As I look back on my childhood, I can only remember it as being two people. It was me and my twin Ed. We had our own language with one another. We were always in the same classes in school. In fact, Ed had to repeat second grade and I had to stay back too!. We never went anywhere one without the other. I remember he was always the quiet one, and me the aggressive one. As we became teenagers he, of course, was the first to date and the first to get married. For a few years we of course went our own ways, being married and raising families. But we talked at least two or three times a week and did lots of things together with our families. It broke my heart when he found someone that could not possibly love him as much as me.

As we got older I kind of became the one to always check on him and to always be there when things weren’t just right. Then in 1990 our beloved mom passed away. Then I really became his mother hen. He loved every minute of it. When he had troubles I would comfort him. When he cried, I cried with him. When he was happy I was too. When he didn’t have the answers I would try to find them for him

Then as we got older we were looking forward to turning 50 together. Not knowing that Ed would only turn 50 and never become older. That day we went to breakfast together and we were laughing about being 50 but still felt young at heart, because our family has always looked at us as the babies.

On July the 26^th I received a call that no one ever wants to get. The message was that something has happened to Ed and you need to get there right away. When I got there he was gone. I was devastated. I felt like something had severed me in half. Knowing that I could never say goodbye, never say I love you again. Never hear his voice on the phone saying “What’s up sis, and I love u.” Never being able to get him a special card, for his birthday. Never being able to call him to just say I love you.

I believe the reason is, because I was the stronger of the two. And he will never have to say goodbye; he will never have to make choices for me like I had to make for him. And he will never have to face more heartache, like me. I still feel as though this is all a dream, and he will call me soon. And if the phone never rings and his voice is on the line, that will be okay. Because he is now in a new place, where there are no tears, no sorrow, no anger, no separation. He is in God’s presence, and he knows I’ll soon be there, when my time on earth is through.

He was my, brother, my best friend, and the greatest thing of all; I was so blessed to have him for my twin. Ed I love and miss you terribly, but you are with me whereever I go. God bless until we meet again.

Your twin.