promise!â€Â
Alex was about to say something when Kristy ran ahead of him, grabbing her teddy bear from his loose grasp and tossed it to Leah, who fumbled it a moment before grasping its brown fur. Kristy then grabbed Alex’s wrist and pulled him toward the ride’s front gate and gave the ride keeper two bright orange ticket stubs. They waited about five minutes for the ride to stop and another five for the other passengers to get off.
The door closed behind them and the ride started to move, however, Leah, from on the ground, could still see Alex through the car window. He was looking directly at her with a seemingly longing look in his eyes. As soon as their bright yellow car reached the top of the ride, Alex shot his head out the side of the car and yelled at the top of his lungs so that the whole carnival could hear.
“I love you, Leah Anne Collins!â€Â
Leah covered her mouth with her hands just as a squeaking gasp escaped. The stuffed fell now abandoned on the ground. Her eyes filled with tears. She was afraid. He couldn’t love her, they were siblings; twins. This wasn’t possible, but Alex sounded so determined and very sincere. Leah watched the car slowly descend but she was too confused, too scared to face her brother now. Could she ever be able to call him that again? That was only thing she had ever wanted, someone to talk to about her problems and the good times in her life. Now it just became complicated. How could she talk to him about whom she loved, if he loved her too? A blush covered Leah’s face and she gasp doing the only thing she could think of. She ran.
She ran through the entrance, pushing her way through the passing crowds. Down the street, her tears streamed from her eyes and fell on the sidewalk, she continued to run. She just had to get away. Rounding a corner of an alley, Leah realized she was lost. Her back slid down against the brick wall and she pulled her knees to her chest.
How? How could she do that in such a short period of time? She had only just met Alex today. How could someone fall in love with a person so easily, especially if that someone was their twin brother? Leah cried so much out of grief she had cried herself to sleep.
Her daddy was entertaining his guests, all of whom looked like giant black and white penguins to longing green eyes. Little hands pressed anxiously against the thick glass window. Little Leah wanted so much to be held in her daddy’s arms right now. It had been so long since she was put into this small room. Just then her daddy’s hazel eyes glanced over to her. She gasped and waved frantically as if trying to tell him to get her out of there through the sound-proof glass. He waved quietly then turned his back to continue his discussions. Feeling abandoned, Leah turned around and plopped down upon the multicolored carpet and started to play with the blocks that were scattered around her. On the other side of the room was a big screen TV playing ‘The Little Mermaid’ while at least six other toddlers sat around and watched it; mesmerized.
Just as Leah finished her tall tower of ten blocks, a boy with a mop of messy black hair kicked over her tower with a harsh squeaking laughter in her face. Leah had worked so hard, now it was ruined. She began to cry when another boy with a thick mop of wavy blonde hair ran up to the other boy and pushed him to the ground, a scowl had crossed his face. His attention turned back to the girl, and his expression softened as he squat down to pat her head.
“It okay now.â€Â
“Tank you.â€Â
“You wa help?â€Â
Leah nodded and together two built the tallest tower either had ever built. The evening went on and the two played together finally exhausting themselves in front of the TV watching when Ariel married Eric and sailed off into the sunset. He then looked over at Leah as he played with her hair.
“Leah, can I marry you?â€Â
“Sure.†Leah whispered tiredly.
“Promise?â€Â
“Promise, one day, Alex.†With that Leah had fallen asleep on the rug.
Leah’s head shot up as she remembered her promise that day. She was only three at the time, how could she know that that was her twin brother? They had spent the whole night together and had so much fun. Leah fully admitted even now that she did love Alex even before she knew he was her brother. And no matter what they would be together, whether as brother and sister or boyfriend and girlfriend, or both, but never once had Leah ever broken a promise. She stood up, balancing herself against the wall. She slowly made her way back the way she came toward the theme park.
Leah was just a block away from the entrance when she saw Alex standing several feet apart from her, struggling to catch his breath as he held the little bird, which had fallen off Leah’s shoulder, in his clutched yet trembling grasp.
“I…thought I’d lost you.â€Â
“I’m sorry I forgot our promise.â€Â
“I forgive you.â€Â
“What about your girlfriend?â€Â
“I love you; I always have, I always will.â€Â
Leah finally broke down and burst into tears. Alex smiled and rushed forward and embraced the girl in the middle of the sidewalk, not caring who saw them. At that moment and forever more, they would not just be twins of the same blood. They were two individuals who had at last found the other half of their hearts.
