Saved By My Twin Mates

I jerk awake, panting and heaving. My bed is drenched in sweat and the comforter lays crumpled on the floor. I open my mouth to scream but nothing comes out as my lung closes up. I take in deep breaths to calm myself and regain composure. I sense what is about to happen and soon, I’ll find myself lying unconscious on the floor. I rub my chest, desperately searching the room for my inhaler. I overturn my dresser and rummage through my closet, tearing apart everything I can as my strength rapidly fades. I cough up a lump from my throat, spitting out blood as I close my eyes. Pain shoots through my stomach, racking my entire body ‘Not again, Eirlys. Not again’ the voice in my head echoes as my knees buckle, and I collapse onto the tiled floor. That voice has always been there. Often, I’d mistook it for my subconscious but its vividness makes me wonder if I have another person living inside me. I shut my eyes and try to steady myself on my knees when the door to my room flies open, a familiar scent wafting into my nostrils. Rhea, my stepmother, rushes over to me as I try to form a sentence, but end up coughing up more blood onto her pink, sleeveless gown. My blurry eyes find hers, wide in horror and shock, as I offer a feeble smile in a futile attempt to reassure her. “Eirlys! Look at me! Someone, please call the doctor!” she screams as she kneels beside me. I resist the urge to cover my ears as her scream pierces through the air. She shakes my body vigorously as my vision blurs, making it impossible for me to form a coherent image. ‘Pathetic, Eirlys. You chose today to succumb, just like a weakling. News flash: I’m not going down with a feeble soul like you. Get. Up.’ Liora, the voice in my head, threatens. Anger surges through me as I register the word ‘weakling’. I can be anything but that; that is where I draw the line. Rhea continues to scream for help as I force myself out of her grasp, standing up with great effort. Surprise overtakes her face as I step away, using the only strength I can muster to support myself with one hand on my chest. I wag a finger in her face, a warning for her to stay away. “Eirlys?” she calls out. Her voice is tinged with a mix of fear and uncertainty. I open my eyes and stagger backwards, sensing another figure the room screaming and rushing towards me. I back up quickly, and in one swift motion, my back collides with edge of my closet, sending me forwards. The last thing I remember before darkness consumes me is my father’s palm connecting with my bare cheek as I fall into his arms. ‘Beep, beep, beep.’ The continuous, rhythmic sounds from the cardiac monitor disrupts my scattered thoughts, riling me up. The side of my head pulsates loudly as I struggle to pry my eyes open. I could hear voices in the background; although they are very low, I recognize Serene, my best friend, talking to someone whose back is turned to me. I try to block out the noise and continue focusing on opening my eyes. I press my eyes shut and force them open, ignoring the excruciating pain in my head. The room is brightly lit with white walls. Suddenly, the monitor begins to beep irregularly, alerting the others in the room. I close my eyes again and use both hands to slightly raise myself up from the bed. Someone frantically runs to the bed, calling my name and holding my hand. I open my eyes to find Rhea’s blue ones staring back at me, worry etched across her brows. Serene follows behind, mirroring her expression. “Eirlys, are you okay?” she asks. I shake my head sideways and gesture to the monitor that is still beeping. “Serene, please get the doctor.” She says to my best friend, who is already dashing out the door. Rhea blinks back tears as I continue to stare at her, waiting for her to pull herself together. “I’m so sorry Eirlys.” She says, looking away. I squeeze her hand in response, unsure of why she is apologizing. The doctor rushes in, almost doubling over. He checks my heartbeat and lifts my eyelids to examine my eyes, which annoys me. I glare at him as he lifts my hand and dishes out words I can’t comprehend to a nurse behind him. “Can you talk” he asks, looking at me expectantly. “No.” I reply sarcastically, visibly irritated by the question. I still don’t understand how I got here. Serene stifles a laugh as he nods and looks at Rhea, gesturing for her to come with him. Rhea squeezes my hand in before following the doctor out. Serene sits on the edge of the bed and looks at me. “How are you feeling?” “Not good.” I answer, pushing myself up to sit properly and rest my head against the wall. My head is pounding, and my body feels weaker than usual. My stomach rumbles with hunger, eliciting shared sighs from both of us. She chuckles and walks back to the chair, picking up some brown paper bags that I assume contain food. She brings them over, and I open a bag, welcoming the delicious aroma of fries and burger as my stomach makes approving sounds. As I take a bite of the burger, memories of what happened rush back, and I stop mid-bite, trying to understand how I ended up in the hospital. “What did the doctor say?” I ask. She flinches and avoids my gaze, a habit of hers when she’s nervous. “Uhm, I wasn’t there but I think--“the door opens, interrupting her. I look up to see who has entered, and my breath hitches as the food in my hand drops, my eyes widening in raw fear. My heart begins to pulsate rapidly, mirroring the panic within me as my vision blurs. The figure continues to walk toward me, and I scramble in fear to get out of the bed, but I fail miserably as nausea hits me and darkness overtakes me. Yet again.