The Silent Falls Twins: The Quiet One

For twelve years, Skye and I have shared everything. We shared a cot until we were 3 months old, a bedroom until we were 6. We wore matching outfits every day until just a year ago. And there were never any secrets. We told each other everything from day one. We'd say who was bothering us at school, if there was anyone that we liked or if we were worried or upset. Until now.

I haven't heard Skye talking to anyone during the night again, or saw any strange movements. But she hardly speaks. As we travel to school every day, I try to make conversation and she responds with single word answers. She spends the lunch break in the library, reading alone. I tried to join her one day and she told me that she wanted to be alone. The problem is that Skye always wants to be alone.

I'm worried. There are always dark circles around her eyes. She never finishes dinner. Mum doesn't ever seem to notice, but I see her pushing her food around her plate and picking at little bits before saying that she's finished. She never seems to do her homework, and I know that the teachers have sent letters home, but she didn't give them to Mum. She's moved the baby blankets and she now locks the drawers where she keeps her things. She knows that I looked through them. I wonder if that's why she's so off with me, but she doesn't speak to anyone, all of our school friends are asking if she's okay, even a couple of teachers. And I wish that I could give them an answer.

It's always Skye who I speak to when I'm worried. I decided to talk to Mum the other day. I've not even seen much of her. She always seems to be working overtime. She didn't appear to be taking in much of what I said, basically told me to stop whining and that Skye was just tired after the big move, and that she was tired too. It's a bad day when even your mum doesn't have the time to talk to you.

She went to the bedroom to read today, and I decided that I would do the same. This was closely followed by an angry sigh. I had only just got to the top bunk with my book under my arm when she asked me why I was there.

“It's my room too,” I told her.

“You don't have to follow me everywhere,” she said. “I just wanted peace to read.”

“Well I just want to read too,” I said.

“No, you don't. You're just trying to annoy me. Can't you just go downstairs?”

I felt like punching her then. I've never felt like that about Skye. I didn't answer her, just opened up my book and tried to concentrate.

“Mirren!” she snapped.

“What? Am I reading too loudly?”

She sighed again. “Will you just get out?”

“Why should I?”

“Just get out!” she screamed.

I held back tears, as I dropped off the bed. She was sat cross legged on her bed, scowling at me. I stood looking at her, I've never felt so angry.

“Mirren,” she said. “Will you get out of my face?”

“Why do you have to be such a cow?” I shouted, picking up her pillow and throwing it at her.

She lifted it and smacked it across my face. She was going red with anger. “Get out! I am so sick of looking at you, everywhere I go!”

“You know what then?” I asked. “You get out! You've been such a cow, and I haven't even done anything.”

She leapt off the bed then, grabbing my hair. I screamed and tried to shove her away. She shoved me back, harder and I fell to the ground with a bang. The door opened to reveal Rose.

“What's going on?” she asked. “I thought you two were reading?”

“Skye says I've to get out,” I said, waiting for her to deny it, but she didn't.

“I just want left alone!” she said. “Why is that so hard for everyone to understand?”

“That's fine,” Rose said calmly. “Mirren, why don't we go out for a hot chocolate, and let your sister be alone?”

I looked up at Skye. I was so hurt. I wanted to slap her. Why was she acting like this? But I agreed to go out with Rose. She took me to a little café just at the end of the street. It was quiet, with only a young woman working there, Becca, who Rose introduced me to. The only other customer was an elderly man, sat on his own. Rose gave him a little wave as we sat down and she asked what was happening with Skye.

I didn't tell her about the moving hairbrush, although I wondered why I was even keeping that secret. But I told her everything else, the talking in the night, not speaking, not eating, not doing homework. And Rose was silent as I spoke, taking it in, not looking surprised in any way.

“She'll come out of this,” she said eventually. “Your mum and I will deal with the eating and the homework.”

I nodded, hoping Mum would listen to her more than she did me.

“I know it's hard,” Rose went on. “But while she may not show it, Skye really needs you right now. You have to stay close to her.”

I felt a surge of anger in me. Part of me wished I never had to see her again.

As we walked down the quiet street, speaking to no one, I noticed a cluster of girls my age across the road. They stood together, in silence. Suddenly I realised. Skye has become one of them.