Word Count: 377
Parvati smells chocolate coming from the kitchen at seven in the morning. That isn't the best sign. In their eighteen years together, she has only ever known Padma to bake whenever she's stressed.
"Brownies," Parvati observes, staring at the tray that's cooling. "Brownie baking is post-breakup activity." Realization dawns on her, and her eyes widen. "Did Terry break up with you? I'm gonna punch him so hard in the mouth that he bites his own heart!"
Padma looks up, eyes rolling. She has always been so much calmer than Parvati. Parvati doesn't understand; her twin should be raging right now. Instead, there's just a hopeless sort of sadness in her expression. She will try and deny it, but Padma has always been terrible at hiding these things.
"Come on. You, me, mini golf?" Parvati offers.
Padma snorts. "No one like miniature golf."
"I do." Parvati smirks, folding her arms over her chest. "What's your clever comeback for that, genius?"
Padma's lips twitch into an almost smile. She just shakes her head, wiping her hands onto her white apron and leaving a chocolatey streak across the material. "Terry didn't break up with me. I…" A moment of silence passes, like she's trying to find the words to say. "I broke up with him."
"What on earth possessed you to do that?"
Padma and Terry are perfect for each other. Maybe there's a part of Parvati that has always been a little jealous of their forever love. Breaking up seems impossible.
Padma sighs heavily. "I… He didn't really love me," she says. "I think he loved the idea of me, but not who I actually am."
Maybe Parvati can see it. She just stares in silence, unsure of what to say.
"I do love him," Padma adds. "That's why I did it. I want him to find the person who is right for him, even if it means that I'm alone."
Parvati shakes her head and moves closer, wrapping her arms around her sister. "You aren't alone. You have me. Always and forever."
Maybe it hadn't been forever love. Maybe those fairytale endings and happily ever afters are reserved for story books.
But that's okay. A twin's love is unconditional. In the end, that will always have each other.