Our Sick Inheritance (editing)

Chapter 13 - What's In The Black Box

After her shower, Anna stood in the center of her bedroom and squeezed excess water out of her hair with her towel. In the deafening silence, she watched in her mirror as her bedroom door creaked open several inches wide. Even though Harmony's shower was never this short, Anna expected Harmony to come bounding in with a mind full of ideas on how she was going to run everyone's life. Anna watched in her mirror but didn't see Harmony's reflection except her own.

Her door just stood open enough to know the hallway was empty. Anna stood stiff as a lizard and listened harder for a sound as she thought maybe it was Christina bringing up more boxes to add to the ones she left in the hallway outside her door. There was not even a scrape of material from her house dress brushing against the railing or walls as they normally do when Christina is moving around.

Not convinced that anyone was close to her bedroom door, Anna crossed the room and peeked into the hallway. It didn't even sound like anyone was in the house. She felt aware of the shift of acknowledgement in their moving as she noticed missing pieces of art and sculptures along the hall walls and stairway. Anna closed her door quietly feeling a bit sad and a tad overwhelmed. Anna knew it all hadn't sunk in yet. She took a seat on the chair in front of her vanity mirror.

Wearing her favorite plush pink robe that opened to expose most of her thighs when she sat, Anna groaned in frustration as she began to brush her wet hair out. She couldn't believe she was getting prettied up for Bryce's party of all places. As she blow-dried her hair she took care to look at the large collection of pictures of her and Harmony wearing different looks and costumes that boarded the mirror of her vanity. Anna had memorized every detail of each picture.

To Anna, Harmony was perfect. She bit back the bile of envy and set the blow-dryer down. Anna gently fingered the outline of Harmony's face in a close-up picture she had taken of her a year ago. Harmony wouldn't have a problem choosing her king as she was never short of a selection. The problem was she wanted more than one to make her happy Anna thought wryly. Anna would just be happy to find the perfect one for life.

With each stroke she took with a brush, Anna compared her skinny pale arms in her mirror's reflection to Harmony's muscular limbs. Anna couldn't help but to compare her body to Harmony's. It was a terrible habit to compare to another, but one she couldn't break. It often bothered Anna that every day she wished she could be Harmony's twin. With a father from India and a mother of Nordic descent, Harmony's skin had a natural sheen of light caramel.

Even though Anna and Harmony were the same age, through puberty, Harmony blossomed like a magazine model. She was not greasy like Anna had been with the rest of their classmates dealing with acne and mood swings. Harmony breasts were never pointy, but round and full like water balloons. Her fingers were as elegant as a pianist, and a neck that would make a giraffe proud which led to the oval face without a flaw. Compared to Anna's short legs, Harmony's were long and tone as if she actually worked out or did a sport. If that weren't enough, Harmony's long blond hair was the color of light beach sand that made her bright violet eyes stand out. It was no wonder that everywhere she went she usually got people's full attention which made everyone else fade into the background. Anna didn't mind for she understood. Not even Anna could get enough of Harmony's beauty, she was mesmerizing. Anna believed Harmony was the descent of an Angel. Maybe born of a fallen Angel, but an Angel none-the-less.

Anna was pretty in her own right, but her personality even paled in comparison to Harmony and they were very different from each other. Where Anna used her mind, Harmony used her body to get what she wanted. Anna's stick figure lacked the grace and natural sex appeal to turn guys' heads twice. Harmony was smart but knew with a little giggle and sway of her curvy full-breasted body, she could grasp the object of her desire quicker. Anna helped Harmony with her school studies at home. To compensate, Harmony tried to teach Anna to attract the right people, by being sexy and funny. Harmony introduced Anna into a world of fashion, alcohol, and boys. Anna thought if they both morphed into one, they would be the perfect person.