Sisterly Bonds: NYSSA
“Twin, you say?”
Violet nodded.
It looked like she didn’t know what to say, or was scared of the reaction I was likely to give.
“She is your twin sister. I know I should have talked ’bout it a long time ago but I didn’t know she would come back. I thought she was dead in fact, ’cause the nurse said the infection would kill her.”
I looked at Ariadne.
She held my hand from where she was seated.
What was this news?
“You could have told me. My husband and I almost got into a fight last night when he came with the news. I almost thought he was crazy.” I looked at Violet who was thinkin’ – obviously worried as well. “Now what do I do?”
She looked up and shook her head.
“I don’t know what you should do. Maybe the both of you should come together and talk. She might want somethin’ from you, who knows?”
What could she want from me?
I didn’t owe her a thing, did I?
We haven’t met and even if we did at some point, it had to be before the accident although I doubted.
What was I supposed to do at this point?
I looked around the room again, snatched my hand from Ariadne’s, and picked up my phone.
“Can I see?”
It was Violet.
“Yes,” I looked for the video and showed it to her. “Take a look. She looks so much like me and I don’t like this. I don’t know but I have a feelin’ she didn’t come with a good intention. Why come out all of a sudden when I am makin’ it on the internet? Do you think she wants some of the art pieces I brought from the last journey?”
“I wouldn’t know,” Violet handed the phone back to me. “That’s why the both of you must sit down to talk things out. It’s important that you listen to her and she does the same with you, you know.”
I was done with Violet.
She was the last person I wanted to see.
For all that I knew, it was possible for her to inform me ’bout this and let me know in advance of the comin’ of my sister. Even if she didn’t know what would happen and whether my sister would make it back ’cause she could be dead, I needed to know details ’bout my birth.
Wait.
Was she the one who sent the other members of the family to come for the pieces?
“What’s her name?”
“I don’t know. I thought I lost her at birth, Nyssa.”
I see.
Turnin’ around, I snatched my purse from the couch and walked to the door. “I’ll be waitin’ in the car, Ariadne. Have a good day, Mother.” And I walked out of their sight.
A perfect way to take in the news remained unknown to me. Throughout the ride back home, I had so many thoughts runnin’ around in my head. “Do you think I should text her?”
Ariadne nodded.
Does she ever have a thing to disagree with?
“I don’t know how I’m supposed to go ’bout that, Ariadne. This is all too much.”
“I know. I know, Nyssa.”
She chuckled from the wheels where she was. “Which is why you need to take your time to take it all in. And then find a way to brin’ a solution to it. Which is none other than reachin’ out to the woman, and you know she doesn’t have to make it to your house. You can use mine rather or better still, one of the private restaurants in the city.”
Back at home, I had rested enough.
It was a good thing Kazmir was not around, as I was unready to break the news to ‘im.
My phone was in my hand all day and I didn’t know the right way to go ’bout reachin’ out to Calypso, accordin’ to the username I found on her profile.
She had over a thousand followers in the space of a day. It wasn’t even up to twenty-four hours and she was goin’ viral – more than me.
Finally, I made up my mind.
Gazin’ at the screen of my phone, I knew it was the right time for me to reach out to the woman.
What was wastin’ my time? She wasn’t goin’ to reach out to me, obviously. And it was expected of me to be the bigger person, accordin’ to the words and advice from Ariadne who left ’bout an hour ago.
I clicked on the message button. “Can we meet? I know you know who I am already. And if you don’t, you can refer to the profile for clarification. Good afternoon, Calypso. I know who you are. Mother told me already. Wanna meet?”
Immediately, my message was seen.
So fast?
She was typin’.
What was she goin’ to say?
Play hard to get ’cause I was at her mercy? Was I even at her mercy? I imagined and my phone made a sound, announcin’ a message that had just reached my phone. “Hello, I’m Calypso. I know you know who I am. And why do you want to meet? Although I don’t mind. I know a place. Let me know when you’re ready tomorrow.”
Tomorrow?!
I didn’t mind.
We texted some more and I came to an agreement with the woman. There was no way I would go alone. I had ne’er been to this restaurant, so I needed the help and assistance of someone who didn’t mind goin’ with me.
Who else if not Ariadne?
Until now, I didn’t have the slightest idea what she wanted. What her aim could be and the rest, but I wanted her to go with me. Without any hesitation or thought, the woman agreed to go with me when I reached out to her. Also confirmin’ that the restaurant was private and safe, just as she wanted it to be.
Kazmir, when he got back, didn’t know what to say. “I’m glad you two are meetin’, at least. Do you want me to go with you though?” He asked me who shook my head. “Are you sure you can go on your own? I’ll call the men to go with you. Darius will drive the car.”
“Ariadne is goin’ with me, Kazmir. You have almost nothin’ to worry ’bout.”
He heaved a sigh.
“The only woman I can trust when it comes to you,” still placin’ the phone to his ear, he let out. “Darius and the men are goin’ to escort you even at that. Ariadne is only a woman who cannot defend the two of you when the time comes and if there’s any form of violence.”
He was right, after all.
This was the point where I got to prepare to meet a woman who is my sister. Not just a sister, but a twin who was separated from me at birth. How did she survive the infection? I thought ’bout it and heaved a sigh, pickin’ up the call from Ariadne.
“Get ready, mm? We leave as soon as tomorrow just as she said. It’s important that you two sit and talk ’bout everythin’. It’s what I’d do if I were in your shoes.”