Life Stolen By My Twin Brother

My parents suddenly told me that we were living in a novel.

I was the frail and favored younger brother destined to get into college, marry my childhood sweetheart, and live an easy life.

My older brother, Daniel Luther, on the other hand, was the expendable one. He was destined to fail his SAT and be beaten to death.

My parents said that if they wanted to save him, they had to make sure he got into college.

They did everything they could to help him, but he still failed his SAT.

Meanwhile, I got into the same college as my childhood sweetheart, Priscilla Grimmie, through my own hard work.

That night, my parents snatched my college acceptance letter and locked me in a cellar under the backyard.

"Let your brother take your place and go to college first. You can retake your exams next year."

My foot slipped, and I hit my head hard against a canning jar.

Warm blood trickled down my neck. I shouted, "Mom, it hurts!"

She didn't even turn around.

"Caleb, stop it! Your brother is one step away from his dreams!"

Their footsteps gradually faded.

I slowly closed my eyes.

The next time I opened my eyes, I was already floating in midair.

I looked down. My body was still on the ground. There was a pool of blood under my head. I had long stopped breathing. I was dead.

My spirit passed through the cellar door and drifted toward the house.

The house was brightly lit.

My parents, Daniel, and Priscilla were all gathered around the table.

My mom was forcing the acceptance letter stamped with 'Staghorn College' into Daniel's hands.

"Daniel, from today on, you will become Caleb. Take this and go to Staghorn City with Priscilla."

Daniel didn't take it. He backed away with tears in his eyes.

"Mom, Caleb is still locked in the cellar. He's always been weak.

"Let Caleb go to college instead. I promise I won't go out on the first day of college. I won't die."

Tears streamed down Mom's face.

"You can stay in for one day, but can you do that for the rest of your life?"

My dad clutched his hair and sighed.

"We've tried. Caleb tutored you for so long. You understand everything normally, but you still failed the SAT.

"And Caleb passed. That's the fate of your contrasting roles!"

Daniel started crying and shaking his head desperately.

"During the test, all I could think about was what you said. If I failed, I'd die. I was so nervous my mind went blank, that's why–"

"That's fate!" Mom cut him off.

Priscilla had been sitting quietly in the corner the whole time.

She finally looked up.

"Daniel, you should go. Caleb is smart. He can get in next year."

I drifted up to her.

She used to cling to me, saying we'd go to college together and live in the city.

But now, there was only conflict in her eyes.

"We grew up together. I can't watch you die. Caleb will understand."

I cried right in front of her.

'Priscilla, of course I would understand, but Mom and Dad already think I'd make a fuss.

'I'm dead. I'm in so much pain.'

She couldn't hear me.

Dad latched onto her words like a lifeline.

"Even Priscilla says so! She likes your brother and is still willing to prioritize helping you!"

Daniel looked at her and trembled as he cried. "But this is stealing his life–"

Priscilla stood up and walked over to him.

"It's borrowing, and it's only for a year. We'll wait for Caleb at college."

My parents exchanged a look and nodded at him.

I floated between them. Memories came flooding back.

After my parents awakened to the truth, everything changed.