Read Twins for Free Online Page B

To chance. To Mother and Father.
    If they opened the door and knew — knew that she was Mary Lee — knew who had lived and who had died — well, then, she would be Mary Lee.
    But if they did not …
    If Mary Lee was so inconsequential to them that they did not feel, did not see, did not instantly know …
    MreeLee , you be Madrigal .
    … then she would be Madrigal.
    Bianca rushed out to meet them. Perhaps she thought a good roomie had a duty to introduce herself to the bereaved parents. “Maddy is so upset,” cried Bianca. “Thank goodness you’re here. She needs you so.”
    Who could this person be, that Bianca called Maddy? Mother and Father wouldn’t even know the nickname!
    Madrigal, don’t be mad at me! Whatever happens now, please forgive me. Forgive me for being the one who gets life.
    The door opened.
    Mother came in first. There was a strange light in her eyes. With a desperate sort of hope, she faced her living child. What do you hope for, Mother? thought Mary Lee. I want to give you what you want! I love you so. You choose here. I will be the daughter you want to have alive.
    But Mother did not speak. She held out her arms, instead; her wonderful arms, the arms of comfort and love and assurance. Mary Lee rushed forward, sinking into her mother’s embrace. Inside those arms, the world was safe and good; nobody died, and nobody got hurt. “Oh, Mother,” she whispered. “Oh, Mother.”
    Father put his ten fingers into her hair, as he always had, gripping her fiercely like a caveman parent.
    “You saw it happen, sweetie?” he said. “Was it terrible? Was it quick? Did she cry out?”
    She could not speak. Her throat filled with the horror and she could only weep. Who am I? she thought. Tell me who I am.
    Locked between her parents, she waited to hear a name. It was like waiting to be christened; waiting to be graduated.
    “We’ve been staying with Madrigal,” said Mindy.
    “We didn’t want Madrigal to be alone,” added Bianca.
    “We’d be glad to pack up her belongings for you to take back,” said Mindy. “I’m a very good packer. It comes from living abroad so much. And Madrigal shouldn’t have to do it.”
    “Or if there’s too much pain involved,” said Bianca, “we could arrange to take them to the Salvation Army.”
    Mother said, “We’re thankful for all you did for both our girls. If you’d pack Mary Lee’s things, that would help. Just ship everything home.”
    Mary Lee stepped away from Mother and Father. They were in agreement with Mindy and Bianca. It was Mary Lee who had died, and whose things must be packed, must be shipped as easily as once they had shipped the girl herself.
    Her mother gave a funny little sigh and her father a strange little shiver. They did not hug her again. When she was able to see past the blur of fear, her parents were looking into the open closet of the daughter they thought dead: the clothes of Mary Lee. The stacked books, the open assignments, the tumbled sweaters, the precious jewelry.
    The Dean said, “Madrigal?”
    She felt herself within her skin, behind her eyes, under her hair. She felt her soul and her past. Shall I be Mary Lee? she asked herself in the silence of her fright.
    The Dean repeated, “Madrigal?”
    With eyes so afraid they went blind, she faced a future and a past. I am dead, thought Mary Lee. Madrigal lives. She said to the walls and the witnesses, “Yes.”

Chapter 5
    O N THE LONG AND largely silent flight home, she stayed inside her mind and thought of Madrigal. There would be a funeral … but Madrigal’s name would not be mentioned. Were you well and truly on your way to the next world if they buried you under another name? Would Madrigal forgive Mary Lee for this? Would Madrigal want this strange immortality; this life of hers that went on without her?
    The steward gave her a tiny, white foam pillow, about the right size for a newborn baby, and into this pillow Mary Lee spilled her tears and behind this pillow