chapter 2

Lyra's POV

Two weeks on this island, and everything had changed. What was supposed to be a simple favor for Angela had turned into something I couldn’t control. Every day, I felt myself falling deeper in love with Kurtis, and the guilt was eating me alive.

I spent every moment with him, pretending to be Angela, laughing at his jokes, listening to his stories, and sharing moments that were supposed to belong to my sister. But the more time I spent with him, the more I realized that I wasn’t just pretending, I was genuinely falling for him. His smile, his touch, the way he looked at me like I was the only person in the world… It was all too much. But it was also a lie.

Tonight was no different. We had spent the evening walking along the beach, the waves crashing softly against the shore, the sky painted in shades of pink and orange as the sunset. The warmth of the sand under our feet and the gentle breeze coming off the ocean created a moment that should have been perfect. But something was off. Kurtis was unusually quiet, his usual easy smile replaced by a thoughtful, almost troubled expression.

I kept stealing glances at him as we walked, hoping to catch a hint of what he was thinking. His hand was warm in mine, but his grip felt different, tense like he was holding onto something more than just me. Now and then, he would squeeze my hand, as if trying to reassure himself of something. It made my heart ache, knowing that whatever was on his mind, it was something important.

“Kurtis,” I finally said, breaking the silence that had stretched between us for too long. “Is everything okay? You’ve been quiet all evening.”

He stopped walking, and I turned to face him. The way he looked at me sent a shiver down my spine. There was a mix of emotions in his eyes, something intense that I couldn’t quite place. It was like he was searching for something in my face, some answer to a question he hadn’t asked yet.

“Yeah, everything’s fine,” he said, but his voice didn’t match the words. It was softer, almost hesitant as if he was trying to convince himself more than me.

“You don’t seem fine,” I pressed gently, my heart starting to pound. “You can talk to me, you know. Whatever it is, I’m here.”

He let out a slow breath, running his free hand through his hair. The gesture was so familiar by now, something he did when he was nervous or unsure. But this time, it made my stomach twist with anxiety. What was he struggling to say?

“I’ve been thinking a lot lately,” he began, his gaze dropping to the sand. “About us, about where we’re going. I know we haven’t been together long, but…” He trailed off, his voice catching on the last word.

“But what?” I whispered, feeling like the ground was shifting beneath me. The uncertainty in his tone was killing me. What was he trying to tell me?

He looked up, his eyes locking onto mine with an intensity that made my breath hitch. “I’ve never felt this way about anyone before, Angela,” he said, his voice low, almost reverent. “I can’t imagine my life without you in it.”

Hearing him say those words, my heart swelled with emotion, but at the same time, a wave of guilt crashed over me. He was talking about a future, about forever, and he was saying it all to the wrong person. I wasn’t Angela, and he had no idea.

“Kurtis…” I started, but before I could say anything more, he took both of my hands in his, his grip firm and reassuring.

“Let me finish,” he said, a small, nervous smile tugging at the corner of his mouth. “I’ve been trying to figure out the right way to say this, but I guess there’s no perfect moment. I just know that I love you. I love everything about you, and I don’t want to waste any more time.”

My heart was racing now, the air around us suddenly feeling too thick to breathe. Love. He had said he loved me, well, loved “her”. And I was standing there, about to let him keep believing in a lie.

He took a step closer, so close I could feel the heat of his body against mine. “Angela, I want to spend the rest of my life with you. I want us to build a life together, to make memories like these every day.”

I stared up at him, my mind spinning, trying to find the words to stop this before it went any further. But then he reached into his pocket, and I felt everything around me freeze.

“Kurtis, wait” I tried to stop him, but it was like my voice had left me.

He pulled out a small, velvet box, his hand shaking slightly as he opened it. Inside was a ring, a beautiful, sparkling diamond that caught the last light of the setting sun. It was perfect, too perfect, and the sight of it made my heart break.

“I know it’s fast,” he said, his voice steady despite the emotion in his eyes. “But I don’t care. When you know, you know. Angela, will you marry me?”

I was completely frozen, staring at the ring, at Kurtis’s hopeful expression. This was supposed to be the happiest moment of his life, but all I felt was crushing guilt. I couldn’t do this. I couldn’t keep lying to him, not when he was pouring his heart out to me.

“Kurtis… I can’t.” The words barely came out, my voice thick with emotion.

His smile faltered, confusion clouding his eyes. “What do you mean? Did I do something wrong?”

“No, it’s not you,” I said quickly, shaking my head as tears welled up. “It’s just… I’m not who you think I am.”

His brow furrowed, clearly not understanding. “What are you talking about?”

“I’m not Angela,” I confessed, the words spilling out before I could stop them. “I’m Lyra. I’m her twin sister.” I said as I ran away.