Eden's Children

by Sandy Johnson

  “Nothing happened. I think it’s just a lot for all of us to take in,” I mumbled whilst staring at the floor. When I looked up she was still holding the tampons. “Actually, I’ve never had a period before.” I said.

  She looked shocked. “Not ever?”

  “My mom told me it was like a genetic thing, none of us ever have periods.” I pulled my sweater back up over my shoulder. I was beginning to feel anxious.

  “Oh, did your mom ever take you to the doctor to be checked?” She asked.

  “No, I don’t think I have ever been to the doctors. I’ve never really needed to.” And I wasn’t starting now.

  “Well I can make an appointment for you if you like to get it checked out?” She asked.

  “It’s fine thank you anyway, but I’d rather not.” I said.

  Mom had always told me I didn’t need a doctor. I was never ill, and I didn’t need a period to be able to have children. She never had one and she had me and Aiden, so it must be true. She told me when I’m ready it will make sense. I didn’t believe it though. Any boy that came near me made me feel frightened and sick. It was unbearable to imagine myself having sex. Sarah put the tampons away and said just to ask if I ever needed them.

  Once dinner was ready we all sat down to the table, but Aiden didn’t come down. Sarah said he wasn’t feeling too well again. Which probably meant it was me making him sick, but Jake kept me company. I always thought a male version of Caitlin would be a nightmare, but I really liked him and even when I was alone with him I still felt comfortable.

  “So, Evelyn what did you get up to today?” Pete asked me.

  “Not a lot. I showed Aiden a picture of our mom today.” I said as Sarah and Pete exchanged worried glances. “I know were supposed to wait till the DNA is back, but he has her eyes. I’ve never seen eyes like them.” I said thoughtfully.

  Sarah smiled at me. “I know we just have to be careful. We don’t know if all this is definite yet. Would I be able to see a picture of her?”

  “Sure.” I said getting up and quickly walking up the stairs to grab a photo from my room. I went back and sat at the table and passed over the picture. I think they all gasped at the same time.

  “Wow she’s beautiful.” Sarah said.

  “Thank you.” I replied.

  “You’re right. Aiden’s eyes are nearly the same, and I’ve never seen pure black eyes before. I guess we know now what the DNA is going to say.” She said excitedly. I smiled and took the photo back.

  “Are you ready to start school tomorrow? Or do you want some time off? Aiden could stay with you here again if you prefer?” Pete asked.

  I don’t think I could stay alone with him again. “No, it’s ok. I want to check out the school anyway.”

  “Ok well we spoke to the school already and they’ve put you in Aiden’s classes to help you settle in better.” Sarah said.

  I could see Jake pulling a face beside me. I tried not to laugh but a little squeak came out. I wanted to ask if I could be in Jakes classes instead so at least I could concentrate, even if that meant a lot of goofing off.

  “Don’t worry sis. I’m in all his classes to so just sit next to me and you’ll be fine.” He winked at me.

  “I’m sure she can sit wherever she wants Jake.” Aiden said staring at him. I didn’t even hear him come downstairs.

  “Aw it’s OK bro, don’t worry I’ll look after her. Make sure all the boys keep their hands to themselves. I mean come on she’s gorgeous, they’ll be all over her.” As Jake said this I could see Aiden was annoyed at his remark. He just turned and walked out, but I could still feel his irritation.

  I wanted to see if he was ok. Excusing myself from the table I walked up the stairs and knocked on Aiden’s door, but he didn’t answer. I tried the handle and it was locked. I waited a few minutes. Still nothing. I walked into my bedroom and noticed the adjoining door. Walking over I put my ear to the door, but I could only hear silence. I lowered my hand to the door knob and quietly twisted it and it was unlocked. As I pushed the door open I saw all the lights were off and it was dark, but I could make out Aiden’s hunched body sitting on the floor with his head between his knees and hands behind his head. He didn’t move when I stepped in and closed the door behind me.

