too late

I saw my life flash before my eyes. I saw my twin, identical to myself, giggling as we dressed up identically for Halloween. I saw us entering kindergarten together, graduating together, smearing cake on each other’s faces at our first birthday party. I saw the wild teenage parties, the nail-biting season finales, the matching college letters. I saw it all, and only when I reached the end and saw the lonely memories I did not share did I realize that this was not mine. It was my twin’s. I meant the most to him- and I’d taken him for granted. And now, as I watched the life run out of his no longer cake-streaked face, I realized it was too late.