"Are you serious?" I asked sternly looking at her. It wasn't funny as she thought it would be, and I wasn't ready to listen to her cock and bull story.

"I was at the toilet, though I heard you I refused to answer" She replied assuringly.
"But your toilet was empty when I checked," I said concernedly.

"You didn't check mum's room," she said readjusting herself, her gaze fell on me as she stared deeply into my eyes "I was there" she muttered.

My heart quivered as her eyes looked straight into mine, there was something different. Her eyes were saying another word. She quickly moved her eyes and fixed the TV once more. Something is wrong. There was something she was hiding from me, I just couldn't place my fingers on what it is.

"Deanna" I called out softly.

"I'm listening" she answered, trying to keep off my stares.

"Deanna, look at me," I said more softly than before.

"If you're ready to say what's bothering you, say it, or you rather let me be" she answered coldly.

"Is anything the matter?" I asked huskily " I mean, is there anything bothering you that you wish to share?"

"Erm... No. why are you asking?" She stammered.
"Deanna, I'm your twin brother for crying out loud, you can share whatever you think is troubling you," I yelled.

There was a brief silence as I watched her expression. This isn't Deanna. She was indeed hiding something big.
But what could it be?

"Deanna" I called out.

She turned to place her hands on my shoulders, she said looking into my eyes "There is nothing wrong with me, I'm fine".

I quickly bring down her hands off my shoulders as I stood on my feet, "No! You are not, there's something wrong, there is something you are hiding from me, you might want to be sincere in your words but your emotions are far powerful. I've shared my secrets with you, then why can't you just share this little one with me. Deanna, I love you, I care for you, I sincerely..."

She stood up from her seat standing closer to me "I know Dean, I know you love me, I know you do care but what you don't know is that the situation I'm in is above your might. You can't do it. You can't stand for me now. You have your life to live. This is my cross to bear, let me bear it alone please" she said bursting into tears as she ran to her room.

I stood still, confused. What does she mean by the situation she's in? What situation is she in? Her cross. Which cross? Why does she want to bear them alone?
I need an explanation for all these things. I ran after her, on getting there, she has already shut her door.

"Deanna" I called out banging on the door.
There was no response except for some muffled sounds coming out from the room.

"Deanna, please open the door, you know I can die to let you live, all I need now is just the explanations" I pleaded.

"Dean, please leave," she said.

"I can't leave you like this, you need me now more than ever".

"I'll be fine, please leave, I don't want mum to be suspicious, you know her health issues"

"Deanna".

"Please leave".

"Promise me, you'll be okay".

"I promise".

With that, I walked into my room beside hers, as I lay my head on the pillow.
I needed to figure out what the problem was, what could have eaten Deanna up to this extent. I tried thinking of possible things which could have brought about the issues but none was matching. They were either too good or too bad.

Four days before she died.
It's been three days after the issue of Deanna and me. Things seems to go as normal, as she did her best to keep smiles on our faces. For these three days, she has been acting like nothing ensued between us. I was aware she is trying to hide the truth away from all of us.

I was deeply tensed as to why she would try and do that especially away from mum.
Even though I was troubled, I still pretended like everything was normal. I wanted to make sure she forgets all the things that made her heart, throb. I sincerely never wanted to remind her of her pains so I let them go.

"Hey son, come over here, let me massage that silky hair of yours," Deanna said once we are home alone again in the sitting room doing justice to the popcorn we both made.

I ran towards her and without hesitating, sat down in between her legs, a generous amount of popcorn puffed up my mouth that I barely muffled a word.

She ran her soft fleshy hands on my hair, her fingernails dug deep in my hair.
"Son" she called out softly.

"Yea mum" I teasingly answered.

"Can I ask you a question?"

"When did my mum start begging to ask me a question?"

"Shut up!" she yelled spanking my back.

"So answer my questions". She said as her hands approached my ear, I knew what was coming.

"But you haven't asked any questions."

"Ohh! Shut up let me ask then".

" Am all ears, speak mum, your boy is listening to you."

"Uhmm... Erm... What will you do, I mean how would you react if you don't find me hereafter?"

The question struck deep into my heart. What does she mean by if I don't see her?
"What do you mean?" I asked cautiously.

"C'mon Dean, you know what I mean." She answered gently rubbing my hair.

I turned to her with fear written on my face, staring at her, all I could derive from her question was death.

"God forbid" I muttered.

"Dean, God is not forbidding anything. It's not like I'm going away forever or you won't be able to see me, I just needed your response."

"Why would you ask such questions? It's formidable."

"Ohh! Dean, stop it, I'm not dying, okay?" She assured putting on that pretty smile on her face."

"It's rather better that you are not dying because I will go with you." I hissed.

"Hissing at your mother? You are done for."
With that, she stood up and in a flash, I quickly dodged the slap she attempted on me.

"Dean, come over here, how dare you skip my slap? I must deal with you for that" she said running after me.

The day she died.
"Dean, dad is out for a project, and mum, in Dubai, where do you want to go?"

"Anywhere you are found, I want to be with you" I smiled.

"Are you for real? C'mon, you need to go out with your friends, as I'm about to go out with mine."

"I don't have friends to go out with, Robbie is out of state and Jimmy's uncle won't permit him, so let's go out together".

"It's a girls gathering, guys aren't needed".

"I can be the charming prince among the ladies, how do you see that?"

"Naughty boy, you can look after yourself, I'm out"

"Deanna, let me follow you please." I pleaded but she jammed the door before she could hear me.

Sorry for the late update, things have been hectic.
What do you think is the cause of Deanna's death?
Get ready for the next chapter.