Desert Secret

“You know I never wanted to have to do this to you, if only you had played along with what I wanted.” A small bead of sweat formed on my forehead. Why had I thought that the desert was a good place to bring my plan to fruition? I should have thought this through a little more before going through with it.

“If only you had just gone away like I wanted you to. None of this would be necessary, I could have had the life that I wanted. But no, you thought that I was crazy and had me committed. Look at where that got you, buried in the desert with only a pipe for oxygen and a danger sign to keep people away.”

I sat down by the pipe that I had put in the ground to keep my sister alive. More than my sister, my twin, my identical twin. During our formative years, Shelia and I would switch places with one another to trick our parents or teachers and sometimes even our boyfriends.

"I offered you a completely reasonable solution to our dilemma and yet, and yet you just seemed hellbent on forcing the issue between us. Why couldn't you just do what I asked you to do? Everything that has happened is your fault." Thankfully I had had the presence of mind to pack some water bottles for this trip. I opened one and gulped down half the contents.

"Travis loves me. All he needed was for me to assume your life and get to know me. Now he and I are stronger than ever. I know it's hard for you to understand but everything is so much better with him. Sure he still calls me your name but one day soon, he'll know the truth."

"That day is today!" I turned around stunned to find Shelia holding a gun at me. It was odd today we your own eyes look back at with such hatred. "You are a psychotic bitch. Did you really think that your plan would work?"

"Why are you so angry? God, it's not like I killed you or anything. I simply buried you alive and took over your life. It's what sisters do." Some people were so unreasonable. I had made sure she had oxygen and a little food to stay alive. That was probably my mistake.

"Tonya. You buried me alive, I was nearly killed. And you assumed my identity! How can you act shocked that I'm angry?" As she stepped closer to me, I noticed that her hand was shaking. My sister didn't have the guts to shoot me. "You cannot continue to act this way!"

"Travis loves me. He told me so! Not only with his words but with the way he took me to bed. Face it, I am better at living your life than you did." Next time I buried her alive and came to visit, I needed to bring a gun. That ways if she escaped I could just shoot her and bury her all over again. "Now why don't you get back into the lovely bed I made for you and enjoy the time out, while Travis and I renew our vows."

"You are crazier than I thought you were. Tonya let me help you. Let's get you the help you need." My sister lowered the gun and gave me a look full of pity. I walked closer to her and when I was close enough I karate kicked the gun out of her hand.

"I am not crazy, I am simply in love with your husband." Shelia grabbed my hair as I went for the gun. We both fell down, she was on top of me. Her weight prevented me from moving towards the gun faster. "Will you get off of me? I am trying to get the gun!"

"What the hell is this?" We both turned to find Travis. My hero was here to rescue me. A smile played across my lips. "I thought you told me that Tonya was locked up in the looney bin?"

"I--" but Shelia cut me off before I could finish my lie.

"She buried me alive and took over my life." When it was said out loud, that story sounded preposterous. There was no way that Travis would ever believe her. I lived the story and I found myself doubting it. "Please help me get her help."

"Honey, do you hear the story that she is telling. Clearly she is off her meds and spinning a fantastic story. You know my sister is unwell," Shelia shot a look at Travis that asked 'are you buying this?' She went for the gun but I kicked it. It stopped right by Travis' foot.

"What the hell?" He gently bent down and picked it up. He looked between us and asked again, in a stern voice: "What the hell is this?"

"She brought a gun to kill me with!" I cried, willing the tears to fall from my eyes. "I just wanted to visit her."

"Oh my God, you are so full of..." Shelia went to attack me but stopped suddenly. It took me a minute to realize what had happened.
Travis had fired the gun to save me.

My sister fell to the ground in a heap. A small pool of blood puddles around her. Travis looked as though he was going to pass out, so I guided him back to his car. Once he was sitting down and I didn't have to worry about him anymore, I went back to the body.

"See if you had just played along, you wouldn't be dead now." Instinctively I put my fingers on her neck. There was still a pulse but it was very faint. The bullet hadn't entered her, just grazed her arm. I tore a piece of fabric from her shirt and bandaged the wound as best as I could.

After an hour of digging the grave for her, I put Shelia back in the spot that I had come to visit her in. "It's not quite how I wanted my happily ever after to begin but I could deal with it.