I will always remember her melodic voice, her vibrant energy, her warm and contagious laughter. She was like the first warm breeze of spring. Her radiant face always brought joy to those around her. Beyond being beautiful, my twin sister was kind, sweet and generous toward everyone. She was strong and brave. She believed in herself and had a fierce determination to win people over. If Océane had said that grass tasted good, she would have convinced you so thoroughly that you'd actually want to taste it.
She wanted to become a princess. I don't remember exactly when that dream took root in her, nor when the will to achieve it took over. Perhaps it was when we watched Disney princesses and Barbie movies as little girls. Or maybe it was when our mother dressed us up as princesses for our fifth birthday. Could it have been because she wanted to be loved by thousands of people, like Kilari? To be perfectly honest, I don't know. And I never will now.
What is certain is that my sister had a fervent desire to be a princess, a real one. It was an obsession. Even at a very young age, she would beg our parents to let her enter all sorts of beauty pageants, music contests, and dance competitions. Our worried mother refused dozens of times before finally giving in to my sister's charm. That is how the lessons began. Dancing, singing, foreign languages, musical instruments, she learned everything that could give her an edge in competitions. She was determined, diligent, and talented. She knew what she wanted and did everything in her power to achieve it.
She was passionate about her dream; she shone. And I, Anael, was her biggest fan. I cheered her on from the sidelines, having no interest in entering that world myself, but remaining very supportive. I was her assistant, her coach, her manager. For my part, I learned everything necessary to support a princess: first aid, massage, cooking, accounting, sewing, hairstyling, makeup and foreign languages. I helped carry her things to competitions. I took care of her in every possible way. I managed her time so she could have balance and rest. I was even her lawyer at times, convincing our parents to let her do this or that. We were a dynamic duo.
Our parents called us geniuses, one in art and the other in management. We complemented each other perfectly. Everything was perfect from the age of five until sixteen; we were inseparable. My sister became more and more famous, loved by more and more people. She even landed significant roles in films and series. She had her own YouTube channel to share her content and accomplishments. Trophies and awards piled up in our room. We were happy. My sister's dream of being a princess was at its peak when she was about to sign as a soloist for one of the top companies in the industry. After all, what better way to receive modern-day princess treatment than to be a singer?
I will always remember that day. It was a sunny day; the sky was blue, the sun brilliant. Océane was supposed to sign with her production company. The only problem was that I had a cold and was sick as a dog, so I couldn't go with her. Despite her insistence on staying home to keep me company, my parents and I convinced her that it was just a quick round trip to the office. We told her she'd be back in a few hours and there would be no trouble, that I would wait patiently for her in bed. As much as I loved my sister, she returned that love a hundredfold. Being very dependent on one another, it took thirty minutes to reassure her that everything was fine before she finally left.
I helped her choose her outfit, I insisted on doing her hair and makeup, and then I sent her to the door, reassuring her that I would answer all her messages without fail. I remember watching her get into the car with our father from the doorstep while our mother comforted me, saying everything would be okay. I went back inside and into our room. I settled into bed and immediately started texting Océane. Throughout the entire drive to the company, she shared everything that was happening so I could imagine it, so I would feel comfortable when I accompanied her once I recovered.
The car ride, the scenery, our father Hélio's bad jokes. The company's exterior was grand and majestic, an entirely glass building with the company name in large letters. The interior decor had a chic, modern look in the company colors: red, blue, and gray. She told me everything she saw. The people working, the waiting room, and so on. Then she informed me that the meeting was about to start and that she would call me when it was finished. So I waited: 15 minutes, 30 minutes, 45 minutes, an hour.
I don't remember exactly what happened next. I just remember starting to itch, then a heat took over me and I couldn't breathe. I felt an immense pain in my heart and my tears just started to flow. My mother found me sprawled on the bedroom rug, half-suffocating. She rushed me to the hospital in a panic, wondering if I had consumed something I was allergic to.
It wasn't until later that day that we understood it wasn't me having an allergic reaction, but my sister, Océane. And by a twisted twist of fate, I, her twin, with whom she shared a profound connection, Isuffered some of the symptoms as well. I survived that crisis because I hadn't consumed anything. Océane was not so lucky. She went into anaphylactic shock due to her severe nut allergy in the middle of the meeting room. My father couldn't find her EpiPen in their bags. By the time the ambulance arrived, it was too late. She passed away at the doors of the hospital, the very same one my mother had taken me to for my own crisis.
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References:
_ Disney Princesses by Walt Disney: A franchise consisting of fictional female heroines who have appeared in various Disney animated feature films.
_ Kilari (Kirarin Revolution): A Japanese animated series by Masaharu Okuwaki, adapted from the manga of the same name by An Nakahara. It is produced by G&G Entertainment and Synergy SP, and distributed on the Télétoon channel in Europe.
_ The inspiration for this chapter is drawn from the song Fear by NF, which you can listen to while reading if you wish.
Thank you for reading, and have a wonderful day.