The Twin Diaries

Chapter 2 - One year gone

January 30th, Byron Bay.
Alex's POV.

Summer's still sweltering, but school's back, and reality's hit. Taylor's suffering and I'm worried.
Today happens to be the memorial day of mum's passing, it marks one year since Mum left us. I'm still struggling to cope and I'm sure Taylor is too. The pain still feels fresh like an open wound.
I woke up to the sound of the ocean , the Byron Bay sunrise casting a golden glow over our beach house. Taylor's door was closed, her music drifting through the hallway. She's been spending more time in her music room, escaping reality.
I entered my art room, surrounded by canvases and memories of Mum. Her smile, her laughter, her eyes - everything's still so vivid. My paintings are my refuge, my way of keeping her close.
As I mixed colors on my palette, tears streamed down my face. One year without Mum feels like an eternity.
Taylor's music stopped, and I heard her door open. We avoided each other ,the tension today's events really has struck, and is still lingering. Dad's voice echoed from downstairs, "Girls, breakfast is ready!"
I took a deep breath ,wiping away tears. Time to put on a brave face.
But as I walked downstairs. I saw Taylor's expression - lost, alone, and angry. Exactly how I feel.
×××××××××
After breakfast which was filled with tension and silence.
It was basically all three of us lost in our own thoughts.
I took slow strides back to my art room, went straight to the balcony and stared out at the turquoise ocean, the Byron Bay lighthouse standing sentinel in the distance.
Our beach side home, once filled with laughter and warmth, now felt empty and hollow.
I walked back into the room straight towards the painting of mum hang on my wall. I stared at it for a while, focusing on her unrealistic features: Raven hair, Porcelain skin and emerald eyes. I suddenly felt a pain in my chest, I needed air. I rushed downstairs and headed to Wategos Beach. As I walked along the shore I saw a familiar figure sitting on the beach with her headphones on. I hadn't realised that I had been here for that long; the sun was setting, casting a golden glow. I walked towards her and sat on the sand at a safe distance. My Raven-haired twin, Taylor, her emerald eyes fixed on the sunset. Her d porcelain skin seemed paler than usual, her full lips pressed into a thin line.
Tears begun to stream down her face as she gazed at the sunset which our Mum so dearly cherished. I reached out, but she flinched.
"Don't Alex", Taylor whispered, her voice laced with pain. Her rejection stung. We used to share everything from secrets to dreams. Now, she's a stranger.
I stared at her sympathetically, but she noticed and turned away, her dark her cascading like a waterfall down her back. I felt a lump form in my throat. We used to be inseparable, our bond unbreakable. She then pulled out something from her pocket. An old picture of Mum I presume. I looked around trying to distract myself and saw a family laughing together. It stung.

As they watched the sunset , Taylor turned to Alex.
" Mum loved this beach," Taylor said , her voice cracking; slowly taking off her headphones.
"I know, Tay", Alex replied.
They sat in silence , the waves crashing over their feet.
                                       ××××××××××

So that was the second chapter. 🙏 vote and comment they would really make my day.
Mourtlvr_books.