• I stared down at the freezing-cold, ocean water below me. This was it. This was the day where I would leave my life, my husband who left me, and my two children, Ziana and Tyler Petalrose. Oh gosh, how I hate that last name. That last name that will cause me to end my life. How could I do this? Do this to my children, my beloved children? But I must…I cannot live any longer like this. I can’t live with the pain that comes every second of my life. But I ask myself, “Why? Why did he have to do that to me? Why did he have to go and leave me behind?” And, why was I the one who was suffering? At the very least, he should have to be the one. But it’s too late now. This is what has to be done. Goodbye Ziana, goodbye Tyler. I love you both, so, so, much. Don’t ever forget me, my dears. Don’t ever forget your mommy. I will always love you forever. And then I jumped off that cliff into the swirling, swallowing sea.

    *~*~*

    “Ty, pass the cereal, would you?” I asked my identical twin brother, Tyler. We were both sixteen, had dark brown, shiny and silky hair, turquoise eyes, and a fair-colored complexion. I was 5’4 while Ty was 5’11. Tyler passed me the cereal silently. He looked sad, hurt, and angry. I cocked my head and stared at him intently, trying to see if I could tell why he looked like this. When I had given up, I sighed and put down my spoon.
    “Ty, why do you look so sad?” I asked, concerned.
    “Oh…it’s…nothing.” He responded, quietly. He usually wasn’t like this. He was outgoing and loud.
    “Come on, Ty, I’m your sister, I know something’s wrong. What is it? Seriously.” I picked up my spoon and dipped it into my bowl.
    “Fine. It’s just that I dreamt last night. And you know how I never dream. So I’m thinking it’s something important.” I waited for him to go on, but he stopped.
    “Well, what was it about?” I questioned impatiently.
    “Mom.” That one word he said made me drop the spoon that was carrying Cheerios to my mouth. The spoon clunked to the ground, and the cereal splattered all over the floor. Ty looked down at the mess and got up from his chair to clean it up for me. It took me the five minutes Ty took to clean up the mess for me to be able to speak again.
    “Mom???” I asked in disbelief. Ty took his seat across the table from me again.
    “Yes. Mom. I know, you’re shocked. I know it took you three years to get over the fact that she jumped off that cliff, but seriously, Ziana, you have to ignore that and move on.” Ty responded. My mouth fell open. I started shaking my head.
    “No. No! Tyler! Do you not get this? She was a part of our family! She was a part of us, she loved us, and we loved her. This is all dad’s fault. She would still be alive if he had never left. How can you think I can move on? Tyler, how?”
    “It’s not all dad’s fault, Zi.” Ty stated sharply. He was always on his side, because they were best friends before he left.
    “That’s what you think.” I mumbled and took another bite of my cereal. I hated these conversations about our parents between my brother and I. Whenever this topic came up, we always fought.
    “Zi, please, just get over it. You’re being stupid about this. What matters now is that it’s all over and you should just forget about it.” I stood up from my seat and glared at him.
    “I’m going to school now.” I declared through clenched teeth. I put my bowl and spoon in the sink and picked up my backpack. Before opening the front door, I took one last glance at my brother. He was staring at me. I glowered at him again and slammed the door shut behind me. Outside, the fresh summer air whipped my chest-length hair all around me. I smiled and headed down the concrete pathway to the driveway. Then, I ran down the driveway to meet my friends, Hector and Giana, who were waiting at the end of it. One look at my semi-aggravated face and they both knew I had been fighting with my brother this morning. I walked with them to school every weekday, and whenever my face was flushed pink, they knew there were some issues between my brother and I. We talked about a great many of things on the one mile walk to school, though they were careful not to mention anything about Ty.
    Hector Rockemusicen was seventeen, had skater-sandy-blonde hair, and bright, dark blue eyes. He was 6’1, and my best guy friend. His girlfriend was Skyella Mission, who was a person Giana and I were not too fond of. He was also a musician, and loved rock music. He played the guitar very well, and was an excellent singer. He was the lead guitar soloist and main singer in his band, WMRH (We Make Rock Hot). WMRH also stands for the names of the other kids in his band, Warren, Max, Randy, and of course, Hector. Giana Cubeisian was sixteen, had long black hair with subtle blue highlights, and cheery, light brown eyes. She was 5’3 and my best friend who was a girl.
    “Hey, Hec? Why isn’t Stupella with you?” Giana asked.
    “I honestly don’t know why you still call her that. It’s so stupid.” Hec responded in annoyance. Stupella was our nickname for Skyella.
    “And that’s what she is, Hec. She’s stupid, and that’s why Zi and I still call her Stupella.” She responded with extra emphasis on the “stup” part.
    “I think you two need to grow up. And by the way, G, she’s not walking with us today because she’s sick. Why would you care anyways?”
    “Oh, she’s sick huh? Are you completely sure? Or is she home making out with another ‘sick’ guy? Maybe Greg Heanderson, right Zi?”
    “Oh please, just keep me out of this, G.” I said.
    “What? You were there Zi, remember? It was at Greg’s party, and I went upstairs to get some water from the sink ‘cause there was no more downstairs. Then I heard something from one of the bedroom doors. I opened it, and then, there she was, with Greg. And let me tell you, they were in complete lip lock. Then I went to get you so I could show you. I was gonna show Hec, but I couldn’t find him, and neither could you, Zi. So there you have it Hec, that’s why I care. I don’t want you to get hurt when you find out the truth.” Giana said matter-of-factly.
    “What are you talking about!? Are you trying to tell me my girlfriend of two years is cheating on me?” Hector questioned in disbelief.
    “We hate to break it to you, Hec, but it’s true. We saw it with our own eyes. We would have recorded it, but we were so stunned we didn’t even think of that.”
    “I guess I’m gonna be involved anyways.” I sighed. I took one of Hector’s hands, and Giana took the other on my command. “Look, Hec, we’re really sorry, but it’s the truth.” Hector looked completely stunned. Then, he relaxed, just like that, so suddenly, that I was startled.
    “I guess there’s no point in arguing. I mean, you guys wouldn’t lie to me, right?” he said in obvious pain, though he tried to hide it.
    “Yes, Hec, we wouldn’t lie to you.” Giana and I promised at the same time.
    “Alright. I should have seen this coming. I knew something was wrong since the party. She wouldn’t hang out with me as much anymore. And she was always making up lame excuses to go somewhere, which I now think, was with Greg. I should have known!” He said angrily. “I’m so breaking up with her as soon as I see her again.”
    “Good for you Hec. She deserves it.” I asserted.
    “Yes, great for you. And she SO deserves it.” Giana added.
    “Well, I think I need to confront her about it now. I’m so mad at her right now. I’m gonna go ahead, you guys. Thanks for telling me about it. Later.” Hec replied. Giana and I watched him jog away from us, and as soon as he disappeared, Giana turned to me.
    “Okay, great. We got rid of Stupella while telling the truth to Hec! This is maybe the best day ever. Gosh I hate her so much! Ever since that day she threatened us if we told Hec the truth, she would kill us. Gosh. SO stupid.”
    “Yeah, I’m glad too. Hec, you, and I aren’t in danger of getting hurt anymore. Physically or mentally. Let’s hurry on to school so we aren’t late.”
    “Right behind you, Zi.”



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