Chapter 13 - THE GIRLS WHO SHARED A FACE
Lily and Emma were identical twins.
But they were not the same child.
Lily was fearless.
Emma was cautious.
Lily loved strawberry ice cream.
Emma preferred vanilla.
Lily talked constantly.
Emma listened.
Lily wanted to climb trees.
Emma wanted to draw them.
At first, Lily tried to share everything.
Her toys.
Her clothes.
Her friends.
Her favorite chair.
Emma became overwhelmed.
One afternoon, I found her sitting alone in the library.
"What's wrong?"
She shrugged.
"Lily has everything."
I sat beside her.
"She has a lot."
Emma looked down.
"She has you."
My heart broke.
I took her hand.
"So do you."
She shook her head.
"But she had you first."
I swallowed.
"That doesn't mean there's less love left for you."
Emma looked at me.
"Really?"
I nodded.
"Really."
She considered that.
Then whispered:
"Can I call you Daddy?"
I couldn't speak.
I simply opened my arms.
Emma climbed into them.
May you like
And for the first time, she whispered the word against my shoulder.
"Daddy."
