Sennef and Penna realize their uniqueness
They found their way to the center of the city, where there was a
beautiful fountain, with a shallow pool encircled by a stone ledge on
which people could sit.
"Let’s stop here, my sister," Sennef said.
"Good idea," Penna agreed. "Let’s give our bodies and minds a
rest from these strange new things."
Penna caught a glimpse, from deep in the shadows of one of the
shops, a pair of eyes looking directly at them. "There must be so
many interesting things and new people in Renlar," she said, "that
some people just look at anything new to the city."
"I guess you can say we’re new to the city," Sennef chuckled.
"But looking at all these new things makes me think of how close
you and I have been since we were small children.
Sennef and Penna stood and looked at each other.
"I always cherish any time we have alone together with no one
else around to interfere, my brother," Penna said.
"Now, with our usual world stripped away," Sennef said, "I feel as
if there are parts of each other we’ve just met for the first time,
even though they had grown up together in the same house."
Penna chuckled. "I’m not surprised that I feel the same thing. I
think this new look at ourselves could affect us both for the rest of
our lives."
Taking each of Sennef’s hands in each of hers and looking into
his eyes, Penna opened their brother-sister heart channel further:
"You know, my brother, that there is no one else on Nenmar, or
Earth for that matter, like you and me. Everyone else here is either
all Nenmaran like Mom, or all human like Dad."
"I know, my sister," Sennef replied. "I’ve been thinking about it
in a very deep way. Mom is fascinated with us and proud of us, her
very own children. But she can’t feel things the way we do; neither
can Dad. Listening to both of them, I know beyond all doubt that
they love us dearly. Still, I’m not sure how to think about the "us"
that we are. I wish I could end my confusion and my heart would
come to rest."
"My heart is restless too," Penna replied. "I want so much to be
every part of me. Sometimes I think I’m too hungry to be every facet
of me for my own good. I think we both have the same needs. I
keep reaching out, further and further, until I’m stretched beyond
imagining. But I see you, my brother, coping with the same
unanchoredness in a different way. I see you keep reaching inside
you, further and further, until you’re so inside yourself that even the
close things of the outside world are shut off from the real Sennef I
know is in there. You and I can fool Mom and Dad, in different ways;
but you cannot fool me, and I cannot fool you. We are identical.
Please, talk to me totally; I know that you know that I totally love
you, my brother, and that you totally love me, your sister."
"I know you’re right, my dear sister," Sennef said. His voice was
hoarse, as their eyes watered with their soul level communication.
"And I do love you totally, with an understanding no one else can."
"Don’t make the special parts of you be alone in the world,"
Penna pleaded. "Together or apart, we will always have each other.
Now, please, share that special self you have with me, as I share
mine with you."
Penna sighed, and Sennef sighed after her. They sat down again
to rest.
"I’m too drained emotionally to talk about much of anything
right now," Sennef said. "I suppose it will take us a lifetime to
express to each other everything in our hearts and souls, as only
you and I can."
"Then let’s take a lifetime," Penna replied. "After crossing the
boundary we just crossed a moment ago, there’s no going back. We
never can be the old identical shallow kids we were just this
morning. Because we are so unique in the galaxy, we will be the
closest brother and sister anywhere, mind to mind, heart to heart,
soul to soul."
Penna paused and sighed again. Then she added: "But that
doesn’t mean we can’t enjoy life, and chuckle and laugh and be
happy. That’s part of being us too."
Sennef smiled and nodded his affirmation. "I’m glad we cleared
our minds. We’ve been growing to this all our lives, you know. Now
we can really enjoy the city, my sister. Don’t you think?"
"Absolutely!"
"Let’s go on then!"