The Ultimatum

Melanie ducks out in the early dawn of her last days in Pearl Coast, packing stuff, bidding adieu to her associate She checks in for her six-hour flight to Orion at the airpot, gets a coffee and makes herself comfortable.

The old man [is] already asleep and still slowly breathing when she walks down from the Air France Airbus 380 back to her true home, a little scared with fear that comes off as arson but also jazzed with excitement it's almost nostalgia.

On the plane, Melanie watches movies, reads and thinks about Alex, remembering everything they have been through as her heart tries to detach.

With each tick of the clock in her life, as she descends into a new chapter, and lands in a place where how to reclaim herself is something that she wishes to remember again

As she steps off the plane into the toasty terminal, Melanie looks around for her identical twin sister Kalinin eagerly waving at her. They hug without words as they had last seen each other two years ago in video calls.

“Look who’s here!” Kalinin, 26, shows her daughter Kionna who is two-years-old.

The child initially cowers away behind her mother's dress, yet quickly recognises Melanie's voice and runs into her open arms.

Melanie inquires about her brother-in-law, Martins, and finds out he is at work. They grab an airport trolley and Melanie can't wipe that smile of her face as she is home where her is family.

Kionna rambles on excitedly in the car seat,nestled between her mother and Melanie and as Melanie gazes out upon the well-known surroundings of her childhood, she feels a surge of rightness.

Pulling up to Kalinin's warm, cozy house, she feels that where she belongs is at home, and ready for new beginnings. When they got home, Kalinin and her driver helps Melanie bring in the bags.

After being left alone, Melanie tries to settle into her room by hand but soon becomes frustrated.

Living in Orion, she tries to get over Alex cheating, She weighs the loaded secret and has never confessed to him just how duplicitous she's been.

It was true what Melanie had said to Kalinin, that her relationship had felt like a smothering one but she left out the part about Alex cheating.

Ashamed of herself because she is engaged to marry in three months Melanie decides to take the truth of what really happened to her grave.

Now that she is trying her possible best to move on, she can't help but feel that her sister will feel betrayed is she ever finds out about the full truth.

Melanie sits on a mixed box, half-unpacked, while she draws in her sketch pad as one does. Using brushes, she then lays out all of her emotions on paper, resulting in a visual being which represents the whirlpool within.

Inside Melanie is working hard at her art when Kalinin suddenly sticks his head in with a… somewhat creepy smile.

“Hey sis! What’s up?” she asks, noticing the chaos. This makes Melanie laugh, a little abashed.

“I’m surprised you can even move in here!”Kalinin chuckles, teasing Melanie about the mess.

Kalinin sits beside her, asking about life beyond her art explosion. Melanie admits she's just trying to figure things out so the family will stop worrying. Kalinin points out that breaking up with Alex should have lifted a weight off her shoulders, but Melanie’s discomfort deepens.

With her defenses up, Melanie reveals that Alex was her first love and there was a point in their horrid relationship where his jealousy became too overwhelming.

Although Kalinin avows that walking out on him was the right thing to do, for Melanie her words are condemning.

"i'm just trying to save you from overthinking your situation” Kalinin raises hands in peace.

Melanie is still unsettled and finds Kalinin's manner off-putting.

“Orion was is one place to bring you back to, to get you out of the right head space,” Kalinin explains this before revealing that she and Martins signed Melanie up for a dating app.

“Is this a joke?” When Kalinin finally tells her it's Just a little joke, Melanie is perpelxed until she snaps.

“It’s not that simple!” her voice still cracks and She talks about how it would be easier to just turn over, gaining insight into this very personal struggle of hers. Melanie says, teary eyed.

“Everything reminds me of him. It feels like a weird thing to say but I don't think I will ever find someone who will love me the way Alex did.” She continues.

‘You got it hard, I know.” Kalinin admits.

“What if I don’t want to date? Can’t I just focus on myself?” Melanie asks softly after crying in Kalinin’s embrace.

“You can't let the past define you though. And so you have to get on with it.” Kalinin is explaining,

“Martins and I have been working to help you since you told us, but it seems there’s something missing in place of what we’re trying to do,” Melanie listens with a softening of expression.

I feel tied down to my past.”Melanie confesses.

“So, No, I'm Not Going to Date”

“Also, why didn't you speak to me before putting me on that dating site?”

“We did not intend to hurt you,” Kalinin apologizes remorsefully.

