UNSPOKEN TRUTH
I can't stop crying.
I try to run but they block my way, pushing me down. Fear has paralyzed me, overcome me, and is running through every inch of my body. I am scared – no, I am terrified. They stand over me, laughing, taunting, teasing. My heart pumps faster and faster. My body is sore and dirty. I look to the left then to the right, plotting my escape.
They keep laughing, they high-five each other as if they've done something great, something admirable, but they haven't. I wonder what I've done to deserve this. My mind races, I feel weak, cold, and confused, but they keep laughing, they keep taunting.
"Stop!" I scream over and over until I hear and feel my voice go hoarse.
***
I wakened abruptly from my dream. I heard a buzzer but didn't realize it was my front door. I stared into space before making the connection. I slowly sat up trying to focus on the clock – 9:30 am. Perspiration rested lightly on my face, neck and chest.
I ran my fingers through my hair, rubbed my face, wiped the sleep out of my eyes. I felt drained; my body ached. I slid out of bed, grabbed an oversized sweatshirt, slipped it on, and headed for my front door. My hardwood floors were cold to the touch. My legs still ached from my workout two days earlier.
Each step was accompanied by small spurts of pain, a bittersweet feeling, one of the tabs I had to pick up for the betterment of my toned body.
I opened the door to see my twin sister, Mila, standing in front of me. By the annoyed look on her face, you would have thought she had been standing there for hours.
"Please don't tell me you were still asleep. It's 9:30 in the morning, Kai," Mila scoffed as she entered my apartment and headed straight to my kitchen.
"Good morning to you, too," I said as I closed the door, shook my head, and followed her.
Having a twin sister definitely meant more attention growing up. Everyone always wanted to know about the twins and we felt like stars in our neighborhood. The fact that Mila and I were fraternal twins gave us our own individuality, not to mention our own styles. We shared the same caramel-colored skin, although her hair was straight as silk, while mine was naturally curly.
I got my father's height and build, long legs, and athletic body, while Mila was a carbon copy of our mom, equipped with thick legs, short torso and big breasts. People always marveled at how different we looked being twins and all, but I had to remind them that we were fraternal twins, not identical.
I entered the kitchen to see Mila preparing a pot of coffee.
"Kai, do you always sleep this late?"
"Mila, I was working late last night and didn't get to bed until about 3am," I said, trying not to sound too irritated that she was breaking my buzzer at 9:30 on a Saturday morning.
"Kai, sleeping late on the weekend only makes it harder to start your work week on Monday."
"How would you know that? You've never held a 9-to-5 in your life," I said as I removed a bagel from a bag and began slicing it.
"I read it in O magazine," Mila said as if that settled it.
I wasn't going to touch that one.
"So. Why are you here so early?" I asked as I belted out a roaring yawn.
"Did you forget, darlin'? We're going shopping today," Mila said as she started putting away the dishes that had been sitting in the drying rack for three days.
"How could I have forgotten? You reminded me three times yesterday, email, phone, then text."
"I know how forgetful you are, girl."
"No, Mila, now that would be you, which is why you're here now instead of at our agreed upon time of noon."
Mila stopped as she looked up at me.
"Oh dear, you're right; I must have mixed up my schedules somehow. Oh well, since I'm here we should get an early start."
"Mila, does your husband ever wonder why you scurry out the house at the crack of dawn?"
