IF ANYTHING CAN BE GOOD 1: Be Strong

Fractured Bonds

"The research will convince you. When your mother was pregnant with you, there was another baby there, a boy. Some months passed, and your mother checked and saw twins, a boy and a girl. She kept the genders of her children to herself, especially when she found out that King Michael would use her baby boy for bad and horrible things. She hid him. When she was giving birth, only the doctor and her trustee maid, who I heard was named Lili, knew your mother gave birth to a boy. So she gave the baby boy to Lili, who went far away with the child and kept you in her care," Jessica explains.

I looked at Jessica in disbelief, then at my newfound brother, but he looked at me coldly.

Actually, he is very handsome, but he has my mum's eyes, while I have my dad's eyes, which I have never seen face to face.

I wave at him shyly, still trying to grasp the concept that he is my brother.

"My name is Andrew, but you can call me Andy. What is yours?" He asked coldly.

I found myself feeling timid, which is unlike me, except when I am afraid.

"I... I... I am Alicia," I stuttered timidly.

I am so embarrassed. How can I be timid? That is so unlike me. I am so embarrassed.

"Are you afraid of me, or are you always so timid and afraid?" Andrew asked, figuring me out, but his face showed he didn't care.

I am so weird. I should answer him, right? Oh God, help me. What should I do?

"I am still trying to process the information that I have a big brother," I said, forcing out the words.

"Let us get to know each other then. So would you want to know the castle more? I would show you around. Is that allowed?" He says, and I find it very nice, but his face still says 'I don't care.'

"Sure, I would love to, especially when it is my elder brother showing me around," I say, a little excited that I will be knowing more about my brother.

"Excuse me, both of you. Andrew, remember that your sister is a slave here, so she will be busy, and you have to guard the palace more often. But I will give you guys this evening and tomorrow to know more about yourself. But don't stay up past eight pm, Alicia. NOW BEGONE!!!! Andrew, wait. Alicia, you can wait outside for your brother," she says smiling. Two minutes later, he was out with a smiling face. Did Jessica talk sense into him? She also came out and smiled at the both of us.

It made me happy that we made her smile, and I finally have two people I can call my relatives. I have courage now that I can talk more to Andy.

We were outside the palace, talking about random stuff.

"Who is Lili? She is the one who took care of you, right?" I asked curiously.

"Yeah, she was mother or so I thought, but she revealed the truth before succumbing to cancer," he said.

His revelation saddened me; he seemed like someone in need of family, much like myself. Discovering our shared experiences felt akin to finding a long-lost twin.

"Did you attend school?" I inquired.

"Yes, but my education was unconventional. I pursued advanced studies from a young age and have since left formal schooling," he replied, his pride evident.

"We share that in common - being exceptional children. At five, I was already in 11th grade, so schooling is behind me now," I shared.

Later that night, as we conversed, I realized we had grown close, but the time had slipped away - it was already 8:56 pm. Reluctantly, we parted ways, with him escorting me back to the slave building, a kind gesture from him.