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Hi! Everyone. My name is Yvette. Yes, Yvette. The first letter is pronounced as ‘I’ in English Yvette. My life isn’t as interesting as my name. It’s the opposite. My life is full of torments, traumas, acrimonies, unfulfilled dreams, difficulties, pains and allows me to stop here. I was born into a very rich family. The family I later learned as my worse enemy. Both my parents want me dead. My parents thought we're one of the richest in the country and they control billions of naira every week. You might be wondering why they want me dead. It’s simple. They wanted to be immortal just like me. Funnily, I don’t even know I’m immortal. Even my sister who I later learnt wasn’t my sister want to take away every little happiness I ever had.

When I say my parents, my mother to be précise. My father is like a nomadic farmer who never stays in a place. The maximum days he ever spent with us every year is three. It’s only I and Mum. Yes, I have a sister, Lillian. I and Lillian were sisters not until she clocked Ten years of age and was taken away by Dad overseas.

It’s been eight years since I set my eyes on Lillian. Dad never allows her to come home and Mum never queries Dad on it and I never know why.

Now it’s my 20th birthday tomorrow. I’m clocking 20. Thus, Mum made a promise. A promise that led to my downfall and doom.

“Pearl! You’re still in?”

“Yes, Mum”. I yawned noisily on my bed as I hopped down. I slip on my slippers and headed to the door. I turned the knob and jammed the door open. Mum is standing with her hand in a knocking position.

“Well, can I come in?” she asked.

“Of course”. I told her.

I paved way for her to enter as I made for my bed. She didn’t sit. She occupied herself by rubbing her fingers on the faces of the photographs I hung around the room. Lillian’s photos.

“You missed her?”I asked.

“We all did Pearl. Didn’t we?”

“Of course Mum.”

Yes, we did. Dad always brought her photos every year and I’m glad to realize how old she’d grown. When she was still with us, people usually mistook us for Siamese. Now she’s more grown and matured more than me. Beautiful too. But last year, Dad didn’t bring any of her photos.

“What do you want for your birthday this year?” Mum asked sitting on the stool.

“You’ve never asked me that question before Mum.”

“And I just asked.”

“All right! Anything. Just anything from you Mum is a gem.”

“I have a surprise for you”

“Really?”

“Yeah. Wait till tomorrow.”

“Oh no, Mum. Let me have it now.”

“Mum?!!”

It was as if I never heard, but little did I know that that was the beginning of torments for me.

Throughout that day, my joy knew no bounds. I was jubilating all day. Even, Mum was full of joy and all our households know something special is up and coming. I followed Mum to shop and I shopped a great deal for Lillian too. I shop for the same clothes I saw her put on in most of her photos. And I anxiously look forward to seeing my sister whom I’ve never seen in the last eight years. And tomorrow is my birthday. That will be the most pleasant birthday I will ever have.

The day I’ve been expecting is here. I and Mum with three of our workers joined in decorating the house. I had chosen Lillian’s best colour for the decoration. I made the party looks more like a welcome party in lieu of my birthday. And it fascinates me. Mum is glad after all and everyone is hopefully on the lookout. I’ve decorated the room adjacent to mine for her. And Mum testified to the settings and touching.

At exactly three in the afternoon, the Rolls Royce drove into the compound. I stood at the front of the house with a paste saying “Welcome home twin sister, Lillian” with a smile on my face.

Dad was the first to alight and he opened the other car and my expectation grew in ten thousand folds. And she stepped out, with a muffin pops on her head. Her hair dangles to the back and her face was very white. She has big sunglasses and her dress is something to behold.

I dropped the paste and run as fast as my legs could carry and jump on her. I hold her tightly in my arms but she shows indifference. She didn’t hug me back and she stands like stagnant water.

“Welcome back home Lillian,” I uttered happily.

“Yeah” That was all she said and grudgingly.

“Come with me,” I said neglecting Dad and Mum and some of my company’s workers that came for the welcome party and my birthday.

We entered the room and I expected her to marvel at the decorations. We actually called the best Decorator ever in the country and everything looks like the palace of Queen Elizabeth. But no. she didn’t even seem moved. I made her sit on the sofa not minding her recklessness towards everything, she didn’t wince.

Mum and Dad entered with other guests and I greeted Dad.

“Welcome, Dad!”

“Really?! Now, I existed.” He commented and almost everybody laughed.

The party ended at somewhere around five in the evening and everybody bid us goodbye and they embark on the journey to their various houses.

I took Lillian to the room I specially decorated while Mum and Dad were busy in their room.

“Here is your room. I decorated it with the touching”

I said happily.

“Yeah. I see. I don’t really like bears and foot rugs. Secondly, the pitch isn’t my best colour in any way. And lastly, please I don’t want you around most of the time. I hope you can minimize that.”

“Lillian?! Really? I did all these because of you. The decorations, shopping and settings. Here” I said bending down to retrieve the bag of clothes I shopped for her.

“I really don’t need all that baby sis. I’ll order if I need anything. Now, I need to rest.” She said not allowing me to check the bags.

“Yeah. Okay”. I said angrily as I dragged the bag out of the room. I went straight to my room and locked the door. I sat on the bed and dropped the bag nonchalantly on the floor.

My hope is shattered. How can she be so cold? I never closed my eyes for a second in sleep ever since I learnt she is coming home. And now, that was dashed. Dashed. But why? She isn’t the jovial and ever cheerful Lillian I’d known for all the ten years of my life.

Something is definitely wrong.