In the small town of Manilla, life moved at a slow and gentle pace. The town was surrounded by rolling hills and a sparkling lake, making it a beautiful place to live. But in Manilla, nothing was as interesting as the bond between two identical sisters,Kara and Sara DelaCruz.
Kara and Sara looked exactly alike, with long, wavy brown hair and bright green eyes. Many people had trouble telling them apart. Kara was the older sister by three minutes. She was confident, outgoing, and loved being the center of attention. Her laughter filled the room and made everyone feel happy. Sara, on the other hand, was quieter and more reserved. She preferred reading books and staying away from big crowds.
One sunny afternoon, Kara was outside in their backyard, playing Frisbee with her friends. Kara, however, was sitting on the porch swing, deep into a book. Kara called out to her. "Sara! Come and play with us!"
Sara looked up but didn't move. "I'm okay right here. You go on without me," she replied, feeling comfortable in her own world of stories.
Kara's smile faded a little. "Why not? It's more fun with you!" she insisted. But Sara shrugged. She enjoyed watching her sister have fun from afar.
While Kara played, she noticed that everyone was having a great time, but her attention kept flickering to Sara. She couldn't understand why her sister preferred the quiet of the porch over the thrill of the game.
With a sigh, Kara threw the Frisbee toward a tree, her friends cheered. "Sara, just come for a little while!" She tried again, hoping to spark some excitement in her sister.
"Fine. Just for a few minutes," Sara finally agreed, getting off the swing. Reluctantly, she joined the game.
As they played, Kara felt thrilled to have Sara with her, even for a short time. However, something felt off. Sara was not as enthusiastic as she used to be. Instead of laughing and running like before, she seemed distant, caught in her own thoughts.
After the game ended, Kara could sense the distance between them, like a thin thread stretching taut. They were identical on the outside, but inside, they felt worlds apart. Kara wanted her sister to share in her joy, while Sara struggled to find her place next to Kara's shining light.
Later that night, as they prepared for bed, Kara tried to talk to Sara about the day. "You know, you could have fun too if you'd just let yourself," she said. Ella turned off her light and lay in bed, staring at the ceiling.
"I just… I like things differently," Sara whispered back, almost as if she were talking to herself. Kara frowned, feeling a mix of concern and confusion about her sister's quiet nature.
The next day at school, everything shifted even more. Kara had started to notice a boy named Edward, who seemed to pay more attention to her than anyone else. Kara was excited; she wanted Edward to like her.
But as Kara blossomed in this new attention, Sara found herself feeling left out.