Chapter 14 - The Final Reckoning with LilaThe sun was setting over the coastal estate, casting long, golden shadows across the empty infinity pool. The property had been sold to a preservation trust, and tomorrow the twins would leave the house forever to move closer to the research center in Boston.
Nora stood by the stone railing, watching the waves crash against the rocks below.
Lila walked out onto the terrace, carrying two packed travel bags. She set them down and stood beside her sister, the wind catching her blonde hair.
"Are you afraid of the future, Nora?" Lila asked softly, looking out at the endless horizon.
"No," Nora said, turning to look at her sister’s face—the face that used to represent her deepest pain, but now represented her closest ally. "I’m not afraid anymore. For ten years, I thought my life was defined by what happened in that pool house. I thought I was just the shadow clone of the perfect twin."
Lila reached out, her fingers gently locking with Nora’s, her grip tight and reassuring. "You were never the shadow, Nora. You were the light that kept me alive. I was just too blind to see it until the darkness caught up with us."
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Nora looked down at their joined hands. The scars on her wrist were still there, silver and permanent, but they no longer felt like chains. They felt like armor.
"Let’s go, Lila," Nora said, picking up her bag. "We have a lot of work to do."
