Six Years After One of My Twin Daughters Died, My Second One Came from Her First Day at School, Saying: ‘Pack One More Lunchbox for My Sister’

I scrolled through the photos. There they were, two little girls by the cubbies, matching eyes, same curly hair, and even similar freckles just under their left eyes.

Junie’s face brightened.

I nearly dropped the camera.

“Honey, did you know Lizzy before today?”

She shook her head. “Nope. But she said we should be friends, since we look the same. Mom, can she come over for a playdate? She said her mom walks her to school, but maybe next time you could meet her?”

I tried to keep my tone steady. “Maybe, baby. We’ll see.”

***

That night, I sat on the couch staring at the photo, heart thudding, hope and dread battling in my chest.

But deep down, I already knew, somehow, this was only the beginning.

“But she said we should be friends, since we look the same.”

The next morning, I gripped the steering wheel so hard my knuckles ached. Junie babbled about her teacher and “Lizzy’s favorite color” the whole way, completely oblivious.

The school parking lot was chaos, cars, kids, and parents waving. Junie squeezed my hand as we walked toward the entrance.