He Kissed My Twin Sister

I shared the exact same face with my twin sister, Vivian, but our personalities were worlds apart.

Everyone always said Vivian was the sweet, gentle angel who deserved the best of everything.

And me? I was the competitive, loud attention-seeker who didn't have a single polite bone in her body.

I beat Vivian to become the Varsity Cheer Captain.

I was the one who stole the spotlight at our 18th birthday bash.

But the harder I tried to prove myself, the more Mom despised me.

"You're too selfish, Valerie. No one is ever going to love you. Why can't you be more like Vivian?"

Of course, I didn't back down. I earned every single bit of that glory.

Until college graduation, when Vivian and I fell for the same manEthan.

Vivian, always so sweet, finally showed her teeth:

"Valerie, please. I really, truly love Ethan."

Mom chimed in, pleading with me:

"Don't you always brag about how many guys are chasing you? Just let Vivian have Ethan this once."

I didnt want to give him up. But then I saw Ethan.

The same Ethan who was tangled in my bedsheets just yesterday, kissing Vivians lips today as if nothing had happened.

This time, I didn't want to fight anymore.

There was no point.

When I finally nodded in agreement, Vivian's face lit up. She grabbed my arm, shaking it with excitement.

"Really? Valerie, youre really letting him go?"

She shook me so hard that a metallic, metallic taste rushed up my throat.

I forced myself to swallow the blood back down.

Mom shot me a sideways glance, her voice sharp.

"At least you have some self-awareness. Ethan is gentle and stable. Hes a much better fit for Vivian anyway."

"Didn't the local grocery store owner ask you out last week? Hes loaded. You should just say yes to him."

I thought of the grocery store owner who had sent 999 roses to our doorstep last week.

He was a bald, chubby guy seventeen years older than me.

In Moms eyes, that was the only kind of man I deserved.

Vivian tugged at Mom's sleeve, playing the saint again.

"Mom, don't say that to Valerie. I'm sure she can find someone much better."

Moms harsh expression softened.

She turned around, wrapped her arm around my shoulder, and playfully tapped my nose.

"Im just teasing you."

"You wouldn't get mad over a little joke, right?"

I leaned into Moms embrace, greedily soaking in the tiny bit of warmth.

Like every other time she held me, it felt brief, like something I had stolen.

Actually, Mom was right. I wasn't mad.

Her words, whether sweet or cruel, were a prize to me.

Even if they were wrapped in thorns, I swallowed them gladly.

I had known since I was a little girl that Mom loved Vivian more.

Probably because Vivian was just like her.

I was born wild, loud, always getting into trouble. I never fit the mold of a "good girl."

Once, Mom bought Vivian a beautiful dress.

Vivian didn't like the color and threw it on the couch.

So, I took it and put it on.

The moment Mom saw me, she practically ripped the fabric off my body.

I lost count of how many times things like that happened.

Mom shook my arm, pulling me back to reality.

"What are you spacing out for?"

She frowned, her usual impatience returning.

"I tested Ethan yesterday. He can't tell you two apart at all."

"As long as you keep your mouth shut, Vivian can take your place and marry him."

"Don't worry. I'll help you find a better boyfriend later."

I looked down, not wanting to watch Vivian walk toward Ethan.

Could he really not tell us apart?

We were college sweethearts. We spent four years together, dated for three.

We slept in each other's arms for countless nights.

Even if Vivian and I were identical twins, he should have known.

Unless... he just didn't care.

Vivian took a deep breath, smoothed her dress, and walked up to Ethan, taking his hand.

"Ethan..."

Ethan smiled, kissing Vivians forehead gently.

"Valerie, your dress is different today. Its beautiful."

My heart felt like it was being stabbed by a thousand needles.

He didn't recognize me. He thought Vivian was me.

Mom was all smiles.

"Ethan, Valerie made your favorite clam chowder today!"

She turned to me, her voice suddenly warm and performative.

"Vivian, dear, go open a bottle of Cabernet."

I didn't expose the lie. I just smiled and did what I was told.

It wasn't just because I was utterly disappointed in Ethan.

It was because I had terminal brain cancer. This time, I couldn't win against anyone.

At the dinner table, Ethan tenderly cut the steak for my sister, even blowing on the soup to cool it down before handing it to her.

Mom clapped her hands in delight.

"Ethan, their dad passed away early. Raising twin girls all by myself wasn't easy."

"Since youve chosen our Valerie, you two should get married soon."

Ethan stared at Vivian, his eyes filled with deep affection.

