The Missing Twin Chapter 2

I collapsed onto the bottom bunk.

Sarah didn't cook dinner. She took Anna and stormed out of the house, slamming the front door to show just how pissed she was.

I sat there in the silence, actually starting to question my sanity. Was I having a psychotic break?

Lily was just here. She was right in front of me. How could Sarah look me in the eye and say she didn't exist?

I have a habit of biting my nails when I'm nervous. I raised my left hand and stopped.

There was a Hello Kitty Band-Aid on my index finger.

Lily put that there.

This afternoon, I was cutting fruit and nicked my finger. Lily had blinked her big eyes at me, held my hand with both of hers, and said seriously:

"Daddy, pain fly away."

My heart had melted.

That happened. Lily exists!

I grabbed my phone and called my parents.

Their reaction was identical to Sarah’s. They told me I’ve only ever had Anna.

My mom sounded worried. "Will, honey... is this because you're stressed about Anna being non-verbal? Maybe... maybe you and Sarah should try for a son."

What the hell were they talking about?

I never cared that Anna couldn't speak! I just wanted to find Lily!

She was just tagging along behind me, calling me Daddy. How did she vanish from everyone's memory but mine?

Is the whole world gaslighting me?

I felt a wave of crushing grievance. I mumbled a goodbye and hung up.

I took a deep breath. Stop thinking. Just function.

I unpacked the groceries Sarah had dropped and put them in the fridge. Just as I finished, the front door opened. Sarah and Anna were back.

Sarah ignored me completely.

Anna, however, walked straight up to me.

"Daddy, you need to rest. Don't be so tired."

Wait. Anna spoke?

I reached out to hug her, but she bolted past me and ran to Sarah.

My hands grabbed empty air.

Sarah picked Anna up, looking at me with undisguised disgust.

"Don't talk to your father. His brain is broken."

She slammed the bedroom door.

Apparently, I was sleeping on the couch or the guest room. I trudged to the master bedroom—which was empty now—lay on the bed, and closed my eyes.

I hoped that when I woke up, the nightmare would be over. Sarah, Lily, and Anna would all be there.

Exhaustion took over.

I don't know how long I slept, but a faint, childish voice whispered in my ear.

"Daddy... Daddy."

It was Lily!

My eyes snapped open.