The Carbon Copy #Wattys2016

Prologue

"Do you really have to go?"

Orion stood in the doorway to his brother's room, his hands balled into fists by his sides. With great disdain, he watched as Shen robotically lifted a stack of T-shirts from his bed and placed it inside an open suitcase, adding to the array of clothing. He kept his back to Orion, too engrossed in his actions to answer the question.

So Orion asked it again. This time, with more emotion lacing his words—his heart was a heavy stone in his chest.

Shen took a deep breath, and straightened. He still didn't turn to look at his brother.

"You know I do. You've known for months," Shen said, with an edge to his voice. He bent over and began piling clothes again, his pace a tad more elevated.

"I did, but..." Orion looked down at his slippers. His eyes stung, so he rubbed them with the edge of his sleeve. "Why didn't you tell me that you were going to Colombia? You've could've gone to any of the others, that were closer..." He rambled on and on, his thoughts a jumbled mess in his head, his mouth loose.

Shen closed the drawer to his dresser. A little too aggressively perhaps; it jolted Orion into silence, and himself into a stunned pause. Then, as if nothing happened, he sat down on the bed.

He dragged both hands through his short black hair, then adjusted his round-frame glasses.

"Come here," Shen said quietly, patting the empty space beside him.

Orion swallowed, then obliged. The mattress squeaked under their combined weight.

"I'm sorry I didn't tell you earlier," Shen began, rubbing his thumb and forefinger against each other, "But I just couldn't bring myself to do it. I knew you'd be upset." He looked straight ahead, at the grim cardboard boxes that lined the walls. All evidence of Shen ever living there was now packed away, soon to disappear along with him. New York was a whole five states away—weekly visits were impossible.

"You did it on purpose," Orion said slowly, coming to terms with reality.

"What?" Shen's head rotated towards him, his eyes wide with disbelief, "What makes you say that?"

"Because of how far it is. You're running away...from Mom, Dad...m—"

Shen wrapped his arms around his brother in a strong, heart-felt embrace. Orion stiffened. He tried to remain composed, he really did. But he soon found himself melting into Shen's arms, allowing the waterworks to switch on.

Tears rolled down his cheeks and stained his brother's shirt, but neither seemed to care.

"You can't go! You can't leave me behind with them!"

Once Shen was gone, their parents would make Orion's life a living hell.

They wanted him to become their eldest son's exact replica, a carbon copy, despite the two having very different personalities. Despite the two being unique human beings.

Shen pulled away, and gently cupped Orion's face with both hands, "Look at me."

He did.

"Don't cry, I'm not leaving forever! I'll still come over and visit." He smiled broadly, revealing perfect teeth.

"Promise?" Orion sniffed.

His brother opened his mouth to reply but—

"Shen come down, your friend is here!" Came their mother's silvery voice from somewhere downstairs.

"I'm coming Ah Ma!" Shen yelled back. He jumped off the bed and zipped his suitcase shut, dragging it onto the floor afterwards. "Be good okay?" He patted Orion's shoulder and yanked up the handle, "Good luck for your first day of high-school next week. Show them what the Zhou's are made of."

Shen winked, then left without saying another word, his over-filled suitcase rattling behind him.