"Don't worry, Eleanor. It was love at first sight for me."

Vivian and Mom both froze for a fraction of a second.

My fork clattered to the floor. I stared blankly at Ethan.

Ethan was a year ahead of me in college. I chased him for an entire year before he finally agreed to go out with me.

What "love at first sight"?

Under the table, Mom pinched my thigh hard. The sharp pain made me bolt upright.

Ethan instantly looked over.

"What's wrong?"

Mom smoothly pushed me back down into my seat, laughing it off.

"Nothing, nothing. This girl is just clumsy. Ignore her."

I sat back down, staring at Ethan.

He used to say the same thing to me:

"Are you hyperactive or something? Why are you always so restless?"

But even now, he still didn't realize who I was.

Mom leaned over to put some food on Vivians plate.

"Eat up, Valerie. You look so thin."

She stared at Vivian's face, then suddenly said, "Actually, the name Valerie doesn't suit you well. I'll take you to get it legally changed to something prettier soon."

I let out a bitter, silent laugh. They had already thought of a way to erase me completely.

By taking away my very name.

Tears splashed onto my plate, one by one.

I stuffed the food into my mouth, swallowing fast. My throat felt like it was blocked by burning coal.

Suddenly, a violent cough tore through my chest.

I coughed up a mouthful of blood, splashing bright, shocking red across the white tiled floor.

Ethan bolted upright, knocking his chair back as he rushed to my side.

He grabbed my shoulders, panic written all over his face.

"What's wrong? Why are you coughing up blood?"

He reached out, his thumb gently wiping the blood from the corner of my lips.

"Im taking you to the hospital."

Ethan tried to pull me up.

I pushed his hands away, shrinking back into my chair.

"No, Im fine."

"My gums are just bleeding."

He stared down at me, his eyes searching mine.

"Gums bleeding? This much?"

I forced a small smile.

"Really. I know my own body. No hospital."

He stared at me for a few long seconds before slowly letting go.

Vivian and Mom were staring at him, their expressions identical in their shock.

Vivian recovered first. She smiled, wrapping her arms around Ethans and pulling him back to his seat.

"Ethan is just too kind."

"He stops to feed every stray cat and dog he sees on the street."

"He just can't stand seeing anyone suffer."

Mom joined in, putting more food on my plate.

"And you, what's wrong with you? Eating like a starving ghost."

"Slow down. No one is stealing your food."

I kept my head down, silent.

Vivian leaned her head on Ethans shoulder, her voice sweet.

"Ethan, we've been together for so long. When are we getting married?"

Ethan looked down at her, a soft smile playing on his lips.

"Whenever you want. Anytime."

Vivian playfully nudged him with her finger.

Then, she looked at me with a sweet smile.

"Vivian, youll be my maid of honor, right?"

I clenched my fists so hard my nails dug into my palms, forcing myself to nod.

"Sure."

I had asked him about marriage so many times.

On our first Valentine's Day after graduation, I asked him when we would tie the knot.

He said there was no rush, we had just graduated, and we should wait two years.

The next year, I asked again.

He said his career wasn't stable yet.

The third year, I stopped asking.

This was the fourth year. I had brought Ethan home to meet my family just because I wanted him to see where I grew up before I left this world.

The doctor told me that once I started coughing up blood, it meant the tumor was already pressing against my vital organs.

It could be three days, or maybe a week.

And this was the third day since I started coughing up blood.

I knew my time was running out.

Vivian dragged Ethan into her room, saying they needed to look at wedding venues online.

I sat alone at the dining table, picking at the remaining rice in my bowl.

Mom glanced at me, a flicker of guilt crossing her face.

She went into the kitchen and brought out a bowl of hot soup, placing it in front of me.

"Drink something warm."

I took a sip, the warmth spreading from my throat straight to my eyes, making them sting.

Moms voice softened, a rare occurrence.

"Are you still feeling bad?"

"Do you want me to take you to the clinic tomorrow?"

I shook my head, forcing a smile.

"Im fine, Mom."

It felt so nice.

To finally have a bowl of soup made just for me.

Mom was quiet for a moment before she spoke softly.

"Stop hurting yourself just to get attention from now on."

"There are plenty of guys out there. Since you promised to let your sister have Ethan, don't try to win him back."

"Vivian isn't as tough as you. She never fights you for anything. If she asked for Ethan, it means she truly loves him."

I held the warm bowl, but the warmth inside me died instantly.

Right. Vivian never fought me for anything.

