Aqsa Rahman
Bonded Relations
In this world, the bond between blood is thicker than water. However, even as it may be
thicker than water, it does not always mean that it is a harmonious bond. Moreover, the bond
between twins is precious within itself to the point that if it ever breaks, it shatters. Within the
article ‘To Love Your Sister Is to Grieve Your Twin’ by Tomi Obaro it is explained the relation
between twins, which gives a deeper reference to the title itself.
The text talks about the importance of twins in the beginning, how they are a miracle and
blessing, especially to those of the Native African tribes. The structure refers to the life story of a
loved pair of twins named “Dami (Oluwadamilola) and Tomi (Oluwatomilola)” who were born
twenty-five minutes apart in the Yoruba tribe after their beloved father prayed and prayed for
their blessing to be bestowed upon the family as their tribe was known to be blessed with twins.
Moreover, on the other hand, each paragraph depicted within the article refers to major stages
of the girls’ life and relation with each other. However, it also refers to the point when eventually,
one of the twins sought out to be independent and did not agree with her other half’s views, thus
leaving home for a few years. Within the text, when that was occurring, the writing shows the
stages of the twin growing apart, and how bit by bit one started to let go of her roots and sought
out the world instead. This gradual change within the bond of the twins represents the title of the
article. As after the sisters finally grew apart and became distant rather than how close they
were in childhood, they considered themselves no longer bonded and their love at one point for
the other diminished.
Furthermore, this fact presents the specific meaning of the text to the readers in the sense of
bond and the duration of sibling relations within childhood as they can also relate to the fact of
sibling relations, if they themselves are close to their siblings or twins as well. Bonds have a
deep meaning to people, and those with blood relations are obviously stronger as the love and
hate magnanimously balance each other out. In this case, the twins had deep love for each
other, however as they grew up and shifted into their own lives, they moved on to their own
worlds with their own views, and the fear of showing their vulnerability kept them hesitating on
true feelings and yearnings, thus alienating their bond.
In the end, the structure and style of the text deeply represent the meaning behind the text to
the readers because it represents the love and relation behind a sibling, more specifically a twin;
in which the bond and emotions are generally stronger than the usual case scenarios.
Presenting the life story and the bond between the twins gave the emphasis of the desired
meaning to the viewers as it let them experience the twins' lives as well, thus allowing them to
relate to their own sibling relations and reflect upon them, understanding the context clearly.
Thus, to love your sister is to grieve your twin because certain relations may have boundaries
that no other can find except those that experience them.