Rain

Jessica and Melanie, two twin sisters, met at a coffee house, after 16 long years, which followed a separation and fallout between parents after their biological mother died when they were very young. Their father sent Melanie to the care of their relatives. He was far too busy leading a life of luxury with the “other woman” and his “favorite daughter” thought Melanie. But what she didn’t know was the kind of hell Jessica went through everyday. They were both told that the other didn’t want to keep in touch and thus there would be no letters. Their bond was although well established, but it changed with changing times. Where Melanie, was allowed everything that she wanted, Jessica grew to become a subdued although rebellious teenager, where as Melanie blossomed into a self assured individual, sure of what she wanted and where to draw the line.

At 18 they both sat face to face. But it wasn’t like two sisters meeting each other after 14 long years, it was more like a mirror, and the person was so much more different from her reflection. They both had their own set of apprehensions, their own set of grudges, and both of them waited for the other to speak first. None of them spoke, and both went their own way.

One morning of their 20th birthday, both Melanie and Jessica received an email. Melanie, from her father, and Jessica from her aunt who took care of Melanie.

The email read :

Dear Melanie,

I know you must be very mad at me, but there is something you need to know. Your sister and I love and miss you a lot. I’m sure you have your own set of reasons to believe otherwise, but I did try. Try to win both my daughters. You both were 4 when it all happened. 

Before mom left us, I was out on a business trip, with my assistant Kate. When I got a call from my mom’s lawyer, stating that she’d filed a divorce. Mom and I had our share of issues, but we always knew how to get our way around them. But it was this time that your aunt Martha, yes the same one who died three days after mom, she really crossed the line. 

She’d never approved of your mom and me getting married, and did for a major part of the time create a lot of fights between us.You must have heard a very different version from Melissa, but she never really lived with us to sense the gravity of the situation.Melissa and your mom were the best of friends. Mom told Melissa everything, which enraged me to a great extent then, but in retrospect, it seems like a good move. 

When I got back from the trip, I realized that your mom was terminally ill, she told me she’d prepared a will and that I should read it only when she was gone. So the day she left us, I opened that envelope and picked up those printed papers, they read that, both of my daughters would be under the care of Melissa. And that if I wanted custody, I would have to apply for it.. which I did, but I could really only get only one of you, and I couldn’t decide who, for both of you were a beautiful amalgamation of your mother and me, more like your mom though, and I realized how much more I missed her with every passing second after our separation. The court ordered to give me custody of the older of the two, which is how Jessica came to live with me. I would never choose between my two lovely daughters.

Your mother was truly beautiful and so are her two little girls. Your aunt Martha told your mom that I was having an affair with my assistant, which was a lie, because I was never unfaithful.

I write to you to ask of your help. Your sister is falling apart, and it was time you knew the entire truth about your family. I never did cheat on your mother. And I don’t love this woman I’m married to. One might think I had it easy, lost his wife, got married again, still has the money. Only I know the kind of anguish I go through every single moment, living in the same room as the one who killed my wife and forced my children away from me. 

She does terrible things to Jessica as well. 

A sense of closure is something you both yearn for, and I think that if the two of you met, it’d do you both a lot of good. 

On your 20th birthday, I can only give you my love and ask for a lot more in return. I can only hope that you will give your sister a chance and agree to meet her.

Love,

Dad.

Melanie, did. After reading a similar mail, Jessica waited outside a coffee shop in the rain, wondering if Melanie would still be the same. When she saw the same pretty girl walk towards her, she smiled, without even realizing it. They both wanted to hug the other and never let go, but somehow exercised a great amount of restrain. Both stood uncomfortably before, by a sudden sound and jerk were thrown into each others arms. Their hands suddenly felt wet and their stomachs really hurt, looking around them, they saw people were falling, somewhere there was the sound of a fast bike screeching down the lane, and the voices of loud roaring and mean laughter filled the air.

 Mass Shooting.

Their hearts were full, and their eyes welled up. The rain kept washing the blood as it came, but it couldn't wash away the brutality of life. It couldn't wash away the pain. The floor they fell upon was hard and wet, and yet they found comfort in each others arms. The only words that escaped them were, "I've missed you so much" and with that the rain washed away every drop of life within them.

It continued to rain heavily after that, but it was never enough to pour life back into their dead corpses.