Member-only story
The Gemini Season
Sisters, born to bond, born to tear a world asunder.
My mother always told me that I’d someday find the person who could fill the hole in my heart.
“Lena, you’re going to go through your Season, and then everything will be all right.”
Mother would say the words softly as she parted my hair before beginning to twist the strands into accommodating braids. I would sit still, my hands in my lap, while she worked with my hair better than I ever could. I tried not to look into the mirror. The wheat color of my hair always bothered me with its colorless — and seemingly lifeless — quality.
“Will she be prettier than me?” I whispered.
Mother’s hands stopped moving, and I could tell even without looking at her that I had startled her.
“Why would you say such a thing? You’re beautiful, Lena.”
I closed my eyes instead of rolling them. Mothers are supposed to say that. But why hasn’t no one else ever called me pretty?
But I kept the words locked inside and waited for my mother’s expected sigh.
“You’ll see,” she said. “Once your Season comes and goes, everything will be different.”
Everything will be all right.
