Then we jump.

The force of the wind yanks my hair from its loose bun. Turning my face I looked into the face of my dear sister. Her eyes remained focused on the water waiting for us below.

The reality of our current situation shattered the calm I had felt before now. I could feel the scream itching to escape my throat and my mind raced to find a solution.

There was none.

There was no way out of this. One of us had to die simply because both of us had been born.

That is the way it was. If more than two children were born to a set of parents, two of them would be chosen to have their life decided by the pool.

There were rare occasions where both siblings survived due to being identical in power and potential. WE thought that we would be one of those due to the fact that we shared identical DNA. But now that we’d jumped, I was beginning to doubt our similarities.

My mind flashed back to all the moments where I had pulled my punches, both physically and verbally in order to match my sister. I have been doing it for so long that I don’t think I know what its like to give a 100% in anything anymore.

In the seconds between our jump and us hitting the water, I came to the realization that only one of us would make it out of the water alive.

And I am almost certain it’s going to be me.

Then, we hit the water.

My clothes floated into my face and my feet grazed the bottom of the pool. Pushing up, I reached my hand towards the sun, swimming my way to the surface. When my face left the water, and my eyes opened, I saw the world in all of its true beauty.

It was as though I could see the threads of life connecting every living thing. The whole world seemed to be in high focus and colors I had never seen before peeked out from the forest by the shore.

The air that entered my lungs was crisp, and the grass had never felt softer as I pulled myself from the pool. Flopping on my back, I stared at the sky for a second to take everything in.

The moment the realization hit me I sprang to my feet, my eyes searching the clear blue pool for any sign of my twin.

Nothing.

I thought that the death of my lifeline would cause a hole to open in my heart, but instead I felt more whole than ever. My brain told me that this was wrong, but every nerve in my body was screaming about how right this was.

What kind of person rejoices at the death of family? Is there something wrong with me?

The sound of feet against the dirt shook me from my thoughts. A hand fell onto my shoulder. Attached to the hand was my brother, my mother close behind him.

“Which one are you? Kora or Nile?” His eyes searched mine for a second. Apparently he found what he was looking for because his eyes softened and his shoulders sunk in what appeared to be relief. Pulling me towards him he wrapped both of his arms around my body, seemingly about caring about my soaked clothing.

“Welcome back Kora.”

His tiny whisper into my hair was all it took. Tears flooded from my eyes and I buried my face in his shirt.

I don’t know why I started crying. Was it joy from surviving? Or was it grief from the death of my sister? The expression on my mothers face when she learned who I was pretty much settled that for me.

I had held my arms out for a hug, but all I received was a look of disgust and her tears as she went to the edge of the water, her eyes searching desperately for a glimpse of Nile.

While I felt no joy in the death of my sister, I was happy to be alive and happy to finally see my mothers true feelings about me out for the world to see.

Looking around, I saw the looks of judgement the people were giving my mother as she searched for the daughter that would never return, ignoring the daughter who would forever be.

After all, everyone knew what happened to those that didn’t survive the pool.

They were absorbed completely into the spirit and body of their sibling.

Placing a shaking hand over my heart, I sent my brain on the hunt for something foreign.

Then I felt it, a tiny little string that wasn’t there before. Reaching out my conscience, I tugged in the string.

“I always knew it was going to be you. Congrats sis. You get to live.”

There she was. Now forever a part of me.

I don’t know whether I should be happy or worried. Honestly leaning towards the latter.

Whatever, I’m sure it would be fine. This is normal right?

“Actually, I read somewhere that the one that gets absorbed is supposed to be barely noticeable, but it seems like I am doing the exact opposite.”

My sisters voice ringing loudly through my skull only enforced my previous concerns.

Well, shxt.