Chapter 2

Sara’s eyes lingered on her twin. Cara sat in the living room scrolling through her phone, hair perfectly styled, nails glossy, lashes long and flawless; everything about her screamed glamour… except for the wheelchair beneath her. Except for the bandaged leg that refused to let her stand.

“My dear,” Margaret announced proudly, “I’m back… and I brought your sister.”

Only then did Cara finally lift her gaze from the screen.

Their eyes met.

No smile.

No tears.

No rush forward.

No laughter or dramatic embrace like Sara had always imagined in her dreams.

Just emptiness. Cara’s expression was unreadable, her face cold and distant, as if she was staring at a stranger instead of the girl who once shared her heartbeat.

After a painfully long, awkward silence, Cara finally spoke.

“You’re welcome.”

That was it.

Sara’s throat went dry. She clutched the strap of her bag tighter, forcing a small, shaky smile.

“T–Thank you,” she muttered, her voice barely above a whisper, her heart aching at the unexpected chill between them.

Without saying another word, she wheeled herself away toward the kitchen, leaving Sara staring after her in stunned silence.

That… hurt.

Nine years.

Nine years of longing.

Nine years of waiting for this reunion imagining laughter, tears, arms thrown around each other.

And all she got was a distant stare and a cold “You’re welcome.”

Even with Cara in a wheelchair and for reasons Sara still didn’t know she had at least expected warmth. Something. Anything.

But this?

This felt like rejection.

Margaret, who had been watching closely, stepped toward Sara, sensing the shift in her expression. “Oh, darling, don’t mind her,” she said quickly. “She’s been like that ever since the accident.”

Sara’s head snapped up. “An… accident?” Her voice shook with disbelief. “Why didn’t you tell me earlier? I asked about her. You told me she was fine.”

Margaret sighed dramatically, guilt coating her tone. “I didn’t want you to worry… or upset your father. But she’s okay now. I’m sure you girls will catch up and everything will be fine in no time.”

Sara didn’t respond. She just stared ahead, her heart heavy.

“Are you hungry?” Margaret continued gently. “Or should I show you to your room?”

But after everything she’d just witnessed, her appetite was already gone though she hadn’t eaten since morning. A strange emptiness settled inside her, one she hadn’t expected to feel on the very day she’d dreamed about for years.

As they moved upstairs, Sara couldn’t help noticing the portraits lining the walls, pictures of her mother and Cara laughing, hugging, posing together like a perfect pair. Frame after frame, hallway after hallway, every wall seemed to scream the same truth: these two had lived happily… without her.

It felt endless, like walking through a gallery of memories she wasn’t part of.

Finally, they stopped.

“This is your room,” Margaret said softly.

Sara stepped inside and froze. The room was breathtaking. Bigger than their entire living room back in the mountains. Elegant walls, expensive décor, a luxurious bed that practically swallowed the space it looked like something from a dream.

“All this… for me, mum?” she whispered in disbelief.

“Yes, my child. All of it is yours,” Margaret replied with a satisfied smile. “Settle in. If you need anything, my room is the first one we passed across the hall at the far end. You can always come to me.”

Sara nodded, and Margaret quietly slipped away.

The moment the door closed, Sara dropped onto the bed, sinking into its softness but her mind refused to rest. Thoughts kept spiraling back to Cara.

Why was she so different?

The Cara she remembered was loud with laughter, bursting with joy. The Cara who wouldn’t let her out of sight for even a minute without crying. The Cara who used to hold her hand like she was afraid the world would steal her away.

And today… nothing. No smile. No hug. Just a cold stare and silence.

Sara sighed, hugging a pillow. Maybe she’s just shocked. It has been nine long years. We’ll catch up… we have to.

Her thoughts drifted to her father. I wonder how he is… He must be lonely now. A sad smile touched her lips. Maybe this will finally give him a chance to find love again. He’s been alone all this time because of me.

Moments later , Sara freshened up and lay in the massive bed, but sleep refused to come. The room was too big, too unfamiliar, too quiet. Back home, her bed was small, worn, but comforting this one felt like it could swallow her whole.

She turned from side to side, thoughts piling up in her mind until they became too heavy to ignore. Eventually she grabbed her phone, scrolling through her favorite shows just to distract herself. The glow of the screen kept her company through the long, sleepless night.

Before she knew it, morning crept in. She hadn’t slept at all but she couldn’t just lie there. She was a village girl, a morning person by nature. Back home, she was always up early, preparing breakfast before heading to the farm with her father.

So she made her way to the kitchen.

It was huge. Modern. Sparkling. But she ignored the grandeur and went straight to work like she always did. She made pancakes the same kind Cara loved when they were children and eggs for her mother, because she remembered how much she liked them. The familiar routine grounded her, wrapping her in memories of a happier time.

Then she waited .

Maybe today Cara would be finally happy  like she had expected , especially now that she had made the pancakes she loved. Maybe it would remind her of their special bond . Or so she thought. Oh, how wrong she was.