~Bliss~(In Washington DC)
As my mom's words resounded in my heart, I could almost feel the weight of her guilt hanging in the air. "It's all my fault, Bliss. I caused this. Please forgive me," her voice wavered as she spoke. The room felt heavy with emotion as she continued, "I have been hiding this from you for a very long time," her voice trailed off as she paused, seemingly searching for the right words.

Different thoughts raced through my mind as I tried to process what she was saying. I could almost taste the bitterness of the truth as I wondered, "Was she the one responsible for this Progeria of a disease? No, it can't be. What could that secret be?" I asked myself.

"After your father died when you and your sister were still seven months old in the womb....." Her words hung in the air, causing a chill to run down my spine. Interrupting her, I said, "Which sister? I don't have a sister," confusion evident in my voice.

The room felt charged with emotion as my mom revealed the truth, her tears almost palpable. "You have, that's what I'm telling you now. I'm sorry," she broke down into tears. I could almost feel the weight of her sorrow as I tried to console her, the air heavy with unspoken regrets.

"Don't worry about her; I'm sure if anything had happened to her. It certainly wasn't your fault," I said, trying to comfort her. But she just cried the more, her words mixed with the tears that dripped down like rain.

"It was my fault. My fault," she said amidst sobs, her words hanging heavily in the air. "After your dad died," she continued, "I was so helpless then; I didn't know how I would raise the two kids in my womb."

I could almost feel the weight of her despair as she spoke. "So after nine months, I delivered two healthy baby girls. The doctors were happy. They congratulated me for being the mother of twins, but how could I be the mother when the father was no more?" A sense of disbelief washed over me as I listened to her words.

"Then, an idea crept into my mind; I decided to throw one away".
I could almost taste the bitterness in my mouth as I interrupted her, "Mum, how could you be this wicked? You discarded away my sister like trash. How could you?" My disappointment hung in the air, thick with unanswered questions.

"It's my fault. I could have waited. I could have thought it through," she said, her voice laced with regret, the room heavy with the weight of her confession. "So how did you throw her?" I asked, anxious to know the rest of the story.

"I remembered I had a free ticket to Nigeria for tourism, so I decided to take that advantage to discard her there, by one of the roadside," she said amidst tears. The sense of disbelief and shock was almost overpowering as I tried to process her words.

I shifted away from her angrily, the frustration pulsing through me like a storm. All these while, I wished I had a sister. Someone to chat and play with. Never knew I was a twin.
Pain shot through my brain like lightning, and I cried my eyes out, feeling the hot tears running down my cheeks. I may never be alive to set my eyes on her even if she was still living.

I looked over at the birthmark on my neck, running my fingers over its rough surface, curious to know if my sister had the same. "Does my sister have this mark?" I asked, my voice trembling with emotion. "Yes, she does," my mum replied, her voice filled with sadness and regret. This gave me the courage that she could still be found.
"Mum. I need you to find my sister. I want to set my eyes on her before I breathe my last," I pleaded, the urgency palpable in my tone.

"Where do I start from?" she asked soberly, her voice heavy with the weight of her past actions.
"The same place you dumped her in! If anything happens to her, I will not forgive you," I shouted, the anger seeping through every word, and turned my face away from her.
"Please forgive me, Bliss," her voice came again, the plea laden with sorrow. I dug my ears in my pillow, not wanting to hear her voice anymore. She had hurt me badly, more than I ever could imagine.

Suddenly, there was a knock at the door, accompanied by the sound of the doorbell. I quickly cleaned my eyes, knowing that it was Julie and Charles. "It seems your friends are here. Let me get the door", she said, exiting the room.

When the door was opened, an excited Charles and Julie rushed over to my room with a packaged present in their arms. I could smell the faint fragrance of Julie's favourite perfume as she leaned in for a hug. I tried hard to smile, but someone observant would notice that there were tears behind those smiles. The colourful wrapping paper crinkled as Charles handed the present to me.

"Happy anniversary, Bliss", they both echoed together. The room filled with warmth, and I could hear the genuine joy in their voices. "Thanks", I appreciated, still maintaining my composure, although my heart felt heavy. Julie was the first to unwrap what she had in her arms- A well-painted picture of Sam and me moving along a path. I smiled when I saw this. I could feel the texture of the canvas under my fingertips, and the strokes of the brush added depth to the image. "The artist that painted this did a marvellous job", I commended, marvelling at the intricate details.

Charles brought his own too- A big Teddie with a soft, fuzzy texture and a heart symbol in the chest inscribed Bliss and Sam. The plush toy felt comforting in my arms as I thanked him for it. These gifts brought a feeling of happiness deep down my soul, warming me from the inside out. I was lucky to be blessed with friends like Charles and Julie. Not only were they there for me in my sick bed, but they cherished this moment with me, filling the room with laughter and light, creating a warm and comforting atmosphere.

As I struggled with my emotions, the room was filled with the scent of the flowers they had brought, and the soft music playing in the background seemed to mingle with the aroma, creating a soothing effect.

Despite trying to suppress the sad feeling with this anniversary, I couldn't forget the pain of being alone all these while without someone to call a sibling. I immediately let my guard down, and the tears began to flow. Julie and Charles gave me a surprised look, and I could feel the weight of their concern. I was sorry for doing this on my anniversary despite all they did to make me happy. Maybe I didn't deserve happiness. I will just have to die a slow, boring death, after all.