Anne drove to the address that Taylor had mentioned in her letter.
This wooden cabin, located on the outskirts of Seattle, was long abandoned. Weeds grew everywhere, and the roof was falling apart. Seeing the dilapidated state of the place only strengthened the suspicions Anne already had.
The electronic lock on the front door was completely dead, so the code Taylor provided was useless.
"Crash!"
Anne picked up a rock from the side of the road, smashed a windowpane, and then used her long legs to climb into the house.
"Creak..."
"Creak..."
Stepping on the groaning wooden stairs, Anne made her way to the second floor and pushed open the door on the left.
The photos hanging on the walls were covered in thick dust. The rush of air from the door being opened stirred the dust up, causing it to swirl happily, almost as if welcoming its owners back home.
Through the film of dust, Anne could still make out the smiling face of the girl in the photo. She was leaning against Luke, her smile so radiant it looked like all the wealth in the world couldn't buy that moment of happiness.
This must have been the room where Taylor used to live, but now it was empty.
"Shhh..."
Anne pulled open the desk drawer. Inside, a pink diary lay silently. She gently brushed the dust off it and began to read.
> "Today is my anniversary with Luke. We went camping overnight at Lake Union.
> I told him the moonlight was beautiful tonight.
> But he told me, how could he know how beautiful the moonlight was?
> His eyes were completely full of me, leaving no room for the moon.
> His mouth is sweeter than honey. I'm going to have to taste it later.
> — January 15, 1998."
The following entries were mostly mundane accounts of their daily life, showing just how happy they were.
Until Anne turned to this page:
> "My chest is hurting again. I was late for my follow-up check-up by over a month because I was busy supporting Luke's competition.
> Could it be a relapse?
> — November 14, 1998."
Reading this, Anne seemed to realize something, and she continued down the page.
> "The doctor gave me the worst news. The tumor has spread and metastasized.
> I probably don't have more than six months left.
> How could this happen? I'm so young, and we promised we'd grow old together.
> — November 21, 1998."
Anne's fingers trembled slightly as she turned the page again.
> "I'm getting weaker and weaker. I truly don't have much time left.
> It snowed today, and I pulled Luke outside..."
As Anne read Taylor's words, a scene seemed to play out before her eyes. The tall Taylor was pulling Luke out into the swirling snowflakes.
"It's snowing heavily! You're so frail, I'm worried you'll catch a cold," Luke complained, but he couldn't bring himself to spoil Taylor's fun.
Taylor just smiled gently, looking at Luke.
"We promised we'd get gray hair together. I just want to rehearse it now."
Neither of them wore a hat, and their hair was quickly turned silver-white by the dandelion-like snowflakes.
"Look, your hair is all white now, like an old grandpa, but you're still super handsome!"
"Come on, that doesn't count! We promised we'd support each other, walk through life's storms, and grow old together!"
"Just in case. If I'm not around in the future, this way, we'll have one less regret," Taylor said, her eyes glistening with tears.
"There is no 'in case'!"
"Doesn't this count as growing old together?"
Looking at the girl who was silver-white with snow, Luke's eyes turned red. He nodded hard, stepped forward, and hugged Taylor tightly.
---
Anne felt like her nose was stuffed up, and her eyes were blurry. She wiped the corners of her eyes and continued reading.
> "The time for goodbye is coming. No matter how much I hate it, it's time to say farewell.
> I've found my sister's address.
> I've asked Luke to take care of Anne for me after I'm gone.
> Having Anne by his side should help him get over his grief faster, right?
> — December 29, 1998."
This was the last page of the journal.
After finishing her sister's diary, Anne sat motionless on the chair. After a long time, she slowly stood up, took the diary, and left.
Now, the situation was crystal clear.
Her twin sister, Taylor, and Luke were a couple. Before her sister died from her illness, she had asked Luke to take care of her. This was her sister's final act of kindness before she passed: She wanted Anne to be happy, and she hoped Luke could lessen his pain through Anne.
Luke's presence in her life was a result of her sister's kind intentions. Whether or not she was a replacement, it didn't matter to Anne anymore.
It truly didn't matter.
Meeting Luke was the greatest fortune of her life.
"Creak..."
Anne pushed open the front door and prepared to drive away. Her eyes caught a glimpse of what looked like a letter in the mailbox by the door. She walked over and tore the letter open.
"Taylor, I miss you."
As the first line came into view, Anne immediately recognized Luke's handwriting. She read on:
> I always looked forward to it.
> Looked forward to a few more years, when we were both grown up.
> Going to work together, grocery shopping together.
> Cooking together, taking walks after dinner.
> Lying on the sofa together and watching TV.
> You in my arms, and me in our home.
> Thank you for allowing me to envision such a perfect future.
> I hope you are happy in heaven.
> There's one more thing. I found your sister.
> But she isn't doing well. She seems to have severe amnesia.
> Her father abandoned her and left her at a shelter.
> So, I took her in.
> Don't worry about it being a burden. A girl who looks exactly like you, being by my side, is the greatest comfort.
> I told her I was her boyfriend.
> She doesn't seem to remember, but she accepted it.
> That way, I could keep her close.
> ...
As the final piece of the puzzle fell into place, all of Anne's confusion vanished. Along with it came an unprecedented sense of relief.
Her life, though marked by much misfortune, was also lucky. She had always been surrounded by love: her sister's, Luke's...
Now, she wanted to do everything she could for them.
Anne sped down the road, heading straight for home.
As soon as she reached her house, she jumped out of the car, rushed inside, grabbed a pen and paper, and started writing a letter.
> Dear Taylor,
> Please forgive me for not calling you 'Sister.' After all, I am five years older than you right now.
> I went to your house and read the diary left by your future self.
> I now have a few very important things to tell you. This concerns the fate of all of you:
> ...
Before Anne finished the letter and slipped it into the mailbox, she paused. She wasn't second-guessing sending the letter; she was wondering if she should mail Luke's letter along with it.
After a moment's thought, she kept Luke's letter, tucking it safely over her heart. Then, solemnly, she placed the letter in her hand into the mailbox.