The Other Side

#16 Confussion

~Dustin's Pov~

Restless

The only word to describe my sleep. Just as I would finally sleep a bump in the night would wake me again. It was like sleeping on a bed of nails. I was sleeping lightly and woke to the smallest sounds.

I gave up after hours of trying. I walked down stairs but before I did I noticed Ben's room.

It was meant for another sibling that never came because my mum was left with no choice after birth problems with me. I realise now that it was Sophie's. She was my sibling. My family.

She was the reason I couldn't sleep and as I reached the bottom of the stairs or wealth hit me like I ton of bricks.

Why do we need stairs? I have everything I child could want and I treat it like nothing. Sophie had nothing.

I reach the lounge room where the tv screen casts light over my fathers face.

"Can't sleep?" He asks without looking at me.

"Yeah. Today just..." how could I explain this. I hadn't told my parents about me having a sister. A sister called Sophie Newman. But surely they knew. Right. After all it's their child. "Surprising" I settle on.

"Yes. Today's events. I see you meet Sophie" his tone suggesting that he was holding back so I would do the same.

"Yes I did. Should of told her how much of a fan you were"

"I'm not a fan" dads voice had suddenly become firm.

"What are you then Dad. Why don't you shed some light on the situation. Help your son out" if he didn't get my obvious clues I was going to start assuming and blaming him on my sisters despair.

I just called her my sister?

It felt wrong. I had never had a sister.

It felt right. She belonged with me.

She was my twin.

"I'm her father!" Dad had erupted "she is your sister. Your twin" dad turned away so I couldn't see him.

"I know"

"You do?" He looks back at me for a second before turning away. His face was slightly flushed and his eyes were tired and red.

"Yes. Why do you think they called my to the police station. they tested her blood and I came up. Why didn't you tell me? Does mum even know?" Now I was mad. Mad at my father for keeping such a big secret for so long. It wasn't an obsession or one person fan club. He was looking out for his daughter. His only daughter.

"Your mother doesn't know" he hangs his head and rests it on his hands "I have kept her a secret. Maybe I should have told her because now she has grown a taste of hatred towards her like everyone else. You heard her today"

"Why?" I swallow "why... how doesn't mum know?"

"Your mother doesn't know because I hid her. Your mother is infertile and that's because she was ill during pregnancy. Pregnant with twins. I knew that she would come home scared and sick. I was working minimum hours because I had just lost my job. We couldn't take another child. You came first so we kept you. Also I always wanted a boy. I paid the doctor to keep her a secret and gave her to a caring family that I knew of, from th..."

"The Other Side" I huff and breath. I tired to control my anger but it spilled out "why there? Why not a rich family?"

"Because I knew there was a higher chance of getting caught if it was in our area. The Other Side was the safest place. I did this for Sarah, for your mother. I did this for you" he looked close to tears but I wasn't buying it.

"Don't you blame me!" I roar "you worked shirt shifts and spent money on me. No I don't buy it. I would rather a whole family and be poor scum then live like this. You have wreaked Sophie's life. You can't split twins dad. It's like a universal rule. As for mum, I might just tell her now" I turn around and go back towards the stairs while dad chases after me.

"Mum!" I scream but it comes out muffled because dads hand is over my mouth.

I elbow him in the stomach, Ben had taught me basic self defence.

"Mum deserves to know sooner than later. I will not stand for this. Sophie will come to love with us. With me" I stand my ground on this and dad thinks about it for a minute.

"We will file for Sophie to be reunited with our family but let me break it to Sarah. It was my fault so I should take the blame. You will have your sister back"

"Good" at first I hated Sophie and only watched her on the news out of boredom. now I was standing up on her behalf. I wanted my sister no matter how much I knew about her. No matter the fact that she rejected meeting her parents today.

"Would you accompany me to the Juvi tomorrow morning?"

"Yes"