Opaline

I grew up with all the affection and love any child would need and want. The best part was that I was an only child . Wonderful right? Of course it was but sometimes I felt lonely. Despite all that tender loving care I got from my parents , I still felt lonely.

You see, at some point I wanted a baby sister, who would understand me and play with me. Someone who would be on the same page as me. I continuously prayed to God for a baby sister. Day after day, week after week and slowly I began to feel tired of waiting.

I started feeling discontent and apathy. More and more, I felt the need for a younger sister. Until one day something wonderful occurred.

Opaline: Mama! mama!

Grace: Yes, my baby.

Opaline: Where are you going?

Grace: I'm going shopping.

Opaline: Okie dokie.

Mommy, your tummy looks so big.(While carressing her belly)

Grace: Oh really,(laughing). Maybe because I haven't been exercising.

Opaline: Ohhh okie, mommy, there is a baby inside.(Smiling)

Mama: Of course not.

Opaline: There is. Go to the hospital and ask the doctor to tell you. My baby sister is in there. Actually my baby sisters are in there.

Grace: (laughs) wow you have a wild imagination.

Opaline: Stop laughing. I'm telling the truth. Wait you will see.

Grace: okay, okay.

And now when I think about it, I just laugh saying " I told you so." On that very day she went to the hospital and "boom",she was pregnant. My biggest flex would always be that I predicted my baby sisters' genders.

Soon enough, they came into this world and made my world shine brighter than the brightest star. But.....something just had to dim the light of my happy world.

I could never forget that Wednesday night, when my colorful world became dim. It was cold, rain was pouring like a wild storm. The thunder roared like an angry lion. My mother, my sisters, Menah and Minah and I were coming back from our girls night out.

Menah and Minah couldn't stop crying and making a fuss. They always fought and now the storm had to add to their fussing. Mama was trying to drive through the heavy storm carefully but their fussing just made it harder for her to concentrate on the road.

To top it all, papa just had to call her and while trying to reach her phone she diverted her attention from the road. A speeding car was coming towards us. I was the one who saw the car coming, in a panic I screamed. That further more worsened the situation, causing the adrenaline to rush and panic to flood mama's mind.

All I remembered were the screams of all four of us in unison, before everything went blurry slowly turning black.

I was never mentally prepared for what I would have to discover later.

Doctor: I'm sorry sir, but we couldn't save one of your daughters.

Matthew ( father) : What do you mean by that doctor?

Doctor: Well your wife survived the fatal accident due to an airbag inserted in the drivers seat. But.......

Matthew: But what doctor? But what?

Doctor: Sadly one of your daughters is not going to make it, it seemed as though she put herself in front of her other sister in order to protect her from the impact.

Matthew: WHAT????

Doctor: I'm sorry.

So.....one of the twins had decided to risk her life for the sake of her other twin. I was lucky to survive as I was seated on a safer side compared to Minah and Menah. The car that collided with ours had hit our car on the side where the twins were seated.

When papa went to see mama in her hospital room, he didnt have the courage to tell her the bad news. I was heartbroken to see him that way.

Grace : Darling how are the kids?

Matthew: They..................

Grace : What's wrong? Why do you look so pale?

Matthew: Opaline is fine but........

Grace: But what....Matthew?

Matthew: One of the twins won't make it.

Grace: WHAT????

Matthew: The doctor said that Minah is injured so badly that she wouldn't survive. She has been reduced to the state of a vegetable and wouldn't live long with how badly she's been injured.

Grace: Nooo....not my baby girl.( Sobbing)

Matthew: And Menah wasn't injured that badly but her heart is slowly failing so are her kidneys.

Grace: No........

Matthew: The doctor said it would be better to just perform a surgery on Menah,giving her a new lease on life because there's no hope for Minah.

Grace: No I can't do it, I won't be able to agree to something like this. Is there no way to save both our girls. Please Matthew, there must be a way to save both of them.

Matthew: I'm sorry Grace, but the doctor said there is no other way.

And they had no choice but to let Minah go.

A year later and life went back to normal but her presence was always missed. Specially by Menah and I. But oh boy did things get worse. My younger sister began to make my life a living hell. She did all sorts of naughty things and guess what I was on the recieving end of the shouting and neglect.