  “Aiden…”

  Aiden

  I knew she was there. Now I wished I’d asked for a lock for that door. She was standing in the door way looking at me. I couldn’t lift my head. I just wanted to stay in this dark room forever. Anything was better than this feeling. I just closed my eyes and hoped she’d go away.

  “Aiden…” She said softly. “I’m sorry if I have messed up your life I really am. I didn’t want any of this to happen either. It’s been very hard for me and I know it’s hard for you too. I just hope we can be friends?” She said sweetly. I couldn’t move or say anything. I didn’t want her knowing how ashamed I was at myself. She turned and opened the door to leave.

  “Evelyn.” I whispered. “You don’t need to be sorry. It’s not your fault. I just need some time to adjust.” I said through gritted teeth.

  “Yeah, I thought I’d need more time adjusting, but being here just feels right now. It’s strange.” She had closed the door again now and was sitting on the floor leaning against it. It wouldn’t take me long to reach her. No one was here, it was pitch black. We wouldn’t need to tell anybody.

  “You’re happy here?” I asked her.

  “Yes, I am, well so far. It hasn’t been that long.” She replied. It was so dark I couldn’t really look at her when I lifted my head. I could only see her silhouette.

  “You seem to be getting on well with Jake.” I felt the jealousy pouring out when I said that. I just hoped she didn’t notice, but I could hear her laughing.

  “Yeah I guess. He’s like the male version of my friend Caitlin. I think they would make a perfect couple.” She said.

  I was glad to hear that they were friends, and she’s mentally pairing the two together. I was starting to worry she might fancy him, but there were no signs of that. She never blushed around him or got nervous talking to him. It was like they’d been friends for years and it had only been two days.

  There was a knock at my door. “Aiden can you come out a sec please.” It was Pete. I was about to get up, but Evelyn had already reached the door. When she opened it, Pete looked at her a bit shocked. “Oh, Evelyn hello I wasn’t expecting you. Where’s Aiden?”

  “He’s not feeling too good.” She said and opened the door wider, so he could see me.

  “Hi Pete.” I said as I waved to him.

  “Sorry kids but you’ll have to come downstairs now. The social workers are here.” He said then walked away. Evelyn walked over to me and pulled me up. I was surprised how strong she was for someone so little.

  “Come on let’s get this over with.” She said to me as she left the room.

  When we got downstairs two women were waiting for us in the living room. They were sitting one of the larger couches with Sarah and Pete on the other. Evelyn had sat on the small two-seater. I hesitated for a couple of seconds. I wouldn’t normally sit that close to anyone, but Evelyn patted the seat next to her. I walked over immediately and sat down. I must admit I felt a little like a trained dog at that point. It was so small our legs were touching, and it was making me feel uneasy. Thankfully she had trousers on as I didn’t think I could handle skin to skin. This is what I was waiting for, for them to tell us we weren’t related in any way. Then I could feel however I wanted.

  “Hi Evelyn. Hi Aiden. We’re just here to update you on the situation now, and to discuss the DNA results. The results came back 99.9%; You are full siblings and twins.”

  ‘Oh, fuck’ I thought to myself but when I looked up everyone was staring at me in shock and Evelyn had turned away from me. Did I say that out loud? I looked to Sarah and she was shaking her head. I could sense Evelyn was upset as well, either at my remark or the fact she’s related to a douche bag.

  “After
reviewing the case. The police now know that your mother’s disappearance is very similar to your father’s disappearance. No evidence was left behind, and the only witnesses we found haven’t been able to identify anybody at the scene. We’re pretty sure now that they were on the run from somebody, but we don’t know who. We believe that both your parents did an amazing job at hiding your identities. We couldn’t find anything on either of you other than those birth certificates. I don’t know if they told you, but your certificates were handed into the police station that afternoon just before you arrived back in Loss Angeles.” She said.

