The forbidden love between me and my brother.

 ALICE

Before Ariel, my life was simple but empty.

I was twenty-four, living alone in this tiny apartment above a pizza shop. My place always smelled like melted cheese and garlic, which wasn’t the worst thing in the world, but it reminded me how alone I was.

I worked at a hotel , this normal life you know. My days were mostly the same. On the reception pick calls, Listen to customers talk about their favorite songs or books. Close up. Go home. Repeat.

When I couldn’t sleep, I painted. Not because I thought I was some big artist. I just needed something to keep my hands busy.

Growing up, my mom and I were close, but there was always this space between us. The space where my father should’ve been.

Whenever I asked about him, she’d shut down., So I stopped asking. But inside, I always wondered who he was. And why he didn’t want me.

ARIEL

Before Alice, my life was always moving, but I felt stuck.

I was twenty-six and worked as a music producer. I spent long nights in studios with flashing lights and booming speakers. I’d be surrounded by people, but it felt like no one really knew me.

My dad, Michael  as I heard his name since he was barely around growing up. He’d show up suddenly, wearing nice clothes, smiling like he was proud of me. He’d stay for a few weeks, acting like a dad. Then he’d leave again, like he couldn’t breathe in the same place for too long.

Every time he disappeared, I’d tell myself I didn’t care. But I always did.

So I stayed busy. Made beats. Partied. Hooked up. Told myself I didn’t need anyone to stay.

ALICE

The day I met Ariel, it was raining. Not pouring, just this soft, steady rain that made the street look shiny.

I was fixing a shelf of vinyl records when the bell above the door rang. I looked up and saw this guy standing there, dripping rain onto the floor.

He wore a black hoodie under a leather jacket, dark hair wet and falling into his eyes. He looked around the shop like he was searching for something he’d lost.

He read my name tag and smiled in this slow, warm way that made my stomach flip.

I felt my face heat .

I blinked.The Little Mermaid?”

He laughed.

I laughed so hard I snorted, which was embarrassing. But he just kept smiling like he loved that sound.

Right there, something inside me clicked into place.

ARIEL

I wasn’t planning to go into Beckett’s that day.

I’d just left a recording session where everything went wrong, and I was pissed off. I needed to cool off, and the shop window caught my eye.

When I walked in, the smell of old books and coffee hit me. And then I saw Alice.

She wore an oversized sweater with paint smudges on the sleeves. Her hair was tied up messily. She had this quiet energy about her, like she was trying not to take up too much space. But when she laughed, it felt like the whole place lit .

She tucked her hair behind her ear and grinned.

Those words stuck in my head for days.

ALICE

Ariel came back the next day. And the day after that.

At first, he pretended he was there for eating. Then he started bringing me coffee. He’d lean against the counter and talk to me about music, art, random stuff that made me laugh until my sides hurt.

Soon, I found myself waiting for him every day. Checking the clock. Hoping he’d come in.

We started sharing playlists. He’d text me links to songs he thought I’d like. I’d send him photos of my half-finished paintings.

One evening, he stayed in the hotel until closing. He helped me lock up, then we stood outside under the awning, watching the rain.

We ended up at a tiny diner, eating greasy fries and talking about everything.

ARIEL

I didn’t mean to fall for her.

But it happened fast.

Alice looked at me like she saw right through the bullshit. Like she didn’t care about the music scene or who I’d worked with. She cared about me.

One night, we were closing the shop together. She was reaching for a box on a high shelf, standing on her toes. Her sweater slid up, showing a sliver of skin. I tried not to stare, but it was impossible.

She lost her balance, and I grabbed her around the waist to steady her.

She looked up at me, eyes wide, and whispered,

And then I kissed her.

ALICE

That kiss changed everything.

After that, we were together all the time. He’d come over to my apartment. We’d eat pizza on the floor. He’d lie beside me while I painted.

Sometimes, we’d go for long walks, talking about our lives.

One night, curled up on my couch under his hoodie, I told him the thing I usually kept locked away..”

I felt him stiffen beside me.

I laughed, thinking he was joking.same name,” 

I wanted to believe him.

ARIEL

When she said my dad’s name, my stomach dropped.

But I kept telling myself it couldn’t be the same guy. It was just a weird coincidence.

I didn’t want to ruin what we had. So I pushed it down.

ALICE

But I couldn’t stop thinking about it.

It started eating at me.

So one day, while my mom was out, I went through her old boxes in the closet.

I found letters. Pictures. And finally, my birth certificate.

Father: Michael Laurent.

It was the same man.

ARIEL

When she came to my apartment, I knew something was wrong.

She was shaking, holding a stack of papers. Her eyes were red..dad is my dad too.”

My whole body felt numb.

ALICE

I tried to explain everything. Showed him the letters, the pictures. our fathers.”

I felt like I was choking. The man I loved was my brother.

ARIEL

All I could say was “we didn’t know Alice we didn’t know “. know.”

But that didn’t change what we were.

ALICE

We tried to see each other again. Just to talk.

We met at our diner. The same one where we had greasy fries on our first date.

He was already sitting at a booth when I arrived. His eyes were red. He looked like he hadn’t slept. We tried to act normal. We talked about music. The shop. The weather. Anything but the truth.

But after a few minutes, we both went quiet.

ARIEL

I stared at her across that table and thought about how I used to trace her freckles. How her laugh was my favorite sound.i missed everything about her I wish I could turn back time, we were perfect I knew it was too good to be true. My Alice was now my half sister a tragedy right?” I said.“Me too.”

ALICE

I started crying so hard I couldn’t speak. i didn’t know what to do …I always thought me and Ariel wouldn’t separate I thought he was the one for me and he did everything to keep my trust for him.

But life has its ways, I never thought it would turn out like this like uhhh him turning out as a my half brother .like what ?why would life play a crazy cruel trick on us like I loved him and he loved him .

ARIEL

I got up from the table. I leaned down and kissed the top of her head.“Goodbye, Alice.”

Then I left.

ALICE

Now, sometimes I walk past the by where we used to sit  .The spot where he first kissed me.

I still have his playlist saved on my phone.

I still have his hoodie.

Sometimes, late at night, I whisper it to myself:

Because we were.

Too much the same.