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LEILANI A banging headache made me open my eyes. The ache was so bad that I groaned out in pain. “You are awake,” I heard Malcolm say. For some reason, he sounded so relieved. “My head…” I had barely finished speaking when he embraced me. “Don’t scare me that way again,” he pleaded. “What way?” I asked, but then memories of how I passed out flooded my memory. I looked down at myself and realized I was in hospital clothes and IV fluids were connected to my arm. I recalled the voices in my head before I passed out. None of them made any sense to me. “You are awake,” a voice said from the door. I glanced at the door and there stood the doctor, whom I was now very familiar with, the same doctor that said my memory was messed up. “Malcolm, can I speak with the doctor in private?” I requested. Malcolm gave me a hesitant look, I smiled softly, making him sigh before walking out. “I guess you believe me now,” the doctor said and relaxed his back on the wall, staring at me. “I don’t g
MIRANDA I lay helplessly on the wet kitchen floor, once again, Dad's sister had beaten me up. She had taken a spatula and flogged me like I was some mad cow. I cried and screamed, but then no help came since mummy was not around. After beating me, she threatened to beat me again if I didn't clean the mess I made on the floor. I lay still, my body aching and tears rushing down my cheeks. "What did I ever do to this woman that made her hate me this much?" I kept asking myself. But then, there is no answer to that, as I never did anything to her. "Why is the world against me? Why doesn't anyone want me? And my real parents, why in the world did they abandon me?" These thoughts made tears stream down my cheeks, I couldn't control my emotions. As little as I am. I've seen the dark side of the world, and with each passing day, I must feel a negative emotion that I should know nothing about at my age. "I really hate whoever gave birth to me and abandoned me?" I held my chest and broke
LEILANI Melinda has decided to treat me like a queen today. I’m seated on Malcolm’s couch with my legs outstretched on the table, while Melinda massages my back. “This is so nice, I feel like a queen,” I hummed and sipped the juice she had brought to me. Melinda giggled and kept massaging my back. “I have the best daughter in the whole wide world,” I exclaimed. But then, Melinda didn’t say a word. Her hands moving on my back suddenly stopped. I turned around to look at her, I noticed she had a distant look in her eyes as if torn between doing something and not doing it. I brought down my legs from the table and took her hands into mine. “What’s wrong, Melly?” The name I called her made her smile. “That nickname is for Dad alone to call me. Stick to your Linda.” I giggled. “I’ll call you whatever I like, I’m your mum.” I stuck out my tongue and made ugly faces at her. She sighed in the most dramatic way. “Aunt Sienna is rubbing off on you.” she raised her hand towards the sk
ELODIE To say I’m infuriated will be belittling the negative emotions surging through me right now. I never want to lose Miranda. Yes, I refused to put her in school, doesn’t mean I won't. I just wanted to make sure the entire place was safe for her. I don’t want her to run into people who know her mum or her twin sister. I made her stay at home all day. While I go out to survey the entire place. Each time I got back, she would always complain about how Frank’s sister beat her up. Most times, I find her tied to her bed. All in the name of being punished for her wrongdoings. I’ve always confronted her about it, and each time, she tells me how rude Miranda is. The last time she hit Miranda, I had quarrelled with her. I never expected her to do even worse today. And this is the height of it. I wasn’t going to take any more nonsense from her. “Apologize to Miranda,” I demanded. I had beaten her up. Frank knows not to interfere in the fight, knowing I won’t hesitate to fight him too, for
Isabelle I escaped to Colorado today, while Daniel was out for business. I didn’t know at first, but then after staying a few days without seeing him, I figured out he might not be around because Daniel never stays a day without coming to see me. I had caught and tied up one of the maids and threatened to end her life if she didn’t tell me about Daniel’s whereabouts. She then revealed that he had gone on a business trip and would stay for a month or more. He had asked them not to tell me about it, knowing that I might begin to look for an escape route. This new piece of information helped me come up with escape plans. I contacted Frank and he informed me that he now resided in Colorado. Having already known his home in Colorado, finding it wasn’t hard. So, here I am, in Colorado, ready to torment my sweet Elodie. But then I just received a shocker. Whilst sitting on the couch, waiting for Elodie to leave, she suddenly appeared with Melinda. “Melinda,” I called in shock. “Wasn’t she
LEILANI It’s been two days since I let Pixie begin to live with us. Those two days have been more peaceful than I expected it to be. Pixie seemed to have been serious when she said she was sorry for her wrongdoings. Right now, I totally understand her. Malcolm doesn’t want to have anything to do with her, at the moment, his entire focus is on proving that the boy isn’t his, which I find unnecessary. Melinda became friends with Pixie’s son, whom we learnt his name was Ryan. Sienna now lives alone at our old house, since she insisted on giving us privacy. That day when she and Malcolm came back from moving our things, she had been infuriated when she saw Pixie. She had pulled me aside and scolded me, asking if I was in my right senses. I managed to convince her, even though I knew she wasn’t really confused. She had said she hoped I knew what I was doing before leaving that day. Even I do not know what I’m doing. But one thing is sure, I’m moved by my motherly instincts. I know how scar
