Essay collection - The Day I Fell Ill.

I don't actually like this compo very much, I went out-of-topic writing it. Glad to say this was the one and only time though. Plays will now always remind me of JAMS (Jan, Alisa, Maria, Stella) PP *sniffles*

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Written 10th March 2007.

      The girl in the mirror had a face deathfully pale adorned with the world’s reddest nose and the most swollen eyes ever. The girl’s lips were not moving but inside I was screaming agonizingly. Instinctively, I spun around to absentmindedly check if there was anybody standing behind me. But no, the sick girl in the mirror was undoubtedly myself.

      I couldn’t have chosen a more horrible day to fall ill. Today was the day of my high school play, of which I held the leading role. I had been exceptionally keen on doing it and now there was evidently no way I would be able to get on a stage and act. I could barely even speak. There was only one solution that came to mind.

      “Lana!” I shouted as I flung my sister’s bedroom door. All that escaped my widely parted lips was a croak. Clearing my throat I spoke, “I need you to take my place in the play later.”

      “Absolutely not,” replied Lana, a hostile look on her face. “I can’t believe you woke me up at six o’clock for this!”

      “Please? You learnt all my lines with me, you’d be great,” I said, wearing a pleading look.

      “This is one time too many that you’ve taken advantage of the twin thing,” replied Lana, not showing any sign of swaying her decision.

      “Please? Pretty please?”

      “Maybe, okay? Maybe. Now get out.”

      “Thank you so much! What would I do without you?” I squealed.

      “Something. Don’t give me any of your sappy what-are-sisters-for crap,” said Lana, ducking under her sheets.

      I turned to leave, stopping only to scratch Lana’s poodle tenderly behind the ears.

      I chose to sit among the audience that night. Lana had come as well and I hoped like crazy that she would be standing there on the stage to read my opening lines when the curtains parted. True, I had played on the twin thing an uncountable number of times, but if she would only come through for me this time…

      After the cast took a bow hand-in-hand, I saw my sister flash me a tiny smile before the curtains slid shut. Thank goodness.

      “You were amazing!” I whispered in her ear as we left the auditorium together. “Thank you so much!”

      “I half thought I’d do a belly flop halfway through; I nearly forgot the lines,” Lama muttered.

      “You were incredible and you know it!” I said with an affectionate sisterly smily. “Thanks again.”

      “After all, what are sisters for?” she said with a wink, wrapping her arms around me.

      “Yeah, but next time, I’m suggesting under-studies.”