2.13 Say hello to the girl that I am

With five children in the house it was getting rather crowded, even though the youngest two were still only toddlers. Cyra and Christina both stayed out of the house much, but while Christina always stayed at one friend’s house, Cyra got to know many new people during these weeks. One school friend particularly fascinated her, as his parents seemed to have quite extraordinary jobs. When she had to write an essay on her professional aspirations, she didn’t hesitate to ask said mother for information and background knowledge. What she learned fascinated her, and a thought slowly manifested itself in the back of her head.

Cyra spent so much time away from home that she almost missed her mother’s 40^th birthday. For days Britney hadn’t been talking about anything else, trying to get everybody to tell her how wonderful she still looked and that nobody would believe she’d be aging up soon. Her family was so convincing that she no longer dreaded the day on which the inevitable would happen. In fact, she was looking forward to it. Her plans at the newspaper had been turning out fine the previous weeks, and she was getting closer to actually owning it. This was something she was absolutely looking forward to.

Being as confident as ever, she didn’t mind celebrating in her underwear in front of her children, and even a friend of theirs who had stopped by to do his homework at their place. Everybody could make sure that she still looked amazing.

Apart from Britney’s birthday, life went on as always. The school kids did their homework on time, and Cyra and Christopher were showered with appreciation from their parents. Christina, who found it a little harder to keep up in a few subjects, was barely noticed. If her parents talked to her, it was mostly about things she wasn’t supposed to do, like playing in her dream-world or using her imagination. Instead, her parents figured that she just had to work harder to achieve the success her siblings had. They wouldn’t tolerate a failure in the house, that they had reached consensus on, and Christina was developing to be one in their eyes.

While Cyra was allowed everything, even computer games in the middle of the night, her twin sister repeatedly had to hand in her toys, which she then wouldn’t see again for a few days. 

When the twins’ birthdays finally came around, Christina had spent most of her days working on her homework, alone or with her friend from school - although she often wasn’t allowed to go there in the afternoon, as her friend was considered to be below them. Her free time had consisted of eating and sitting in her room, thinking about life and why it was so unfair to her. Although her family cheered on her as she blew out the candles, she could clearly hear them yawn occasionally. This was a social event they had to endure, and not much more. 

It was not a surprise that all the food showed on her body. Christina wasn’t happy with herself, and that was exactly what her facial expressions and gesture suggested. She chose to wear clothes that hid everything she hated about herself, which mostly was her belly and her legs. Not one person in her family told her she was beautiful, or that her eyes were wonderfully framed by her long dark hair.

However, Britney and Karim were giddy with pleasure when they saw how Cyra had turned out. Slim and fit as she was, she fulfilled the expectations they had of a perfect daughter, and for the rest of the evening they only talked about how she would turn heads in high school. While Christina grew quieter and quieter, already dreading the first day in the new school, Cyra was looking forward to it. It was time to make the world her playground, the years up to this date had only been a practice run-through. Alea iacta est, apparently. The dices were thrown. At least that’s what she and her parents still thought at this moment.

Author's Notes:  I've been thinking about what I could be writing after this chapter, as to indicate what might follow up, but I don't want to spoil anything at all. The girls turned out to be very different, and I'm glad that I still have some time left until I have to choose an heir. However, I'm developing an idea in my head. Nothing's finalized, though, since 3 of 5 children are not teenagers yet, and two are just toddlers! Just watch closely, and you will see how this family will change.