SIENNA I find it hard to understand Leilani these days, I just can’t figure out the reason why she let that bitch and her son stay with them. Leilani has always been soft right from childhood, I thought experiencing life would change her, but then it seems like it didn’t. I keep wondering if this was the way she survived while away for five years. I wondered if she let just anyone into her home back then in New York. I had yelled and asked her not to contact me while still living with that bitch. But deep down, I know I didn’t mean I will always look out for her even if she makes the dumbest decision. Today was a holiday for everyone. No company was expected to operate as it was a national holiday. Some companies will definitely operate, but then, Leilani had made it obvious that everyone should stay at their homes as she had no interest in operating the company on a national holiday, so here I am, at home and alone. I was so bored and damn the movies were not doing it for me. I coul
ISABELLE It’s been two days since I found out about the little girl who has an uncanny resemblance with Melinda. At first, I was in so much doubt about the possibility of her being Leilani’s daughter, but then I decided to threaten Elodie, saying that I would contact the police as well as the girl’s real mum, Leilani Bradford. The threat had worked on her, she was scared and almost went down on her knees, while pleading with me. This one action of hers, further proved that she knows about Leilani and that Miranda was Leilani’s kid. But then, Leilani doesn’t seem like someone who would leave her kid or something. I mean she acts like a goody two shoes and for someone who was terribly religious as at the time she left. I doubted she threw her child away or abandoned her at the hospital. “I’ll have to act cautiously to use this to my advantage,” I thought, smiling. Finally, I got something that would help me go back to California without any trouble. The sound of someone knocking on m
LEILANI Here I am, seated on the sandy beach overlooking the vast water. However, instead of watching the water being pushed around by the waves like everyone else, My entire attention is on my two adorable kids, building sand castles in a corner. “Stop that, Melinda,” Miranda screams at Melinda who was so invested in destroying the sand castle she had built. “Let’s do something else, I’m tired of building sand castles every time we visit the beach,” Melinda yells and continues to kick and scatter the sand castle they had spent almost an hour building. “Melinda, stop that,” I yell, bringing their attention to me. “She doesn’t want to play with me,” Melinda complains, her eyes getting moist. “You mustn’t run around all the time,” I say, but Melinda was hearing none of it. She threw herself on the ground and began to roll herself on the floor. “Melinda, stop that,” I say, now pissed off at her unruly behaviour. She rises from the ground and grabs hold of Miranda’s swimsuit. “Th
FIVE MONTHS LATER MIRANDA “Stop that Melinda!” I screamed as she continuously banged her spoon on a stainless plate, creating a loud disturbing noise. “You never like playing!” She screams back, giggling. “I’m trying to study,” I replied, pulling my hair. But my crazy twin smiled and banged the spoon on the plate even more loudly. “Fine,” I say, slamming my book shut and rising from the bed. “What do you want to do?” I ask. “Yes!” she screams and leaps up. It’s been five months since I was taken home by my real family, five months since I discovered Aunt Isabelle’s true colours, Five months since I found people who sincerely love me and wished the best for me. Honestly, my family has become the most important part of my life. I can never stay a day without seeing them. My mum, Leilani, treats me like I'm the most precious thing on earth, and most times I wonder why Melinda never gets jealous. My dad, on the other hand, treats me like I'm the most delicate thing on earth. He
MIRANDA “Is that another me?” the little girl who looks exactly like me gasps I stood still, unable to say a word and watched as she also took steps towards me, her legs shaky and her eyes fixed on my face the entire time. Getting to me, she raises her hand to touch my face. But then, I am reminded of Aunt Isabelle's words about her being the major reason why my parents don't want me. "Don't touch me," I snarled and roughly shoved her aside. "I need to speak with Malcolm Blake and his wife," I said, older this time. "That's my mum and dad," the girl who looks exactly like me says. I glanced at her and eyed her unpleasantly. "I'm not dragging that with you," I snarled at her. "Anyone getting the duo, or I should barge in and find their suite myself?" I ask. "No, I'll call them," the lady says. Nodding my head at her answer, I stood still watching her make a phone conversation. "They'll be here soon," she says, putting down her phone. "So doppelgangers are real," the annoyi
