Twin Identity

I stand with my parents at the podium in the front of the room. Before me is a sea of somber faces dressed in black; behind me lies the body of my twin brother Zion in a half-open casket. I still cannot believe it has been less than a week since Zion passed away, shattering my world into a million pieces. I still cannot believe he is actually gone.
My dad is speaking about giving my brother and me a pair of biblical names that reflected our twin identity. He explains that my name, Moriah, is a mountain range in Jerusalem, while my brother’s name, Zion, is a peak of Moriah and the site of the Jewish Temple; hence, both are part of each other. Though I have heard this countless times before, something new strikes me. I think back on the special bond Zion and I had shared. From infancy, Zion had suffered from cerebral palsy, rendering him unable to speak, move most of his body, or take care of himself. Thus, I helped my parents care for him from a very young age. I played with him, reading him stories and setting up toys that he could activate by pressing a button. I took him on strolls around the …show more content…
Suddenly, the true significance of our names clicks into focus. I was Moriah, the mountain range supporting Zion, caring for him. But Zion was also Moriah’s peak, lifting me up and helping me achieve my potential. This sudden epiphany that our names mark an unbreakable intertwinement fills me with peace. Even though Zion has passed away, his profound impact still lives on in me. Through his death, I now realize I need to live soberly because I do not just live for myself anymore, but also for him as his surviving twin. I now realize I need to treasure and redeem the time I have and to love those close to me while I still can. Zion has transformed my perspective on life and has shaped me into who I am today.
My dad motions to me, and with that thought, I begin to