Black

XIX

I was standing in a kitchen, not any kitchen, our kitchen back home.

I blinked and saw two figures in front of me, laughing. Mum and Adam.

Has it all been a dream? Did I dream it all? Are they still alive?

I stood there watching them and caught Adam's eye. His eyes were twinkling with happiness and lightness that I haven't seen for so long. He winked at me and came to stand by me, putting his arm around my shoulder.

"Your mother can't cook," he whispered loud enough in my ears for mum to hear him.

She glared at us, "Would you rather come and cook yourself?" she challenged him.

"If you guys have a death wish, then I'm all up for it, Old lady," he said, emphasizing the last part, making mum glare at him even more. She always hated being called 'Old lady' and Adam as Adam used it in every sentence he said directed to her.

I smiled, I was the lightest feather carried by the wind.

"You cook just alright, Mum." I refused to blink, I didn't want to miss a second of seeing them.

"Hey! You are my troubled twin! You shouldn't stand against what I say, It's one of the twins' rules according to page 197880 in 'The twins' book!" I smiled and hugged him. "I mean, I love you and all, but I would prefer if there was less touching, besides, you still broke one of the rules!" I ignored him and devoured his smell like it was a drug.

He smelled like lilies, he always did, because he was the one responsible for the garden by the house that was mostly filled with lilies. Vanilla as well, which I was so sure was because he stole my shampoo like he always does, even though I warned him not to touch it as it was my favorite, yet he never listened to me. He smelled like home.

"Joey, Charlie doesn't sniff me the way you are sniffing me right now." he laughed.

I removed my head from his chest and smiled, not trusting my voice, then I went to mum and hugged her from the back.

"Hey darling," she murmured.

"Where is Dad?" I asked, looking around, "And Zoe?"

"Dad is at work and your sister is playing in her room, where else would they be?"

"Right."

I left her and looked back at Adam, but his eyes weren't as light as it was before. It looked hunted, dark. Eyes that made me feel like it doesn't belong to my brother.

"Adam," I whispered.

He didn't look at me, but he looked down. I trailed my eyes to what he was looking at.

I shook my head and took a deep breath.

"No, no, mum help," I cried as I rushed towards him, putting my hand on the wound on his chest to block the blood from flowing out of his body.

"No, Adam please!"

I turned to mum so I would tell her to call Dad or call 911 or do anything, but, mum had a hand over her heart, looking at me with a face full of regret and sadness.