Free Forsaken by Bec Botefuhr

you ,”
    “I didn’t do anything to you!” I hiss, folding my arms.
    “Didn’t you?”
    “What is your damned problem Mark, seriously?”
    “You don’t feel it do you?”
    “Feel what?”
    He snorts and shakes his head.
    “Why don’t you ask the Brady bunch in there what I am talking about? I am sure they would love to explain.”
    “Why don’t you explain?”
    “I have no reason to continue a conversation with you, nor do I have any interest in it.”
    “Whatever.”
    I turn and storm out of the room, it is raining hard and heavy outside and I suddenly miss Ryder and Nate. I wish they were here with me right now. I open my phone and
text Ryder.
    M: I wish u were here x
    R: Is everything ok?
    M: Turns out my parents knew Sandy’s parents. It was a very emotional reunion.
    R: That’s good right?
    M: My brother hates me.
    R: What? Why? Want me to come punch him?
    M: I wish. I don’t know why.
    R: I can come home from work?
    M: No, it’s ok. I am just overwhelmed. I am going home soon.
    R: I will see you tonight, ok?
    M: Ok. I love you GI Joe.
    R: Hate that. Love you.
    M : 
    I sit another hour listening to Sarah talking about her boyfriend and how I just have to meet him. When my Mother begins clearing up, I stand and help her. With a huff, Sarah follows. When we are in the kitchen, I decide it is a good time to ask the question that has been bugging me all afternoon.
    “Mom?” I ask.
    “Yes A ngel.”
    “Why does Mark hate me?”
    She drops the dish she was holding and turns.
    “He doesn’t hate you…”
    “He asked me why I don’t feel it, what is he talking about? Please don’t lie to me.”
    “Oh silly, Mark is your twin!” Sarah cries, rolling her eyes.
    I feel the blood drain from my face. I hear my Mother tell Sarah off and to leave the room. She grips my arms, but I am numb. Twin? Mark is my twin?
    “I wanted to tell you, but he never dealt with it well and…I thought it was something he should explain.”
    “Twin?” I whisper.
    “Yes, I am so sorry.”
    “All his life, he has known about me, known I am his twin and known he was the child that didn’t get taken.”
    “We never treated him badly, we loved him but…we suffered for so long when they took you, I guess Mark missed out.”
    “What is my real name?” I whisper.
    “Pardon?”
    “What did you name me?”
    She sucks in a breath.
    “We didn’t for a long time, but we finally got around to filling out the papers and called you…”
    “Heaven, ”
    She nods and tears tumble down her cheeks.
    “I need a moment.”
    I turn and rush out of the house; Mark is just coming down the stairs and his eyes narrow when he sees me.
    “I did feel it,” I yell at him, “I just didn’t know what it was.”
    Then I storm out the front door and into the rain. I run over to the beach and drop down onto the sand. There was so many times in my life I felt unexplained pain, heartache, happiness or sadness. I never knew what it was, but now I realize it was a connection with Mark. I always felt like something was missing; now I know why.
    I grip my knees to my chest and rock backwards and forwards. A moment later, someone sits down beside me. I glance over to see it’s Mark. I don’t know what to say to him? What can I say? He suffered his whole life because I went missing; he missed out on the parents he deserved because they were broken. He lived in my shadow, even though I wasn’t there.
    “ I don’t hate you,” he says in a broken voice.
    “ I wouldn’t blame you if you did,” I choke, swiping my tears.
    “They were hurt, they had their child taken, they crumble d but what they didn’t realize, is that I grew up knowing I had a sister and knowing she was never coming back. I lived every day with the knowledge that I was the child that didn’t get stolen. I wondered so many times, if they would have preferred I got taken.”
    “No,” I whisper, “No, it would have been no different. They love you, don’t doubt