It is a weird feeling, opening your eyes for the very first time and feeling like you do not belong there. Being handled while different feelings of happiness, sadness, fear and regret assault your small being. All you want to do is just shut your eyes and go back to that grand slumber you had and not deal with your feelings. Denial I believe is what they call it. What else can one do but cry? Though in all honesty, crying while going through a whole rollercoaster of feelings and being handled around is not a good combination. Believe me, I know. But what does feel good, is when you are lowered into warmth as a sweet, soothing voice whispers to you in happiness. The feeling of being safe and protected. And then having that moment shattered by more screeching. But not mine, no, for I was content in the arms of this stranger. Though I would end up soon joining the beautiful song of life. Apparently, I am a twin.

My twin did not know how to shut up. He cried and cried all day. Sometimes to the point where I could no longer take it and would cry just to try to drown out his shrieks. Looking back, I am grateful mother and father did not toss us out the window. Then again, they should not have had twins. What were they thinking?

Many months passed like that. I learned that the stranger that had soothed me when I was brought to this hell hole, was actually my father. His name was Xue Xing. And his voice was soothing, but not sweet. I loved being in his arms. It was so warm and comfy. Plus it made me feel like nothing wrong would ever happen to me. Well, besides having to deal with a shrieking fox that did not know when to quit. Father had long black hair that he would wear in a side ponytail. Until he learned that I loved playing with it. He also had piercing red eyes, which I had inherited from him. He was the observing type. He usually did not talk. But his expression would be enough for us to know what he was thinking. He was caring and loving. Like a true father.

My mother on the other hand was not so silent. Xue Lan was her name. She had long brown hair that she would wear loose. Though sometimes she would have to put it in a bun when dealing with us. Her eyes were a soothing blue. She was always yelling at me. I do not understand why. I would only try to help her deal with my twin, so she could rest for a bit. How was I supposed to know that smothering him with a pillow was a big no no?

After father found out, he gave me a look that made me feel ashamed of myself. Stupid twin.

The banshee that had so graciously graced us with his birth was my twin brother, Xue Lei. He had inherited father's black hair and red eyes. Honestly, how can a baby make that much noise all the time? After I tried silencing him, mother made sure I was never alone in the same room as him. As if I would try something like that again. I could not disappoint father like that. I did not want him to hate me.

Before I knew it a whole year had passed. I had learned how to walk. Though I still needed practice. But it was really helpful when I wanted to get away from my brother. Which totally contradicts the whole, 'twins are joined by their soul and can never be separated.' Yes, I call bull on that. I hated my twin. He would never shut up! There would be times were I would start to get this weird feeling. Like I was forgetting something important. But every time I tried to remember or think about it, he would start crying. They should just throw him out a window.

And just when I thought things could not get worse…they did. Lei had learned how to stand.

His crying had also lessened, but only a little.

Every time I would stand up, so would he. Whenever I tried walking away, he would grab onto me and not let go. I never knew babies could be super strong. No matter what I did, he would not let go. I would take a step, and he would look at me for a whole minute, and then take a step. As much as I wanted to push him, I could not. For one, mother would kill me. He would also start crying again and there was no way I would allow father to look at me like he did when I apparently almost killed him.

Since I could not get rid of him, I started teaching him.

Our parents were very amused. I mean, who would not be? A toddler no more than a year old was teaching another toddler of the same age how to walk. It did not help that my vocabulary was limited. Very limited.

Another year had passed and we were now two years old. Lei had taken my help as permission to hang around me. Where ever I went, he would follow. Mother had separated us into different beds in fear that I would hurt him. Well not anymore. Lei could no longer sleep unless he slept with me. Whenever I refused, he would start crying. If he woke up and I was not there, he would start crying. Once, I had decided to go outside. Our family had a plum tree in the backyard and I was curious and wanted to see it upfront. He apparently thought I was running away for good and ran after me shrieking. He fell off our porch. It had gotten so bad that he would refuse to take a nap or go anywhere without me in fear that when he would wake up or return, I would no longer be there. When he did sleep, I had to be there with him. He would grab onto my arm with a strong grip so I could not escape while he slept.

I no longer hated Lei. He no longer cried like he used to. Well, as long as I was with him that is. Not to mention, how could I hate him when he would always come running to me smiling and out of breathe ready to tell me what he had accomplished. He had taken to calling me Meimei. Though he still got on my nerves once in a while.

Father and Mother had taken it upon themselves to separate Lei and me. He was not happy about it. It was made very apparent when he started crying. And to be honest, I too did not want to be separated. I had gotten so used to him following me around where ever I went, shouting "Meimei." But I know that his obsession would do us more harm than good in the future. Before I realized it, I was in front of him. He looked up at me, tears falling from his eyes. And boogers from his nose.

"Lei, stop crying." From the corner of my eyes I saw mother ready to bang her head into the wall. "I said stop crying." I repeated after he did not listen the first time.

"Meimei! I want to go with you!" before I could stop it, Lei flung himself onto me. He started crying harder.

I had no clue what to do. I had already learned that I was horrible with words. So what else can I do?

-Sing-

I hugged Lei and started to gently stroke his back. I had no clue what got into me that day, but my brother was acting like I was about to get killed and I had to stop it. Plus I do not know how much longer our parent's patience can last. And I no longer wish to get rid of Lei. I started to hum. What I was humming, I had no clue. But after a few minutes it seemed to start working. Lei was no longer crying his eyes out. He was still holding onto me, but it was now a gentle grip.

"Lei, you do know you will still see me right?" Lei lifted his head to look at me. He sniffed a bit before looking at me with a questioning stare. "Mama and Baba are not going to make us live apart. We are just going to be training separately." He looked behind me towards father and mother as if asking for confirmation.

"That is right." Father walked up to us and took us both into his arms. "While you train with me, Li will train with mama. And when Li trains with me, you will with mama. One day with me and one day with mama. But you will still be living here with Li."

"I will still see Meimei?"

"Yes you will." Mother appeared behind him with a cloth and started to clean his face up. "Believe us, we wish for you two to be happy together. But you cannot always be together. You need to learn to walk on your own."

"Plus," I chipped in, "I will always be here waiting for you! And you can tell me all the amazing things you learned!" I started to pat his head. He seemed to cheer up at my prospect. "How does that sound?"

"Okay…only if you promise to not run away."

"I was not running away Lei. I just wanted to see our plum tree."

"…Okay…I will go."

Happy at his decision, I flung myself at him. He seems quite happy and hugged me back. Mother and Father just laughed, and before we knew it, we were in a big family group hug.