"Oh my gosh, I'm doing it! Look, Justin! Look!" The girl screamed, laughing her head off. "Don't hit any ducks, 'sis!" Her look-alike called, watching her carefully from the dock.

The lake was a gorgeous crystal blue, and it met the sky with a glare.

The girl skated over to the dock and pulled off her dripping water skis. "How was I?" She giggled, jumping on her brother. "Well, I mean I could have done better, but…" The boy smirked playfully. "Yeah," She scoffed, "Says the guy who couldn't even get on the boat!" "Water has sharks, Maria!" He threw his hands in the air. "It's a lake." She frowned, then smiled, showing her shiny mouth full of silver. "Lighten up! When you lose your power to laugh…" "You lose your power to think straight." The boy finished with a sigh. She shot him a hopeful grin, and he couldn't help but smile back. Their grandfather's watch contained that quote, engraved on the inside. Maria pulled her twin towards the car, and they danced through the grass.

That was the twins’ first summer waterskiing. They came every summer after that, perfecting their skills. Maria even got Justin to try. Five summers of happiness, quickly snatched away by the depths of the lake.
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Justin huddles in the corner of his bedroom, sniffling as he leans his head back against the wall. The memories are too much for him, especially on their birthday. The salty tears sting his contacts, and his eyes burn as he stumbles toward the bathroom to remove them. He stares at himself in the mirror, and cringes at his reflection. It looks like he got hit by a couple of trucks.

"Time for dinner, Justin!" A tired voice calls from downstairs. "Coming," He mumbles, even though no one can hear him.

Suddenly, he catches a whiff of strawberry lip-gloss. That does it. His knees buckle under him, and he crashes to the ground. His fingers grace the floor as he traces patterns on the tile, his tears forming a puddle.

It can't be. It isn't. Maria wore that strawberry lip-gloss 24/7; she couldn't live without it. It annoyed him to death, since he was allergic. But now he almost shuts down.

Nope-- he's not imagining it because he catches another whiff. He stands up with a wobble, and against his will, follows the scent. It leads him up the creaky stairs and into their small attic. The scent is so strong now that he can almost taste it.

"Maria?" He calls, his voice breaking. "If you're here, can you please talk to me? I miss you. More than anything in the world!" His tone cracks, and he falls to his knees, trembling. "Please."

The scent only gets stronger, and somehow he knows she's there. "I've lost my power to think straight." He shrugs and gives a poignant laugh. "You were the laughter. There's two sides to this equation, and I'm missing one variable." Talking math again, Maria would crack a joke. "You may be older, but you were certainly wiser. If I could take back last summer, I would. I'm so sorry!" He cries, salty tears streaming down his face in the dark, cold attic. "I'm sorry you drowned, I'm sorry I couldn't save you, and I'm sorry I'm a horrible brother!" He yells and collapses into a shell, rocking back and forth.

"Justin."

He whips his head up, and his voice cracks, "Maria?"

"It's not your fault." A warm whisper tickles his ear. His tears slow, and he listens. "I love you, twin 'sis." He says quietly.

Do his ears deceive him? Or did he just hear a giggle?

"Think straight."

While her last message resonates in his heart, he feels her presence disappear forever.