  I could feel Evelyn shaking beside me then she got up and left. As she ran up the stairs I saw the tears falling down her cheeks. I got up and went after her. I followed her up the stairs, but when I got to her room she tried to slam the door in my face. I pushed it back open, grabbed her and pulled her into my arms. I held her tight as she tried to fight me off, but I wasn’t letting her go. I could feel her hands against my chest pushing me, but she wasn’t strong enough. She quickly pulled her hands away. She felt so fragile in my arms. I had one hand around her back and the other holding her head to my chest. I stroked her hair and felt her ease into me. I was so close to her neck that I was getting an urge to kiss her. After she had stopped crying I let her go and left before I did something we’d both regret.

  Chapter 8

  Evelyn

  We sat in front of the women from social services, and I was starting to worry. I could tell by their face there was bad news coming. I looked at Aiden standing by the couch looking a little lost. I patted the seat next to me; it was the only seat available. I thought he might be a little anxious, he sat down straight away. I understood now that we were pretty squashed together. Then they told us we were full siblings. I didn’t get a chance to react.

  “Oh fuck” Aiden said beside me.

  Everybody looked at him, but I couldn’t. I knew I was about to cry. I could hear him apologizing, he didn’t even want me as his sister. I turned away, so he couldn’t see my face. I’d hoped this was a sick joke, but no one would be that cruel. There was no fighting it or hoping it wasn’t true or denying it I wanted to be with my brother, and I wanted him to want me back.

  I was holding the flood gates back. I wouldn’t cry. I wouldn’t want to give him the satisfaction. I listened as they spoke about my mom and his dad, but I wasn’t taking anything in. I started shaking and I knew the tears were coming. I felt ashamed of myself as they spoke about my mom and all I could do was think of him and what he had said. I didn’t understand why he was so hot and cold with me. It felt like he liked me, and other times like he hated me. I was shaking so much, and the tears started falling. I need to get away from him. I got up and ran up the stairs, but he was chasing me. I tried to get into my room and shut the door. I smacked it right at him, but it didn’t stop him coming for me. He grabbed me. I tried to get his arms off me, I didn’t want to feel this. I didn’t want to get the butterflies in my stomach and the pulsing. It was wrong! I tried to hit him, but he was stronger than me. I put my hands on his chest to push him, but the feel of him under my hands was taking me somewhere I didn’t want to be. I pulled my hands off quickly, and he pulled me into him and held me. He wasn’t doing anything wrong. He was just comforting me. He stroked my hair as I cried into his chest, but it was calming me. I felt almost instantly better as if none of this had happened. Once I stopped crying he pulled away and left.

  I didn’t want him to leave. Being with him made me happy, and I knew then I was going to have to work damn hard to keep my feelings under wraps all this time. I had felt half empty and I was looking for a soul mate to fill the darkness. All this time the emptiness was because I needed my twin brother. I slumped back onto my bed looking at the window. I noticed the ghost orchard was big and bright as always. I went to the closet and pulled out a small box. I had put my ghost orchard inside when I found it dead. I just couldn’t face leaving it behind. When I opened it, inside was a small ghost orchid bud sprouting bright white, not brown and dead like it had been when I put it in there. Feeling a bit puzzled I took it out and put it next to the one on the window. I was staring at them for ages. I could almost see my orchard growling a little every few minutes. I couldn’t understand what was happening. It was dead when I put it in the box. It’s been without water and sunlight for a few days yet now it was growing.

  “Hey sis, how are things?” Jake whispered scaring the crap out of me. I nearly jumped. He looked over my shoulder at the window.

  “Did Aiden give you both of his funny flowers?” He asked.

  I spun around to face him but lost my footing and fell. Jake grabbed my arms to steady me, but I panicked and pushed him back. I could see Aiden behind Jake. He knew Aiden was there and looked a little exasperated.

  “Dude she fell into me I swear.” Jake said.

  “Don’t put your hands on her again.” The way he was staring at me was intense.

  “That’s fine with me, I’ll let her fall next time.” Jake smirked. Aiden left through the adjoined door that I didn’t even see open.

  “You ok?” I asked Jake.

  “Yeah honestly I’m kind of used to it now. He never likes anyone touching things he feels are his. He would react the same way if you were a sock–”

  Ouch!

