THE ART OF LETTING GO

Chapter 15

Ilani's tears flowed freely as she drove, weighed down by a heavy heartache. Why did it always have to be her twin sister, Imani? Last night, as she observed their interaction, she suspected that Imani was the girl Luca had feelings for but hearing him confess it to her shattered her heart. For heaven's sake, he had met her first!

Tears rolled down her cheeks, her longing for Luca mingling with the anguish of his confession about her sister. Would she forever live in Imani's shadow? Must she always let go, as she had always done? Did she have to let Luca date Imani, even if it tore her apart? Even if she pretended, it would be heartbreaking. So, with no one watching, she allowed herself to cry.

She wept because, even if she told her mother, her mother would advise her to step aside so Imani could have a boyfriend for once. It was always about her twin. She parked in front of the house, wiping away her tears as she exited the car. Ilani glanced at her reflection in the rearview mirror, noticing her swollen eyes from the tears she had shed during her drive home.

Entering the house, she was greeted by her mother, who was busy packing things for Imani. "Oh, honey, welcome back. Did you just return from the hospital? How's Imani?"

Ilani was baffled. Had her mother not noticed her swollen eyes? Had her mother failed to see her profound sadness? Was she truly invisible in her mother's eyes? She nodded weakly. "Imani's fine."

Her mother smiled. "I'm glad she's fine. I apologize for not being there yesterday. You're a gem; thank you for taking care of your sister." Her mother continued packing without inquiring about Ilani's well-being.

Theresa bobbed her head and resumed packing, leaving Ilani standing there, stunned that her mother hadn't noticed her deep distress. She felt destined to live forever in her sister's shadow. Heavy-heartedly, she climbed the stairs to her room.

In her room, she approached the mirror, gazing at her reflection. All she saw was a broken heart behind a pretty face. A tear escaped her eye, followed by another. She touched the necklace she had crafted with her sister—a symbol of their bond. "I love you, Imani, but sometimes you need to slow down," she muttered to her reflection, using it as a conduit to speak to her sister. "Why did you have to be so sick? Do you think I'm so strong that I don't need any attention? Why are you making me wish I was the one who was always ill? Don't you feel any pity for me?" Ilani questioned, succumbing to a major breakdown. She covered her mouth to muffle her sobs as her shoulders convulsed. True pain, she believed, was weeping behind closed doors, praying that no one heard.

Ilani was in agony, and she had no one to confide in. She couldn't admit her jealousy of her twin to anyone at home; it would not be a pleasant confession. Yet, she loved Imani more than anyone else. She thought that she would adore her sister if only circumstances were different.

She needed to distract herself from her troubles, so, she dialed her ex-boyfriend, Ben's number.

****

I'm sorry for cutting this story short, my lovely readers. The complete story can be found on Amazon and I promise you won't be disappointed. Since you made it this far, I bet you loved the story and will want to know how it unfolds. You can find it using the link below or just by searching 'The Art of Letting Go by Thelma Akosa' on Amazon or kindle unlimited. I look forward to seeing you on the other side.

https://a.co/d/cjHyyKQ

In case the link isn't clickable, you can check the comment section. I uploaded it there as well.

Thank you,
Thelma