The War That Remained

The war has ended. A war that threatened to destroy the entire human race. It was devastating. Lives were lost, families separated, lovers never to be seen again. The damage had already been made and nothing could stop it. But we the people needed change. We needed the government to rebuild the country, to restore the spark that had been lost.

I expected a new life. A life that could bring back the smile that had been gone from my face. But no matter how hard I tried, I couldn't live a new life. I still had memories from the past. A past that haunted me. The kind people wish to run away from. Nightmares that could render me sleepless for three days straight.

My current life was a mess and I couldn't expect anything less than change. The air still smelled like gunpowder a feeling I could never get used to. It hunted me for days. At the beginning of the war, the sound of guns had even left my right ear numb, and my heart still quavered at a sudden loud noise. I was terrified of noise. It brought me to confusion most times.

I felt like this was a punishment. A punishment for the trouble I had caused my family. A punishment for making my dear mother cry. A punishment for making my father worry. A punishment for pushing my dear sister away when she needed me the most. I was reckless, living a careless, stubborn life before the war started. I couldn't believe I could lose them in this life, but then it happened right in front of me. Our house going up in flames with my beloved ones still inside. I had tried to save them but I was held back and dragged along the road as our tiny village kept exploding in flames. It broke me into pieces. I was lost for days with nothing to live for.

That was until I met Mark.

Seeing him brought back the spark in me. He gave me a reason to live. I had that feeling of never wanting to leave his side again. To be by his side, to conquer this war with him, to fight for a better life. I wanted to right all my wrongs through him. He made me feel like a better person, that my past wasn't my fault and that I could still live a new life.

We had travelled through the most dangerous cities where the war was most intense and survived. We made friends. Friends that made me forget about my painful past. There was Lucas, the oldest among the six of us. He was the leader of our little gang and the bravest among us all. He gave us the courage we needed and always found us a safe place to hide.

And there was Annabel. She was around my age but so innocent and childlike kind to strangers in a way that could put the whole gang in trouble, but she didn't care, as long as everyone was safe. People got this instinct to protect her, maybe because of her petite frame or her striking beauty.

Then there was Tom and Bella the lovebirds who wouldn't let the gang rest. They were so in love that it even got me a little jealous. At a time of disaster they had found happiness. And then there was Mark and I, making up the remaining gang. I was seen as the strong, strict and quiet one, while Mark was a kind soul — always smiling, always catching the hearts of people.

Living in our tiny village where the military couldn't reach us was becoming too unsafe, so we decided to head to the government reserved area where we would be under the guidance and protection of the military. It was a long journey. A very long one that took one hundred days.

Along the way, Annabel fell very sick and died. It broke the gang apart but Lucas still tried to keep us together. When Tom had his limbs torn apart all over the battlefield, Bella couldn't bear to live without him and killed herself. It was already halfway through our journey by then. Then Lucas had to sacrifice his life for Mark and I. He distracted the enemies using himself so Mark and I could flee.

Mark and I continued our journey alone. We were so close to the government reserved area so close to our destination before the last disaster broke out. I still remember the gate of the destination standing right in front of us before the enemies opened fire. Everywhere was put in chaos. The military began hurling civilians inside the restricted area while they fought the enemies. I had held Mark's hands so tight but I couldn't remember when his hands left mine. A soldier pushed me inside the gate as people struggled to enter. The gate was locked. I tried to look for Mark in the crowd but couldn't. I screamed for the soldiers to go save him but I was met with deaf ears.

I was left devastated and alone again.

Days later the war ended and peace was restored, but I still couldn't find Mark. And now five years had passed and I still hadn't seen him. I worked as an accountant for an elderly man who owned a store. It was already late and the weather was chilling. It looked like it would rain heavily. People were trying to get home faster. The city still looked dull no vibrant colours, no overly happy people. Just civilians trying to survive. The government was trying but I expected more. I expected to find our loved ones, dead or alive. Seeing the dead would at least tell me something. The war shouldn't have happened.

After trying to get a taxi, I finally found one and quickly rushed to get in. I stayed quiet, looking outside the window as we passed buildings, lost in my own mind. I could hear the driver's mumbles but I was still lost in thought until we were put to a stop. I looked towards the other seat but he was already looking at me.

"Finally," he said. "I've been trying to get your attention." He grinned. "Where are you heading to?"

He was smiling, giving off a very warm energy that could capture people's hearts. His smile was way too familiar. His aura was welcoming, like I had known him for ages. I was too shocked to speak. My mouth hung open while my eyes went wide. I couldn't believe who I was seeing. Thirty seconds passed without me saying anything, him probably waiting for a response with a confused smile.

"Hello?" He broke the silence. "Are you okay?"

His voice sounded familiar. Is this…? My mind kept running with wild thoughts. "Hello," he waved in my face. "Are you still here?"

He asked confusingly. I looked back up at him. His face still had that striking resemblance. I was quiet for some seconds and after I couldn't help it, I asked the question that had been on my mind from the moment I laid eyes on him.

"Do we..." I hesitated for a moment, thinking of a way to construct my sentence without sounding weird. "Have we met before?" I finally asked.

It was his own turn to be confused, but he quickly brushed it aside, shaking his head slowly. "Not that I know," he shrugged. "But I meet many people in this line of work and I do forget easily."

I stared at him. It couldn't be possible. He looked so much like him.

"Mark!" I called out.

Now he was shocked. "How do you know my name?" he asked, looking really surprised. I quickly came closer to him and took his left hand to check for the familiar scar. It wasn't there, which left me even more surprised. He had gotten that scar when he tried protecting me from a gunfight. It had been five years maybe the scar had faded away. I quickly came up with that thought. He kept looking at me strangely, as if I had finally gone mad.

I mean, I could have gone mad from all that had happened in my life. But there was still that tiny faith in me that hope that Mark would come back to me. I expected him to find me, to knock on my door and say "I'm back."

I shook my head to get rid of my thoughts.

"Mark, it's me," I spoke, tapping my chest rapidly. "It's me, Margaret." Tears were already in my eyes, threatening to pour down. He looked at me sadly. "I'm sorry but I don't know anyone with that name." His words broke me into pieces and I shook my head, not accepting defeat.

"It's me Margaret. We grew up together. How can you forget your own twin sister?" I cried more loudly. "I'm your twin sister. Do you remember now? I've been waiting for you."

There was silence as we stared at each other, me with tears running down my face, him with that confused look in his eyes.

"I'm sorry," he broke the silence.

"I've never had a sibling, much less a twin. I've been an only child all my life."