Split

“Do you two want to be in different classes?”

I froze, as did my twin brother beside me. It had never occurred to me that it was an option. We’d always been together, and it seemed like it was just the way things were meant to be. Kindergarten all the way to fifth grade, we’d always been in the same class. We’d never sat next to each other, but I could always see him somewhere around the room, which was always a comfort to my ever-anxious self. I shook my head no, but I could see Preston slowly nodding next to me.

I don’t remember what happened next, we’d both ran off to continue our outdoor adventure while our mom disappeared back inside, but things did change. When we got to school that year for sixth grade, Preston was assigned to class was in the room next to mine.

I spent the entire first day stealing glances at the back redbrick wall that separated my classroom from Preston’s. ‘He’s not gone, he’s just over there behind the wall,’ I told myself every time I stole a glance when Ms. Williams’ back was turned.

For a while I couldn’t focus on my work. Every time I looked up from my slow-paced classwork, I couldn’t spot his familiar and comforting face. He should have been there staring down at the same worksheet across the room, but instead I only saw strangers. People who didn’t care about me, didn’t want to talk to me, and stayed away from my always too-tall self.

I grew used to our small distance.