HIDDEN TREASURES 

By Tessa Harvey


    Jess stared at the young woman lying, still unconscious on the bed. The face, no longer wrapped around with bandages, mirrored her own. She began to shake slightly. People did not have "doppelgangers," the German word for doubles. Yes, lookalikes, but not identical. What had separated them?
    Then the young woman opened her eyes - deep, deep blue with flecks of green. She stared at Jess. "My sister, finally. A treasure from darkness. Jessica. Remember me?" Lilla?"
    Then she closed her eyes, smiling. The doctor was delighted. "No more coma!" she exclaimed. "Now she sleeps. Much better."
    Quickly she re-bandaged Lilla and left, patting Jess on the shoulder.
    "I have to go," she explained. "I will send the nurse with tea for you, and sugar. Now you can be happy, yes?"
    But Jess was remembering. For a long time, she had been ill after the car accident, remembering little. The loss of her parents had been too great. But how had the twins - for that is what they must surely be, been separated.
    It was not possible. But she was remembering - two little girls playing among light green ferns.


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