There was an uneasy silence between the three of us, Kiki smiling. I was confused about what was going on. Then my landlady replied, 'Pardon me, child, I think you’ve not been told the full story.’ I managed to nod my head, then she began, 'Well Kiki, here is a Twin, herself and her twin both use the same nicknames, and they’re both identical, so it’s impossible to tell them apart, except you’ve known them a while, but they only share the same face, not to flatter the Kiki standing in front of me, but their attitudes differ substantially, Kiki here is well behaved compared to her Twin sister who happened to be my late husband’s surrogate mother. And it’s also funny that many people, even their closest friends, can’t tell them apart, that’s why I decided to visit her saloon today, to show people that this isn’t the Kiki that harassed me. But I’m sure you also fell for the same confusion. I noticed the coldness between the both of you this morning. Why they both decided to use the same nicknames I never understand. Still, I know them apart because they’re my nieces, their mother gave birth to them both in my hands, and I trained them when she died. Still, her Twin sister has always been a tough and wild child, so when my husband and I needed a child, I decided that it was best if we used someone I share the same blood with then use a stranger, and I’m sure you’re wondering why I didn’t use this Kiki, I also ask myself the same question every day. But I think God knows best. My husband was like a father to both of them, although we contemplated adopting them both, I wanted my child, so I dissuaded my late husband.’ I sighed, everything becoming so clear, for the first time in a very long time, I felt stupid. ‘How can you finally understand something yet still look stupid?’ Kiki suddenly stared at me, our eyes meeting. I could see tears begin to well up in her eyes. I wanted to hug her, I tried to hold her hands and kiss them, I tried to kneel, and apologise to her for the way I behaved, I mistreated her, but we both just stood there, she began talking, 'You know all you just needed to do was ask me, and I would have told you everything.’ Then it dawned on me that she was right. I jumped to the conclusion, I had judged her without even hearing her side of the story, now it made sense why no one in my compound cringed when they saw her because they all knew the full story, I only heard pieces of the story and ran off with them as the truth, that’s the thing about gossips, they’re a mirage of the truth. At that moment of clarity, I knelt, kissed her feet, and asked for forgiveness. Kiki simply looked at me, dragged me up, and hugged me tightly, then she untangled herself, bowed her head to us, and started walking back to the shop. I began to tear up. My and landlady walked into a silent home. As soon as we got home, she finally spoke, 'you’re a lawyer, right?’ I answered back, 'Yes ma’ then she replied, ‘ Can you now differentiate between the two Kiki’s?’ I nodded in affirmation, 'Good, but in case you’re confused, the two of them are alike in all physical ramifications, but internally they’re very different, by their behaviours you’d tell them apart.’ In a coarse voice, I answered, 'Yes ma’am’, then she continued, 'I want you to help me with my will because I’m giving everything I know to Katrina and my surrogate son.’ She saw that I was lost, 'Ah! Pardon, Katrina is the real name of the Kiki, you know, while her wicked twin is Katherine.’ I finally understood it. We that, she gave me a tight hug, and said ‘Don’t beat yourself too hard, we’ve all judged Katrina wrongly, for the sins of Katherine, you’re not the first.’ On that note, she left for her apartment. I stood there in the dark, trying to remember all of our past meetings, then I could see the distinction between both of them. My first encounter with the acid incident was Katherine, not Katrina, I knew Katherine, but I was friends with Katrina. That night I laid on my bed, thinking about my unfairness, then I heard my phone beep, it was a message from an unknown number. I opened my phone and saw the text, 'I forgive you, from Katrina.’
The End.
Loved it!
Totally enjoyed this!