My Twin, My Butterfly

By Collena McMinn

                 Characters

LYSANDRA: Supportive friend who tries to help Emberlyn navigate her grief. She is empathetic and caring, often putting others’ needs before her own. Despite her own struggles, she remains a pillar of strength for Emberlyn.

EMBERLYN: Central character dealing with the recent discovery of her twin’s sister’s death. Her journey through grief and acceptance is the main focus of the play.

                 Setting of the Soliloquy

Location: The setting is a cozy, intimate living room in Emberlyn’s apartment. The room filled with personal touches that reflect Emberlyn’s personality and interests, such as books, plants, and framed photographs. The atmosphere is warm but currently tinged with a sense of melancholy due to recent events.

Time: The play takes place in the present day, in California. During the late afternoon, the soft, golden light of the setting sun filters through the windows, casting long shadows and creating a somber yet hopefully ambiance.

                  Stage Setup

                     Furniture and Props

Couch: Central piece, where much of the action takes place. Should be comfortable, slightly worn, indicating frequent use.

Coffee Table: Front of the couch, cluttered with tissues. Glass container with live butterfly. Few personal items like books and a photo frame.

Desk: One side of the stage, picture frame that Emberlyn will interact with during the play.

Butterfly Container: A square, glass container on the coffee table, with a live butterfly, symbolizing Emberlyn’s connection to her sister.

Broken Glass: Scattered picture frame Emberlyn throws, adding to the chaotic emotional state.

Tissues: On the coffee table, for emotional moments.

Water Glass: Used in the scene where Lysandra tries to comfort Emberlyn.

Door: Opposite side of the desk, however the same wall the picture frame hits.

Door 2: Lysandra will go out to retrieve the water glass.

                      Costumes

LYSANDRA: Casual, comfortable clothes: reflecting supportive, empathetic nature. Wearing a soft sweater, jeans with minimal accessories. Neutral colors: symbolize her role as a calming presence in Emberlyn’s life.

Emberlyn: Casual, slightly disheveled clothing: reflecting her emotional turmoil. Wearing loose-fitting top and comfortable pants, with signs of wear and torn. Muted colors: symbolize her grief and emotional state.

FADE IN

                                    LYSANDRA enters EMBERLYN front door. Emberly sits on the couch reading a book.

LYSANDRA: Is that butterfly new?

EMBERLYN: (Sad, smiles) No, she ‘been there for a while, ‘least four or five days.

LYSANDRA: Oh, she is beauty one. Sorry, if I saw her yesterday, I would have brought a mate. (chuckles)

                                    EMBERLYN leans over taps the glass on the coffee table contains a butterfly. Pick up a tissue, pretend to read.

EMBERLYN: Yeah. There was a yellow butterfly gently dancing around me last week. On Tuesday, I took it as a sign, so here she is.

 LYSANDRA: Really? You know, butterflies... follow you around- that means something. Means...

EMBERLYN: (Grabs more tissues for her tears) Yeah. It might not be the same one, but I took it as a transformative journey mirroring the human soul’s -my sister. My sister passed away last week. (pause) I felt this connection... this deep spiritual... following me around. I knew I needed to bring her home.

                                           LYSANDRA next to the coffee table, tapping the glass.

LYSANDRA: (Astound) I’m so sorry, Emberlyn. Who? Sister? Did I hear right? A sister? I didn’t know. Wait... did you know you had a sister? Wow, Em.

LYSANDRA: Really?  How are you holding up? Do you need anything? Sister? Wow.

EMBERLYN:(Speaks crackle) Twins, actually. It was a shock, at first. Now... I... feel lied to all my life. (pause) It’s been tough but seeing this butterfly- felt like she was trying embracing me, for the first time. I felt...the butterfly- “her”- bring our universal together for the first time.

LYSANDRA: (Fretting) That’s beautiful.  Maybe it’s her way she wanted to be with you before her soul passes on to another journal.

EMBRLYN: (Weeps) I’d like to think so. The butterfly- She brings me some comfort. But why? Why wasn’t I told about her? Why was her life kept secret from me?

LYSANDBRA: Oh Em, Idon’t know. I’m at a loss for words. I know it is hard.

EMBERLYN: I am hurting... It hurts. There was another part of me out there. My world could be so different right now.  

                                         LYSANDRA gets up, sits next to Emberlyn and gently takes her hands with one hand then embraces with the other. Both start to cry.

LYSANDRA: Oh, oh, oh, oh, Em. I am so, so, sorry. Everything will be okay. There has to be a reason, you weren’t told about her.

EMBERLYN: (Falsify smiles) I know. I will be okay, thank you Lysandra. I really need a friend- you right now. You know, not many people told. Once everyone finds out, they would be in shock like I. “Yeah, a twin” I would repeat over and over with a fake smile. This is so unfair.  

LYSANDRA: Don’t keep this in, Emberlyn. It’s best to talk about it. Keeping this- (finding the right word) this- is just not healthy to hold in.

EMBERLYN: (Needs to move around to stay calm.)  I know... but this hurts, very badly. Shock at finding out that I am a twin. A TWIN. That’s lots of lost time. Could-be life history or memories-GONE. NEVER HAPPEN.

LYSANDRA: (Lightly) How, may I ask, help take this pain away?

EMBERLYN: I didn’t know her at all. I wonder... was she aware of me? Whoever raised her mention me? She should have known- I should have known. There has been tells, that twins once separated, they have six senses or something-there they call telepath feelings, smells, thoughts-SOMETHING!

                                               LYSANDRA reaches for Emberlyn feels her tighten up. Leaves to retrieves tissues on the coffee table to give to her.

LYSANDRA...