Because the winner doesn't need to fight.

Vivian just had to stand there, and everyone would love her, offering her the world on a silver platter.

And the things I spent my entire life fighting for were just the scraps that fell through her fingers.

In the middle of the night, I woke up suffocating.

I reached up and touched my faceit was covered in wet, sticky blood.

I stumbled into the bathroom to wash it off.

As I walked back to my room, I heard Ethan's voice coming from Vivians bedroom.

His words froze me in my tracks.

"Vivian, to be honest... you were the one I liked first."

My heart squeezed violently.

I held my breath, standing frozen outside the door.

Vivians voice was shaky, filled with tears.

"Then why did you end up with Valerie?"

Ethan sighed.

"I tried to find you after we first met, but I got nothing for a whole year."

"Then Valerie showed up."

"I thought... even if she was just a substitute, as long as I could see this face every day, it would be enough."

His words were like physical needles, piercing straight through my eardrums.

The pain spread to every nerve in my body.

Vivian's voice trembled.

"But what about Valerie?"

"Youve been with her for four years. How does this end?"

Ethan was silent for a long time.

"Ill make it up to her."

"We were together for four years, and I did love her. Ill give her a lump sum of money, buy her a condo, and help her secure a good job. Ill make sure she lives comfortably."

He sounded so reasonable, so incredibly generous.

As if his compensation was more than enough.

The relationship I cherished more than my own life was nothing but a massive misunderstanding from start to finish.

I thought I had finally found someone who chose me. But in the end, he was just a stolen shadow of my sister.

Four years of love, devotion, and companionship.

In his mind, I was just someone holding a fake ticket, sitting in a seat that never belonged to me.

I dragged myself back to my room, curling my body into a tight ball of agony.

I bit my lip so hard it bled, forcing the throat-tearing sobs back down.

I didn't sleep at all that night.

The next morning, Vivian pushed my door open.

Seeing my ghost-white face, she gasped.

"Oh my god, whats wrong with you? You look awful."

I shook my head, forcing a weak smile.

"Nothing. Just insomnia."

Mom glanced at me, her brow furrowing with irritation.

"What drama are you pulling now?"

"Today is the day your sister tries on wedding dresses. Don't you dare ruin it."

Vivian smiled and threw herself into Ethans arms, affectionately rubbing her cheek against his chest.

After pouring their hearts out last night, the intimacy between them was undeniable.

At the bridal boutique, rows of white gowns looked like a beautiful, cruel dream.

Vivian picked a mermaid gown and twirled in front of the mirror.

I stared at her, my heart aching with envy.

Ethan suddenly turned to look at me.

"Do you want to try one on too?"

I froze, then shook my head, looking away.

Vivian walked over with a laugh, smoothly drawing his attention back to her.

The store clerk kept gushing.

"You two look absolutely perfect together. What a stunning couple!"

Looking at their matching silhouettes, a sharp, suffocating tickle rose in my throat.

I bent over, coughing violently.

I covered my mouth, feeling my palm grow wet and warm.

I stumbled toward the restroom.

Mom glanced in my direction, her voice cold and annoyed.

"Just ignore her. Shes just trying to get attention again."

I collapsed against the bathroom stall door, too weak to even stand.

With trembling hands, I dumped all my pain medication out.

I shoved them into my mouth, swallowing them dry.

But the pain came crashing in like a tidal wave anyway, drowning me.

I fell to the floor, curling into a ball.

Blood and half-dissolved pills spilled from the corner of my mouth.

As my consciousness began to slip away, I suddenly wanted to call out for Mom.

I wanted to ask her if she had ever loved me, even just a little, in this lifetime.

She must have loved me, right?

How could a mother not love her own daughter?

But my voice was too weak. No one could hear me.

With the last ounce of my strength, I dialed Moms number.

It rang twice before she declined the call.

A text message from Mom popped up on my screen:

"Valerie, can you stop being so dramatic for once?"

"Your sister is trying on her wedding dress. Stop causing trouble."

I stared at the words for a long, long time.

Tears slipped from the corners of my eyes.

I let out my very last breath and softly closed my eyes.

...

I don't know how much time passed before a boutique clerk opened the door.

The moment she saw my pale, stiff face, she screamed.

"Help! Someone help! Theres a dead body in here!"

Mom and Ethan rushed over at the sound of the scream.

Mom pushed through the crowd, and her eyes fell on my cold, blue-tinged body.

She froze, all the color draining from her face in an instant.

"Valerie? Valerie!"