  “–and I guess as you’re his little twin sister he’s going to be a bit over protective. Sorry for grabbing you, next time I’ll let you fall flat on your face.” We both laughed. “Anyway, mom would like to see you downstairs. I mean Sarah.”

  He turned and left, so I started to follow him. As he walked down the stairs I heard Sarah asking him if Aiden was coming as she wanted to show both of us something. Jake replied that Aiden was a bit hot tempered at the moment and he wanted to stay out of his way. I kept walking down anyway, and Sarah told me to come and sit with her. She got out some old black and white photos. She said that they had come into the police station with the birth certificates. They had wanted to give them to us today, but I looked to upset that they left it with her for when I was ready. She also wanted Aiden to see it but thought I could show him later. I looked down at one of the pictures. It was of two new-born babies still in the hospital cot, and they were holding hands snuggled up together. I started to tear up.

  “I know your both beautiful, holding hands ready to face the world together.”

  Sarah was smiling sweetly at me. I think she felt a bit lost not being able to comfort me, but she must have been used to it as she never slipped up. Then she showed me another picture. It was my mom smiling. So happy with us both laying on her chest still holding on to each other tight. I smiled through my tears.

  “I think you both knew somehow that you were going to be separated. You keep clinging on to each other.” She said.

  My dad was in the picture too. He had his arm around mom. He looked so happy looking down at his two babies. It made me sad to think they had to be apart as they must have loved each other very much. It also made me sad to think I missed out on growing up without my brother as we might have been close.

  Then Sarah showed me another photo. I struggled to understand what it was. It looked like a heart shape. Sarah gestured for me to lift my left hand and pointed to the birth mark at the base of my thumb. It was a tear drop shape and it was the same in the picture.

  “Aiden has that same shape on his hand further down his right thumb. When you hold hands, it looks like a heart. It’s very unusual so I guess that’s why they took a photo of it. It’s very cute. I was wondering if I could frame this one for the wall, and maybe get a picture of you and Aiden together as well to hang up?” I nodded and smiled at her.

  I wasn’t sure if Aiden would want a photo done with me. I excused myself and went up to bed. I brought the pictures with me and laid them on the dresser. I looked over to my small orchard being shadowed by the larger one that Aiden had put there for me apparently. He hadn’t told me he put it there. I have to say all this was starting to
get weird, like we weren’t two people but instead we were one person cut in half. I decided to get an early night as I knew I had to go into the school tomorrow.

  “Evelyn?” I could hear someone saying my name, but I didn’t want to open my eyes.

  I was so comfortable. I felt relaxed and safe. I never wanted to get up. I felt a slight tug like someone was pulling the pillow away from me, so I pulled it tight back to me and laid my face on it. It was so soft and smelled really good.

  “Erm Evelyn.”

  Oh god that was Aiden. I wasn’t holding a pillow. It was his hand! I looked up to him standing over me looking very awkward and I let go immediately.

  “Morning Evee erm sorry I came in to wake you and you kind of latched on.” He said laughing awkwardly.

  I felt so embarrassed and was glad when he backed out of my room. I looked at the clock. It was 7.30am and school started in an hour and a half. I dragged myself out of bed and headed for the bathroom. I felt so tired today. When I reached the bathroom, I opened the door to find Aiden standing in front of the mirror topless. I looked him up and down. My heart was beating so fast. I stepped forward and he turned to me.

  “Shit sorry.” I said quickly running out of the bathroom and into my room. I locked the door in panic in case he tried to open it.

  “Evelyn?” I could hear him calling. I leaned against the door and slid down to the floor trying to catch my breath. I could feel my skin heating up and the blush spreading down my chest. I was so busy trying to calm down I didn’t notice the adjoining door wide open and Aiden looking at me.

  “Evee you ok?” He asked.

  Then it hit me. “Why do you call me Evee? That’s not my name.” I snapped.

  “Erm I'm not sure but I’ll call you Evelyn from now on if you prefer?” He said gingerly.

  “Please leave I need to get ready for school.” I said.

  “Can you look at me please?” He asked nicely.