One afternoon, I spotted my pleased sister strolling hand in hand with a distinguished gentleman at Marks & Spencer, and both were wearing wedding bands.
Emma had a twin sister called Abigail. Since birth, theyd been inseparable best friends as well as sisters. They played the same games, whispered secrets, and even got into trouble together. Whenever things took a turn, they always stood up for one another. Their mum loved to buy them matching outfits. Even when they reached adulthood, not much changed. Though they finally had the freedom to choose their own clothes, Emma and Abigail rather enjoyed dressing alike it gave them pride, being twins.
The girls grew up with their parents living modestly in Kent, on an average income. When Emma went off to university in Manchester, Abigail hoped to follow suit, but she just couldnt manage it. Both Abigail and their parents were terribly disappointed. Still, their mum and dad kept scraping together the tuition fees, desperate to give both daughters a chance at a good education. Abigail was riddled with embarrassment as though she was somehow unworthy of the expense especially when she couldnt keep up with the budget. She felt humiliated, burning with shame whenever she needed help that simply wasnt there.
One evening, over a Sunday roast, the twins grandmother had apparently indulged in a bit too much sherry and let slip a secret shed been sitting on for years. It turned out that when their parents first discovered theyd had twins, they considered giving one up afraid they couldnt manage two. The younger of the two, as it happened, had been Abigail.
The revelation left Abigail shocked and deeply hurt at such injustice. No matter how her family tried to comfort her, it made no difference. She became convinced shed always been loved less than Emma, and, determined to show her parents what that felt like, she marched off and withdrew her papers from university.
After that, she started blaming Emma for everything. She was convinced that if Emma hadnt been around, no one wouldve ever thought of giving Abigail away. Shed have been the cherished only child, the apple of their eye. From that day forward, everything changed in our family. The twins drifted apart and began living separate lives.
Emma found herself a husband, settled down, and had a little boy. The sisters barely saw each other after that. The only time they did cross paths was once at their parents house. The reunion was hardly happy Abigail was snide and critical, especially about Emmas appearance.
Their next encounter was purely by chance, right in the heart of the local shopping centre. Abigail looked striking with her polished looks, keeping company with a well-dressed, evidently successful man. Emma assumed he was her husband.
Emma offered a hasty hug, but Abigail took a step back, acting as though she didnt even know her. Emma felt mortified, standing awkwardly as Abigail swept outside and climbed into a shiny new Jaguar.
Eventually, there was another obligatory meeting back at their parents home. Abigail wasted no time criticising Emma again, saying she looked slovenly and that it was an embarrassment to the family.
There was a cruel truth to her words. Emma had always preferred her wavy hair unstyled, minimal makeup, and comfortable, everyday clothes. Abigail, on the other hand, wore makeup and contact lenses, styled her hair, and had regular appointments for beauty treatments.
Emma was deeply offended and hurt by her sisters behaviour. After all, she wasnt in any way inferior she too had a family, a husband, and a child. She poured out her pent-up feelings to their mother, struggling to understand how her once-close twin had become so spiteful. Where had all this resentment come from?
Their mother simply pleaded with Emma not to hold a grudge against Abigail. She urged her to let Abigail be happy, and asked her, above all, to stay out of her way and not to interfere in her life.
From then on, Emma could only visit her parents after calling ahead or being invited, just to make sure she didnt run into Abigail. Its astonishing how a single sentence can change the lives of every member of a family forever.
Reflecting on all this, Ive learnt that secrets and resentment, if left to fester, can tear even the closest ties apart. Its better to be honest early on, and to try your best to forgive otherwise, you may wake up one day and realise your family is a stranger to you.
