The chime of the alarm roused Lily from sleep and she sat up to call her bestie. It was just two days to Jane's birthday and the young lady still hadn't thought of what to get her.
"Hi girl." Jane said when the call went through.
"Hi birthday girl." Lily who loved singing, had a short love poem for Jane.
"Awwnn thank you Lily." She sounded tearful when Lily had sung the poem.
"Hope you aren't going soft on me. I am definitely going to break down girl."
"Your voice is always amazing. Wish I had it."
"Is this coming from Jane? I'm really flattered." Lily checked the caller ID to clarify if she was really on to her friend. Jane had never commended her singing abilities.
"Come on Lily … I have always told you that. People tell you too. You're sounding as if I have never commended you, or should I say you're just being humble?"
"Humble?" Just wow.
"I am surprised to know that Lily."
"Wait. Are you saying I'm a proud person?"
"No no no, far from that. Just saying you are far from being humble."
"Janie, when a person isn't humble, it means they are proud." Lily sounded like she was teaching a two-year old.
"Well, your case is different then. You're not humble neither are you proud."
"You're funny Janie …" Lily burst out laughing.
"What more can I do? It's best to always make one laugh right?"
"You got that right. So, what's your schedule like for today?"
"About that, I will be indoors, no place in mind to visit. How about you?"
"I have a date with Philip."
"Wow. Our abductor turned friend. You love him now or what?"
"You said that. I only told you that I'm going out with him."
"Oh … only going out. Since when do you only go out with any guy?" Lily's chuckle replied her.
"Cat got your tongue?"
"What cat if I may ask?" They both burst out laughing at the joke.
"Jane your birthday is in the next two days, so I have to warn you."
"Warn me of what girl?"
"Students will be coming in their large numbers." And that way, silence descended like a veil.
"Are you still there Janie?" For answer, her friend breathed in slowly signaling that she was there alright.
"Yeah Lily. But I didn't invite anyone."
"I am aware of that. Remember the saying that goes: 'walls have ears' right?"
"Hmm." Jane's words were curt, she wasn't pleased with the arrangement. Hence Lily played her cards.
"Come on love, I promise this will be the best party you've ever had, okay?" When Jane didn't say anything else, Lily made use of the final straw.
"I promise you happiness, regardless of anything that I have to do."
"Anything right?" Jane asked, she sounded creepy as if she were up to something. Lily was now scared. She had made a mistake to have promised that.
"Yeah … any-thi-ng." Lily wasn't sure anymore.
"Okay then, I forgive you girl."
Lily was relieved, the creepy girl had forgiven her.
*************
Done with the call, Lily got up from bed and walked to her mirror. She observed herself for sometime. Eucharia's words came to her. Agnes, her biological mother had passed on while giving birth to her. Lily winced unconsciously, didn't want to think of the pain the woman had gone through. She had cried herself to sleep. I did this to her, she thought. If Agnes hadn't given birth to me, she would have been alive, enjoying the world.
Eucharia had told her that she was expected to live as Agnes would have loved her to. The life her biological mum would cherish and she shouldn't be too hard on herself. She should stop blaming herself for her mother's death.
"I'm always here for you." Eucharia had said finally. She would always be her mum. This motivated Lily and she resolved to change the life style of her and Jane, by including some friends in most of their celebrations, schedules. Birthdays for instance. That was why she had invited some students to Jane's birthday.
Lily stared at her reflection in the mirror, wondering at how her mum looked like. Perhaps I look like her or dad, she thought. Though she didn't want to think about it, but why would Eucharia's just tell her? After all these years? Was she scared that I would do something stupid as run away? Lily would never run away, she would always live like Eucharia had taught her and grow into what Agnes would always be proud of. Mummy will always live in me and I in her, the young lady thought, touching her left chest. Regardless, Eucharia was her mum, the woman had brought her up and their love for each other knew no bounds.
As she stood there facing the mirror, a knock on the door diverted her attention and she turned to the direction. Eucharia walked into the room looking tired. The young lady went over to hug her, she knew her own look wasn't in any way different from the older woman's.
"Olivia and Jane are coming over baby."
"Oh really? That's nice, though Jane didn't tell me that while we spoke on phone."
"Oliva just called and relayed it to me, probably after your talk with Jane." Lily nodded. Just then, Eucharia sniffed, concentrated on the floor. The younger woman watched her mum wondering at the sullen demeanor. Having no idea on what to do, Lily touched her mother's chin, raising it slightly. The two ladies looked into each other's eyes. Eucharia's wavered, she had been crying! The younger lady hugged her tight, saying soothing words without having any idea on what it was all about. She knew that Agnes wasn't the reason. The were already done with that. So what was the issue? Why was Eucharia crying?
"Please forgive me Lily, I'm so sorry please baby." She whispered repeatedly while crying. Lily just nodded and cried along, having no idea of what Eucharia was talking about. Was it Magnus? Or Philip? Lily doubted that. She gently took her mum's hands and together, they walked to the bed and sat on it.
Lily was ready to forgive Eucharia of any wrong. Yeah… even if she … no it would never come to that. Her mum would never kill anyone, she didn't have it in her to do something that evil. All in all, she would forgive her mum of any wrong done.
"Mummy please talk to me. I'm scared." Lily's voice was so small and broken as her mum kept crying. She waited patiently for the tears to stop. After sometime, Eucharia's cries turned into sobs. She was getting ready to talk. Hence, Lily went into her bathroom, took out some tissues and gave them to her mum. Eucharia wiped her tears and the snort from her nose. The young lady disposed of the used tissue. Having done that, she came back to her mum, sitting patiently.
Eucharia took her hands and soothed her fingers, the gesture familiar. The young lady Just looked on waiting and preparing herself for the bombshell. The older lady who had been avoiding direct eye contact with her daughter, suddenly raised her head and looked into her daughter's eyes.
"Lily, sorry for withholding this all along. I understand if you get uncomfortable and angry about this, but I have to tell you, it is crucial for your future. Lily's nod urged her mum on.
"I will never be angry with you mum. I assure you."
"O-kay." Eucharia's voice was hoarse, Lily had to strain her ears. Regardless, she prepared herself to listen to the forthcoming story.
"You were not born alone baby." Lily paused, pondering over the statement, it didn't make any sense to her at first. Then something flashed in her brain. She understood her mother's words perfectly. Eucharia watched and nodded at her daughter's next words:
"You mean I have a twin?"
"I'm sorry I didn't tell you before now. Yes Lily you have a twin and not just any twin, a female twin."
"Wow really?" Lily couldn't believe her ears, she was relieved that the story turned out to be something this nice to hear and not otherwise.
"Yes dear, your twin sister is Jane."