As a twin, while growing up, I thought my twin sister and I were sworn enemies from a past life. We always had disagreements, argued over things that were unnecessary, and even insulted one another to the extent that it became a competition of who could insult the most.
We argue over bath soap, sponge, clothes, especially when it's the same pattern and colour, both of us would want the nearest clothes, we argue over who suoposed to cook, sweep, do chores that sometimes we provoke our parent who either punish us for making too much noise and disturbing them or he ask us to go outside the house and continue our argument there.
No matter how hard I tried, she always won. I didn't know how to fight with words, nor could I engage someone in a feast competition; I'm sure I would be the loser already.
There was a particular day when I came back from school, back when we were in secondary school. I had begged her to come with me to the fellowship, but all to no avail; she went home, leaving me behind. I didn't mind anyway; it wasn't the first time she missed the school fellowship. I had to go that day too because I was one of the contestants in the Bible quiz competition.
The quiz went well, and my team won. We received a prize as well, and I felt joyful; however, everyone began to ask after my twin sister. I could see how disappointed they were to hear that she was not there to cheer me on. I smiled it off anyway.
When I got home, I reported what my sister did, and she apologized on her behalf but scolded her for being irrational. Instead of admitting to her wrong, she kept making excuses. "It's a lie! I told you that I was having a headache; that is why I left you at school," my sister denied. I tried to prove her wrong, but there was no way and no one to defend me as a witness.
One hot afternoon, my twin sister left me behind at school. I wasn't feeling well, so I was walking slowly. We used to trek to and from school every day unless we were lucky enough to see a good Samaritan who would assist us to our street with their bike or car.
Nevertheless, my twin sister began to scold me, shouting that I should walk faster or she would leave me behind. I got angry and told her to go, that I couldn't continue. We exchanged a few words of insistence before she finally left in annoyance.
I sat on a rock by the roadside, under a mango tree, while watching my sister go without looking back. I was so mad at her that I even cried because I felt betrayed, unloved, and sick.
After a few minutes, I managed to stand up, and as I took a few steps forward, a voice called me from behind. When I looked back, I saw a young lady; she greeted me, and I responded.
Then she said I should not encourage arguments with my twin sister again but keep the peace always because if we keep fighting each other, things might not go well with our parents. "You should stop fighting each other because you don't know what tomorrow will bring for both of you," the lady said. Her countenance was sad, but I didn't say anything about it.
It seemed we were the only people in that area because everywhere was quiet. I appreciated her and started to go, but then I wanted to ask her name and where I could locate her. To my surprise, no one was there. She was gone. I just took a step forward, and when I turned back, she was gone. I got so afraid that I began to run home.
When I told my mum, she didn't believe me, and there was no witness to validate my claims, so I stopped bothering myself, even though the picture is still clear in my head. After two days, my mum went to greet a friend who had lost one of her twins.
I accompanied my mum there. I was shocked when I saw the other twin. They were identical; she resembled the lady who spoke to me a few days ago. "Excuse me, Aunty, are you the one I met a few days ago on my way home from school?" I asked politely. "No, I don't know anyone here because I don't live here," she responded.
I was stunned; I must have seen a ghost that day, who was also a twin. I told my mum when we got home. She said the other twin sister lived here and died after giving birth the same day I told her my twin sister left me behind. I had no witnesses, but I believed what I believed: that lady I saw was a ghost.
I used to think that my twin sister was possessed, and I compared her with other twins. Even our sibling relationship was far more preferable than ours.The experience taught me forgiveness, family and the value of having someone who will be part of my life. I stopped arguing, competing, and just allowed her to do whatever she liked, and today we are each other's besties.
Thanks for reading.