The Girl With Two Faces

Being One - Lily Black

As I looked up I saw Derek leaning over me his face all concerned. “Derek?” I asked.

“Lily? Lily Black?” he asked urgently in my ear.

“Yes. Help me up” I said and sat up with his help.

“What is wrong Lily?” he asked.

What is wrong Lily? The voice inside whispered.

“I have another friend I would like you to meet Derek.”

“Who?”

“Lily White. She lives inside me. She survives there.”

“What are you talking Lily?”

“Derek, you know I’m sorry” I whispered. “I am sorry I let you go. But there was a reason. I am retarded. That is why dad left me.”

“Dad left you because he was stupid. He did not know your worth Lily” Derek smiled

“My worth? I am a retarded fool Derek”

No you are not. The voice hissed.

You are not retarded. You are a part of me and I of you. No matter where we go. No matter where we die. I do not care how many lies you’ve spoken or how many people you’ve cheated. You and I are one. Nothing can change that. Not even you.

I smiled. Somebody cared. Sometimes these mirrors lie. They told me I was the ugliest person ever. They lie.

“Lily Black. I will love you. For now and forever.” Derek took my hand in his. “Lily my friends told me that you are not worth me and that you did not deserve me. Nobody ever told me that maybe, just maybe I deserved you”

I looked into Derek’s sparkling eyes. His face twisted looking at me. His deep blue eyes spoke it all. His hair was flying over his face and his lips were pressed together.

“Thank you Derek. But you have to wait. Somebody is getting trained” I winked. It had been ages since I winked to someone like that.

Yes girl. Ask him why?

“Derek” I looked at him.

“Mmm” he smiled

“Why did dad leave me?”

Derek was a sorcerer. He knew everything. He could look into the past and tell me. His face contracted and he smiled.

He made me sit down beside him.

“It was the time of the war. You know your mom was a witch right?”

I nodded and continued listening.

“She fell in love with a human man, your father. Your father was a merchant who was once passing through this very forest. Your mother was playing as usual with her flowers and herbs when she saw your father. It was love at first sight. Your father and she eloped and got married. Your mother was banished from her kingdom but we took her back later. When your father discovered about your mother he was as angry as a bull. He threw her out of his house and told her he’d never let her in again. You were in your mother’s stomach then.

After a few months your mother grew very sick. They took her to Gringoire who told her that she had to leave the burden of a human child elsewhere. So that was when she left you to your father. To protect her kingdom and to keep you away from witchery and sorcery. But she failed. Your father married once again and left all of you for his business. Your mother’s worst fears came true. You have another side. You cannot escape your powers. They are buried deep within you waiting to come out. Release them Lily. “

I sat there terrified. My whole body was shaking with fear. I felt scared and bad. Did mother leave me because I was being a trouble to her? Because she thought I was human? Did she not care?

I heard a small sob inside me.

I’m sorry. She sniffed.

“Derek, when you tell me that my mother left me with my father and did not die, do you mean that my mother is still alive?”

There was silence everywhere. Lily White gasped inside me.

“Yes” Derek said his eyes closed tightly. He put his hands to his face and shook his head.

My whole world was so dark and lonely. Why didn’t mother come to take me? Where was she now?

Its her loss Lily Black.

I know she loved me still.

No she does not. Do not divert your attention. We have to train, you can’t go searching for her now.

I had to find her.

Lily don’t.

I will find her.

Listen to me Lily Black. Don’t go.

“Derek, can you take me to mother?”

“It’s a long quest Lily. You have to be completely trained first”

Someone inside me let out a long breath of relief.

I lie and you don’t. I am bad and you aren’t. I know and understand and you do not. We are not the same but we are one. Nothing can tear us apart. Even death cannot do us part Lily Black.