MIRANDA I was so engrossed in the storybook Aunt Isabelle had purchased for me when I noticed someone trying to come into my room through the window. Scared, I got into the closet to hide myself. I would’ve called Aunt Isabelle, but then I recalled that she had warned me on several occasions to always keep my windows locked. Not wanting to get scolded by her, I carefully hid myself inside my closet and shut the door, heart beating erratically and waiting for the intruder to show up. However, after a long wait, no one showed up, making me look out of the closet. Then, I heard someone screaming for help. People asking for help was a normal occurrence in our neighbourhood. I’ve always watched a lot of people struggle with their captors. It was a daily occurrence that scared me. But then, I always watch to know who to look out for. Like always, I tiptoed to the window and that was when I caught sight of a familiar woman being pulled by the hair. For some reason, the way the man was tuggin
"Miranda." I gasped and stared wide-eyed at my little angel staring down at me. The maniac kept tugging my hair to bring my attention to him, but then it was as if I couldn't feel any of those at this moment. My entire focus was on the little girl in the window. "Miran…" I try to call again. But then, I'm cut shut as a familiar voice calls out the name before I could complete it. "Miranda," Isabelle's annoying voice sounded. At that moment, I felt my skin crawl and my heart began to beat frantically. "Don't tell me Elodie and her husband gave my daughter to this witch," I mumbled, gripped by fear. Having witnessed what Isabelle is capable of, the last thing I want is to have her next to my loved ones. Most especially, my daughters, but it seemed like that was just my wishful thinking. Eyes still on the window, I watch my daughter's face lit up with a smile the moment Isabelle reaches her side. I watched, with tears trailing down my cheeks as Isabelle fondly pats my daughter's hai
LEILANI “What?” I gasp in shock. Malcolm ignores me and rises from his seat. I grab hold of his hand to stop him from walking away. “How can you just drop an information like this and suddenly try to leave without explaining things to me?” I ask, still in shock. Disbelief clearly written on my face. “What? You suddenly want to believe my words right now?” Malcolm asks and pulls his arm off my grasp. “Malcolm,” I whisper in shock at the force he used in pulling his hand away. “What Leilani? What! I'm sick and tired of constantly having to explain myself to you countless number of times. I try to please and understand you all the time, but you keep making things hard for me. Tell me, do you even believe what I just said about Elodie?” He suddenly throws a question at me. I stare at him without saying a word. Honestly, this news is a shocker and I'm having a hard time believing it. “See, you don’t,” he says. Casting one last look at me, he dumps his cutleries, not caring if they f
LEILANI “When did we suddenly get to this?” I ask myself. I stood in place, too shocked to move. This was the first time a gun was being pointed at me. Yeah, I live in the United States, and shooting often occurs. But then, this is the first time I’m actually witnessing it. I watched as the guy pulled the trigger. “Is this my end?” I ask. Suddenly, I’m snatched like I weigh nothing and thrown aside. “You really want to die, don’t you?” Malcolm’s angry voice echoes. His voice sounded so far away, yet I was in his arms. My focus was on the masked guy trying to get away. I watch as he slips into one of the hospital rooms. “Baby,” Malcolm calls, shaking me rigorously. “Huh,” I answer absent-mindedly. “Leilani!” he suddenly yells my name. Making me snap out of whatever trance I was in. “He tried to shoot me,” I mumble. “I almost died without meeting my daughter,” I begin to cry. “Almost, but you didn’t,” he says, pulling me further into his arms. “She is dead,” I mumble, point
LEILANI The moment Frank runs past us with his skinny wife in his arms, Malcolm and I immediately run after him. Getting outside the building, Frank runs over to an old truck that looks like it will break down at any minute. “Are you honestly taking her to the hospital with that?” I ask “Let’s use my car,” Malcolm calls after him. Soon, we all got into Malcolm’s car, and he speeds to the hospital. Getting to the hospital, Elodie is lowered into a stretcher and wheeled into the emergency room. Malcolm and Frank goes off, as Frank mentions that he would like their family doctor to attend to her since he works here. I watch as both of them walk away in search of the doctor. Frank’s sister and I rushes after Elodie, who was already wheeled to the emergency room. “Has something like this happened to her before?” I queried her. She gave me one downgrading look and didn’t bother to answer. It is already bad enough that I haven’t seen my daughter even when I’m already in Colorado. Now,
LEILANI "You should pull yourself together, Lani. I'm sure you don't want Melinda to worry about you," Malcolm says the moment he ends the call. I didn't say a word and quietly snuggled into his chest. Honestly, I, too, knew I must have frightened Melinda. Heaven knows how she is feeling right now. This is one of the reasons why I said I'm not a good mother. "I'll go heat the milk. You need something to help you calm down," Malcolm says and proceeds to leave the room. Just as soon as he leaves, my phone rings, and I realize it's Sienna after speaking with Sienna. I felt calm and knew that I didn't need the milk to calm me down again, as my best friend had already did. I rose from the bed and found my way down the stairs. I was barefooted, so my feet barely made any sound. Getting to the kitchen, I found Malcolm on a call with his back turned on me. Not wanting to distract him from the call, I quietly stood behind him while waiting for him to finish answering the call. "You mean my