His Virgin Stripper

30

I stayed frozen for a second, my brain couldn't properly process how we were actually identical twins and not fraternal.

I looked at Celestine again, really looked this time.

It hit differently now. Not as information—but as something that had been living inside without knowing her entire life.

We had the same face, features and reflection, just split into two lives. 

Celestine was already staring at me.

She just stayed there like a fragile  doll.

"There's more you both need to know."

I didn't speak. I couldn't tell if I was ready, but I didn't stop her.

Our mother took a breath.

"I went to Richard."

Celestine's body reacted immediately at the name.

A small, visible tension. Her eyes shifted away for a second.

I noticed it and instinctively held her hand a little tighter.

"He confessed," their mother continued. "Everything. About what he did to me... to Celestine... all of it."

Silence settled heavy in the room.

Celestine didn't speak. She couldn't. 

Her breathing became slightly uneven.

I leaned closer without thinking. "Hey..."

Celestine's eyes flicked to her for a second.

Our mother swallowed hard.

"He's in police custody now. He broke down completely. Everything is being investigated. It's over."

That word felt too clean for something that had destroyed all of us.

Celestine's grip tightened again.

Not fear exactly.

She stepped closer again, slower this time.

"And I'm going to fix what I can," she said. "Proper care for Celestine. Therapy. Medical support. Everything she needs."

Her eyes moved to me.

"And you... if you'll allow me, I want you with me too. Not like before. I want to be your mother properly this time. I know I don't deserve that chance, but I'm asking anyway."

I looked down for a moment.

My hand was still in Celestine's.

That alone felt grounding and overwhelming at the same time.

I didn't answer right away and noticed that Celestine's eyes stayed on me.

Her 18 year old body but 10 year old her watching.

"I don't know what I'm supposed to do with all of this."

She nodded immediately. "You don't have to decide now."

That helped... a little.

A pause.

Then Celestine shifted slightly in the bed.

Weak. Slow.

But she lifted her free hand a little

I immediately adjusted Celestine so I could feel her there more clearly.

Celestine's fingers brushed against my sleeve.

"I'll handle everything," she said again. "Just... don't shut me out completely."

I didn't answer, because right now, everything is to heavy for me.

"I am holding Richard's riches and I will use that to make sure he pays for everything he did to us." She tried to hug me.

I returned the hug and immediately pulled away.

"I just want peace in my life, do  whatever you want but for now I am going to focus on my own family. I won't let my son experience what I felt. I'm not leaving you two in the dark, I just want to be able to think and maybe soon I can come up to you and call you my mother." 

That was my last words to her. Of course, I'll not shut them off. I'll try my best to help and ELijah has offered to help them as well.