Flickering Light

The candle had gone down an inch now, and all I had been looking at was that photo. The newspaper blurred and the only thing focused was the word Funeral. The photo was black and white and showed a young girl in a lace dress and bonnet. She was smiling but it was easy to see she was uncomfortable. Something silver was supposed to be hidden, but you could just see it from the layers. Who knew she was so close?

 

A tear dripped...

-----

The wind screeched, making endless snatches for my hair. The day was new but bearded with gray mist. The cemetery was to my left, home to my right. I turned right, then decided otherwise and took the left turn through the gate.

 

I counted the headstones to the tree. Twelve rows. Ten rows. Seven. Three. I sat down under the weeping willow.

 

The headstone was always there.

-----

She was the one who had given the photo.

 

“You will find her in your heart somewhere.” My grandmother had said while handing me the photo. “Her name was Mya”

 

And then she had died.

-----

“Who is Mya?” I watched Mum’s face falter.

“She’s,” Mum paused “She was your twin, fraternal”

“Wha...?”

“You’re adopted.” Mum managed to spit out. She almost couldn’t believe what she had said, but then she was released from the burden.

 

That was when I left...

-----

Sitting there at the headstone made me realise what Mum had said. She was my twin.

 

She wasn’t alive anymore.

-----

Why did she do that? I wished I had met her. The photo makes more sense now, her expression, that thing hidden, her attitude...

 

She had done it that day.

-----

I asked Mum to clarify.

“It was depression, she killed herself”

“It’s a knife, isn’t it?”

She nodded.

 

My sister, my twin had killed herself.

-----

The candle shrunk down to nothing. I took the photo and left.

 

I sat under the tree and cried.

Author's Note

I have put the scenes in the wrong order so the reader doesn't know until the end what happened. Do you think it worked?

Reviews

[Anthony]

Interesting and intriguing. I liked this short story, didn't know how it would end! Well done.

[Angel Bird]

Yes I think this is the right order for it adds to the deeply emotional feelings, and it is rich in dark imagery. Great piece.

[the-One-with-the-Darkne..]

yes i like this. Very good.

[Liza]

this was so emotional
you're very talented

[ScarlettTheDreamer]

It worked great! It kept me glued on to it till the end to know what things happened and when. And at last it made perfect sense. Nice story!!