Our Little Big Story

Anna 'retired' to her room earlier than usual that night, heeding the advice of her elders. She knew she had to have as much of her beauty sleep in order to rival the radiance of the morning sun the next day. As she closed her room doors shut behind her, she could still make out the hustle and bustle of the preparations downstairs.

Anna's soulful eyes were transfixed unto her stunning Vera Wang wedding gown, hanging from the handle of her old wardrobe. She ran her hands through the hemlines of her dress and she lulled into every young girl's fantasy that encompasses a wedding befitting a princess. Half of her wanted so much to start a new chapter with her soon to be husband but the other half of her seemed reluctant to part with her doting parents and her adorable younger sister.

It wasn't easy she sighed, to share a room with a 'stranger' whom she loved so dearly, after spending the vast majority of her life sharing a bed with her younger sister. At least twice the size she was, Anna coyly smiled as she thought about how they always fought for bed space. As much as she hated the fact that her sister inevitably shoved her to the ends of the mattress, somehow, Anna knew she was going to miss her sister terribly.

Anna stood by the window sill, the silvery light from the crescent moon embracing her rosy cheeks. The white wedding tents stood majestically in the lawn of her family house. Rose bushes lined the garden edges, fresh with blooming flowers, as if they knew they had to look extra pretty the next day.

The white jasmine flowers looked as though they naturally grew out from the custom crafted arches where both bride and groom shall exchange their vows during the ceremony. Anna pictured herself standing there with her husband, with flower girls en towed, looking delightfully charming like the flower petals that trailed the wedding couple's footsteps.

Anna cupped her delicate hands together as she transcended into a moment of solitude to offer a quick quiet prayer to God for blessing her with this stupefying splendor of a wedding that played endlessly in possibly every girls' mind.

Anna was disrupted by a loud rap on the door before her younger sister let herself into the room for possibly the last night that both sisters would spend genuine quality time with each other. Agnes, the younger of the two went straight to Anna and blanketed her with her large frame, already sensing the loss.

Anna reciprocated with a bear hug of her own, though she was almost hidden within Agnes's large frame. Both sisters sobbed tears mixed with joy and sadness but no words were exchanged. Only the echoes of the crickets provided some sort of night time melody but the sisters were oblivious to it all. Sometimes, silence speaks more clearly what words fail to convey.

That night, both sisters sat cross legged on the bed as they talked like how all loving sisters do. They talked about mostly happy times, from childhood, to school days, to the torrid times of having to fight for 5 more minutes in the bathroom or who shall sit at the vanity table first to beautify herself for work.

If one does not know the Osmond family, they would have never guessed in a million years that both Anna and Agnes are sisters in name and in blood. Anna, the older of the two boasted a svelte figure, with ample bosoms and sharp features. Her skin, smooth and milky, would make the fine porcelains weep in envy. Her hair flowed like the nile and it was never difficult for Anna to make friends wherever she went and the boys came tumbling down after her as well.

Agnes, a good 5 years younger on the other hand had excess flesh in all the wrong places, the result of persistent pampering from both her parents and grandparents. They had the same flawless skin and hair but sadly, it didn't matter because these were somehow obscured by Agnes's huge frame. As expected, Agnes didn't make friends easily at school, endlessly being scorned at for being fat. Naturally, the boys didn't want to be associated with her and all her life, Agnes has yet to discover what love felt like, what tingling sensations a boy's lips can bring, or what warmth, a boy's hands radiates when slipped in between her fingers.

That night, as both sisters sat and chatted the night away, Agnes looked as though she wanted to tell Anna something important but somehow, she held it back. Anna could feel it and she persisted. Noticing her sister's adamant resistance, she reluctantly withdrew her efforts. The day's events somehow got to the two sisters and after much thought, both sisters surrendered their heads unto the pillows, hugging each other, and hearing each others' breathing, for the last time before dear Anna gallops away with her prince into the charmed world that bestowed upon her.

The wedding was indeed befitting royalty. Smiles shot in from all angles along with their humble blessings for the couple and their families. The band provided much entertainment and kept the crowd in a joyous mood. It was hard to disagree that perhaps, this was really one hell of a wedding, a wedding meant to be remembered for many years indeed.

That night, as the last of the guests bid farewell to the hosts, so did the bride and groom. Tears filled the Osmond household as the bride hugged her family members one by one. It wasn't as if this was the last time they were going to see Anna, but somehow, it's a baffling unique phenomenon shared by all cultures whichever part of the world you came from. It was just a customary mark to officially hand over something precious, something you have fed and watch grow and blossom into a fine young woman.

Anna saved the last hug for her dear sister Agnes, and as the wedding car zoomed away, the Osmond household was drowned in a sombre silence, with streaks of tears showing on each and every one of the Osmonds' cheeks.

That night, as Anna was heaving herself to undress and wash up, her handphone ringed. It was a muffled ring and Anna managed to trace it in her bag just in time before the caller hung up. Anna was greeted with the voice of her best friend Suzy who was now living in London. Suzy drowned Anna with her well wishes for the wedding couple which lasted a whole of 5 mins. With her wedding gown half undone, Anna chucked her handphone onto the bed but she noticed something peculiar peeking out of her handbag.

Curiously, Anna pulled out the piece of white paper and unfolded it to reveal its contents. The paper reeked of a sweet pulsating smell of her favourite scent and it read:


To my 'Little' Big Sister,

No words can describe how genuinely happy I felt when I saw you up on the pedestal as the priest pronounced you man and wife. You looked beautiful, like a visiting angel that disobeyed God's orders to stay in the Heavens.

I knew from the moment Marcus came into your life that he will be the rainbow shining in your skies. I sincerely hope that he takes care of you as good as how Dad takes care of all of us. Though you're not far away, as you are reading this, I have already felt this sense of loss. Though this is not a bad kind of loss, it somehow made me cherish all the times we shared even more.

Sleeping in our old room shall never be the same again, and so does watching our favourite chick flicks over sinful Haagen Dazs Chocolate ice creams. Your presence still lingers in our house, and it shall always remain that way.

I know for a fact that I may never find a man to call my own because of the way I look but I shall be secretly waiting, though hope is fast wilting away. Like what Mum always says, if good things do not happen to us in this life, perhaps there is something better awaiting us in the next.

You have always been the best part of my life and I hope now, you can be the best part of Marcus's life as well. I wish you two all the best and can't wait for your next visit. Till then....

Love, Your 'Big' Little Sister,
Agnes Anne Osmond