“…But you need to begin living again.” She declares

“ mom doesn't know about the state you are in, u will be alright.” She sounds like she is trying to console Melanie but she is actually threatening her with this statement.

“Well sure, but we just want to get you out of your shell… we can cut it out if you want,” Kalinin is quick to assure.

Melanie sobs, “I feel like you are trying to rush me into things.

“I thought leaving Alex would help, now I am lost.”

“Why bitch why cant you allow me figure shit out on my own” Melanie complains.

“We thought moving you away from all the reminders would help make it easier for you, but we are so concerned.” Kalinin explains,

“I am fine, Kal” Melanie protests, but Kalinin shakes her head.

“No, Mel. I am your twin sister and I can tell when something is up. Kalinin continues,

“Martins and I are seeing patients daily and the plan of us bringing you here wont work if you keep insisting that you are okay”

“I am sacred, if you keep behaving in this manner,I’ll have to involve Mom.” KALININ forces Melanie.

“Mom never even acknowledged my engagement to Alex and She will say that she knows it would never last if she finds out I ended it.” Melanie protests

“I know, that's why we put you on heartly. me.” Kalinin argues.

“But If you don't come with me to find out, I'll tell mom and get her involved,' Kalinin says showing Melanie her phone.

“Is this a joke?” Melanie asks, bewildered.

"Of course not, " comes Kalinin's despair laden reply.

“I am not moving on really easily. And you abuse the ‘get over it’ phrase like turning off a light switch is that simple.” Melanie argues.

“I am reminded of Alex in everything and I cannot let go,” Melanie explains with a trembling voice.

“Other than that, I understand it is a bitter pill to swallow sis”, offers Kalinin as she pauses.

“But you can't allow the past to consume you. You must keep walking and Martins and I wanna me help you get over him, but its been two weeks and you still stuck.”Kalinin lets out, frustrated.

“If only it were that simple, Kalinin…” Melanie says, her voice weighed down.

“I felt grounded in my history, so I am taking some time before I start dating so why couldn't you mention the dating site thing instead of going behind my back.” Her eyes well up with tears, her voice pressing and taring as she says.

“We did not wish to cause you hurt.” Kalinin clarifies.

“What if I don't want to date? Shouldn't I be looking after myself for a while?” After they embrace for a few minutes, Melanie whispers.

“Sure, but Martins and I encourage you to put yourself out there” she convinces her:

“If you don´t like it, we can just stop It, but try.

“You are FORCING ME into this,” Melanie weeps from the bottom of her heart.

“I was sure that ending my relationship with Alex was the right thing to do, and now I feel lost. I fear that I can never love again.” Kalinin lightly pets her, telling her that she will be fine.

"Give me a chance, to have some time to figure my life out? Please,” Melanie begs

“Martins and I have given you two weeks since the breakup, hoping you’d find the will to live again. That’s why we brought you to Orion for a change of scenery, but you look way worse than we imagined and we’re worried about your mental state,” Kalinin explains.

“There’s no reason to worry about me, Kal... I’m fine,” Melanie insists.

“No, you’re not,” Kalinin counters firmly.

“But I am,” Melanie argues.

“I’m your twin sister, and I know when you’re not okay,” Kalinin emphasizes.

“Martins and I are doctors, and we see patients every day. We can’t leave you alone at home.”

“If things don’t change, I’ll have to involve Mom,” she warns, making Melanie shift uncomfortably in her seat.

“You know Mom never supported my relationship with Alex,” Melanie says, hoping Kalinin understands.

“If she finds out I broke up with him, she’ll just say she told me so and that is the last thing I want to hear.”

“I expected you to say that,” Kalinin replies.

“That’s why Martins and I signed you up on heartly.me”

“If you refuse to explore the site, I’ll have no choice but to involve Mom.”Kalinin flashes her phone in front of Melanie, whose face pales. Standing up from the bed, Kalinin’s expression softens but remains firm.

“Here is the login details.”

“You have five minutes to decide if you’re going to take this chance. If I don’t see you logged in, I’ll tell Mom you’re struggling after the breakup.”

Kalinin’s voice lowers, “You know she’ll believe me, especially since you haven’t been here in two years.”

“If you don’t fill in your profile in five minutes, I’ll assume you’re not ready to move on, and I know that’s not true. You just need a little push.”With that, Kalinin leaves the room, the door clicking shut behind her, punctuating the ultimatum. Alone with the login details and a ticking clock, Melanie feels her heart race as conflict surges within her.