I wanted a younger sister but not a demon that would make my life miserable. One time she annoyed me so much that I ended up pushing her towards the wall. She was mad and began to cry, I felt guilty and was about to comfort her until she scratched my face. She then procceeded to throw a vase at the TV smashing the screen into pieces. At the next minute she cut herself with one of the shattered pieces.

That had my anger issues fuming. I was about to slap her until..

Mathew: Opaline!! What do you think you are about to do?

Opaline: Papa, look what Menah just did.

Menah: Papa! Papa! Sister Opa threw the vase at me and I got hurt.( Crying)

Opaline: She's the one who threw the vase at the TV, she was disturbing me while I was studying and cut herself.

Matthew: Opaline!!! She's just a child, how could you do that to your own sister?

Opaline: But I didn't do anything papa, she started it and did all of this.

Matthew: Be quiet!! I do not want to hear a word from you.

Grace: What happened here?

Menah: Mama! Mama! Sister Opa did this to me and threw the vase at the TV.

Opaline: Mama...I did not do anything. Menah is lying.

Grace: Opa..Menah wouldn't do such a thing, she's just a child.

Opaline: But mama I'm also a child.

Grace: Opa... you're already 12 years old. Will you grow up already, your sister is only 4 years old.

Opaline: Mama...thats not fair at all.

Matthew: Are you speaking back to your mother! I will not have such a rotten attitude in my house! Now go to your room! And dont come out until you fix that attitude!

Opaline: Papa..............

Matthew: Get out of my sight!

Thats the day things became worse. As I ran to my room, I saw Menah smirking, that made me so angry. I wanted to make her pay. I know that she's only 4 years old but her attitude speaks otherwise.

I sobbed all night in my room and to add to my pain, my parents didn't even bother to check up on me. I felt as if I was stabbed right through the heart.

Slowly my parents forgot my very existence. Menah made it a part of her schedule to make my life a living hell. She did everything in her power to make my parents hate me and neglect me more by the minute. She would mess up my parents room and in the end they would shout at me. And nothing I said would make them take my side. I felt neglected and now I knew what a middle child felt. Despite being the first born.

On my 13th birthday, I was so excited as I would finally be a teenager. I was expecting a birthday surprise. But oh boy was I wrong. My parents completely forgot my birthday and went about their day satisfying all of that demon's wishes.

I tried giving them hints but they completely ignored all of my words. I still had a hope that they probably had a surprise party and were ignoring me so that I wouldn't figure it out. That gave me goosebumps, obviously the good ones. Night time came and...well....nothing. There was no party, no dress, no friends, no birthday wishes and no cake.

Opaline: Mama...Papa... don't you remember what day it is today?

Matthew: No...not a clue. Is today a special day or what Opa?

Opaline: Of course today is a special day, you had said you would never forget this day.

Grace: Opa... we're really busy right now, can you stop it.

Opaline: Are you so busy that you don't even remember that today is my birthday?

Grace: Oh....its today? Well happy birthday then now go to bed, we're busy.

Matthew: Besides birthdays aren't that important. You're 12, you should know that by now.

Opaline: Really? I'm not 12 papa....but 13. You even forgot my age...............

Matthew: Whatever Opa its just the same thing, now go to sleep. We have to take care of Menah.

Opaline: Its always Menah, eversince the accident, you guys have always prioritized Menah. Its like I don't even matter to you guys at all. What did I ever do to deserve this.....

Matthew: Opaline!!! I don't like this attitude of yours, Menah is only 4 and she needs care and love. You're 13 now right? So why dont you act like it!!!!

Opaline: Menah this is all because of you!

I hate you Menah!!

Grace: OPALINE!!! How could you say that to my baby! Go to your room. Now!

That was the first time my parents ever raised their voice at me like that. And also the first time papa ever slapped me.

My relationship with my family fell apart. My grades began to drop and my parents shouted at me even more. I felt so alone. Why did I ever ask for a younger sister? I regretted it all. They forgot my birthday again for the next 2 years and never came to any of my school events. I was practically the forgotten child. I fell into depression and considered ending my life.

I distanced myself from the world. I practically disconnected myself from the world and always stayed in my room. Menah would come to me not to comfort me but mock me. Calling me an unloved and ugly person. A literal 6 year old pushed me into depression and suicidal thoughts.

But.....the day he came into my life....it felt like he brought back the colours in my dull world.