After parking the plane, the captain and his first officer followed protocol by waiting for all passengers to disembark before leaving the cockpit. When it was their turn to leave, Edward opened the cockpit door and saw the flight purser talking to a man who refused to leave the plane.

“Everything good here?” Edward asked, approaching them.

The flight purser nodded. “I’ll give you guys some time.” She smiled before walking towards the back of the plane.

Edward was confused about why she wanted to leave him alone with the passenger until he realized what she meant. There stood a man who looked exactly like him. Before he could say anything, the man spoke.

“Hello, Edward,” the stranger said, his voice eerily calm. “Or should I say, brother?”

Edward felt a chill run down his spine. “Brother?” he echoed, staring at the man who could have been his mirror image. “I don’t have a brother.”

The man chuckled softly. “That’s what they told you, isn’t it? That you were an only child, no siblings, no family secrets. But it’s not true, Edward. I’m James, your twin.”

Edward’s mind raced, trying to process this revelation. He had no recollection of any siblings, and his parents had never mentioned a twin. “Why now?” he asked, his voice barely a whisper. “Why are you telling me this now?”

James took a deep breath, his expression turning serious. “Because our mother is dying. She wants to see us together, one last time. She never told you about me because… well, it’s a long story, and it’s not one that paints our family in the best light. But now, there’s no more time for secrets.”

Edward felt a mix of emotions—shock, confusion, and a deep sense of betrayal. “Why didn’t she tell me?” he demanded, feeling his anger rise. “Why keep us apart all these years?”

James sighed. “She had her reasons, Edward. Our father… he wasn’t the man you thought he was. There were things he did, things she wanted to protect you from. But now, she wants to make amends. She wants us to be a family, even if it’s just for a short while.”

Edward stood there, grappling with the truth. The life he had known was suddenly thrown into chaos by this stranger who looked just like him. “I need time to think,” he said finally, running a hand through his hair. “This is too much to take in all at once.”

James nodded understandingly. “I understand. But please, Edward, don’t take too long. Time is running out for our mother, and she needs us both.”

Edward watched as James turned and walked down the aisle, leaving him alone in the empty plane. He felt like his entire world had been turned upside down. With a deep breath, he resolved to find out the truth, no matter how painful it might be. He owed it to himself, and to the family he never knew he had.

As he walked out of the plane, Edward’s mind was filled with questions. He needed to see his mother, to hear the truth from her lips. And for the first time in his life, he was faced with the reality that his past was not what it seemed, and his future was now irrevocably tied to a brother he never knew existed.