Switched at Birth

           “I have a twin sister!”

You’re probably confused about what just happened so, I will explain. Ever since I, Elizabeth (or Liza for short), was born I was convinced that I had a twin brother. Last Sunday introduced me to a family secret that I was never told. I had overheard my parents arguing but, I couldn’t quite tell what they were arguing about. Me, being curious, decided that I was going to take a closer look, but I ended up tripping over my brother, Lucas’s, skateboard. In the process of me tripping over Lucas’s skateboard, my parents heard me and came running out of their room only to see me sitting outside of their door.

“Are you ok?” my mother immediately asks me as she's bending down to help me up

“What happened?” my father calls as he runs to the door I quickly let them know that I tripped over Lucas’s skateboard and reassure them that I’m ok.

“Elizabeth there is something we should tell you,” my mother tells me she seems to have a worried look on her face. I begin to run every scenario in my head on what could happen. It could be about my supposed twin sister, school, my room, etc really anything. My mom eventually leads me into her and my father's room and sits me on their bed.

“Elizabeth now that you are old enough to understand this we think we should tell you-” my mom starts but I’m quick to cut her off

“Mom please not this talk Lucas told me about how awkward this talk was-” I say as I start to ramble

“ No Liza it’s not about that it’s something to do with when you were born” my mother states with a confused look on her face

“Oh then, what is this about? D-dd-did I do something wrong?” I ask with a concerned tone in my voice

“No Liza you didn’t do anything wrong it has something to do with you when you were born” my father jumps in with a reassuring tone

“You see when you were born you were born as twins but, Lucas isn’t your biological twin-” my mom starts but quickly is cut off by me

“What do your meaning to tell me that Lucas isn’t my actual twin!” I say with a furious look on my face I couldn’t believe it Lucas wasn’t my real twin how could they keep something this big from me like this.

“Liza we know you’re angry but, you should know you have a twin sister named Mariana-” my father starts but, I’m so filled up with rage I can't even comprehend what just happened I just want to scream or run.

“I have a twin sister!” I am immediately filled with so much excitement I didn’t think I could handle it.

“So you’re meaning to tell me that I have a twin sister named Mariana and you’ve been keeping this from me since I was born” I didn’t know what came over me I was suddenly rushed with so many emotions. I wanted to cry all these years I’ve had a twin sister that I know nothing about I have no idea what she looks like, what her style is, what music she’s into, where she lives, what school she goes through, or even if she knew about this. I immediately ask my parents everything about her it felt like we were there for hours.

“Where does she live? What does she look like? Who does she live with? Did she know about this? Why did you split us up?” while I was being rushed with emotions I am able to ask my parents some questions.

“We aren’t positive where she lives, she looks exactly like you except she has her nose pierced, she lives with her foster parents, no she just found out today like you, and we split you up bc throughout the entire pregnancy we were hoping for a boy and a girl because it runs in the family so we were hoping for a boy and a girl but when you guys were born and it was two girls we were disappointed and decided to switch Mariana out for Lucas who didn’t have any parents” I sort of understood what was going on. I had two questions left that I wanted to ask my parents so I gathered up the courage and asked.

“Why didn’t you guys adopt Lucas and keep Mariana but just tell us we were triplets? Can I meet her?” my parents seemed shocked when I asked to see her I was hoping that they would understand me wanting to meet her.

“ We thought it would be an awkward situation trying to explain to you guys why your brother wasn’t in your ultrasound pictures along with you meeting her we can try to get in touch with her caseworker and foster mom if you two can meet if she wants to meet you. Ok?” I felt relieved and surprised knowing that I had a twin sister. I was about to get up and leave when my mom cut me off.

“ Do you have any more questions?” I stand there for a while just thinking if I did or not.

“Actually I do. Does she have a phone number?” my parents start to laugh thinking I am joking but little do they know that I am being serious.

“If you're being serious then we can ask if she does you can go now if you have no other questions.” I quickly leave their room to see Lucas standing outside the door listening with tears in his eyes. I try to talk to him but he storms to his room and slams the door.

“Lucas, can we talk please?” I ask while knocking on his door. I felt terrible I never wanted him to feel like I didn’t love him. Even though he isn’t my biological brother he will always be my biological brother.

“What do you want Elizabeth? Are you here to tell me I’m not your brother anymore?” he yells. I can hear the hurt in his voice it made me feel terrible.

“No, I am here to tell you that no matter what happens even if I do go and see Mariana you will always be my twin brother even if we don’t share the same DNA or the same parents. We are family and family sticks together. If you don’t want me to see Mariana I won’t if it makes you that upset I won’t talk to her.” I can hear him slowly get up off of his bed and unlock the door.

“Liza, I want you to see her she is your sister anyways it seems kinda selfish if I don’t let you see your sister” I can see that him saying that made him hurt so much.

“Lucas she isn’t just my sister she is our sister you may not have the same parents, looks or DNA but, I’m sure she will love you.”

A Few Weeks Later

It has been a rough couple of weeks but, we eventually met each other she was so nice. So nice to the point my parents issued for custody they ended up winning the battle. Lucas get along great with Mariana my parents love her and she fits in perfect at our school. We didn't have enough room for all of us to get our own room so Mariana and I share but, I don’t mind it gives us time to get to know each other. I think one thing I learned was that DNA might mean one thing but, family means another