Growing up, my twin brother and I were like two halves of the same person. We were always together. I’m Aaron, and my twin brother is Dylan. We’re 28 now, but when we were kids, we were inseparable. I was the quiet one who liked reading and computers. Dylan was the outgoing one—great at sports, always making people laugh. We were total opposites, but best friends.
Things started to change when we went to college. Dylan stayed close to home in Arizona, while I moved to Portland to study computer science. I loved it there—the coffee, the rain, the cozy bookstores. After college, I got a job, made good friends, and met my girlfriend, Megan, who I’ve been with for over a year and a half now.
Even though I moved away, I stayed close with my family. I always came home for holidays, birthdays, and important events. So when Dylan posted online that he got engaged, I was really happy for him. I messaged him right away to say congratulations. He told me they were planning an engagement party soon, and I asked him to let me know the date so I could fly in.
But he never did.
Weeks went by. I kept asking, but he and my parents just gave vague answers like, “We’ll let you know,” or “Nothing’s set yet.” I even messaged Dylan again, but he never replied.
Then one day, my favorite aunt texted me saying she was sad I didn’t come to the engagement party. I was confused. “What party?” I asked. I thought it was just a small dinner.
She sent me a photo.
It wasn’t a small dinner. Dylan had rented out a whole restaurant. There were 80 people there—friends, cousins, even distant relatives. Everyone was there… except me.
My aunt was shocked when I told her I was never invited. She said they told everyone I couldn’t make it. That’s when I realized I wasn’t just forgotten—I was left out on purpose.
When I asked my family about it, they acted like it was no big deal or said it was just a mistake. But deep down, I knew the truth. I had been left out, and nobody wanted to admit why.
I started to wonder: Did I do something wrong? Did Dylan’s fiancée, Hailey, not like me? Was it something from the past? I remembered a time when Hailey accidentally hugged me, thinking I was Dylan. We all laughed, but maybe Dylan didn’t. Maybe that moment changed something for him.
I kept trying to reconnect. At Christmas and Easter, I visited, hoping we could talk, but the air felt heavy. Everyone avoided the topic. At our sister Jamie’s birthday, I finally got the truth. She told me, “It’s because you moved away. It’s like you’re not really part of the family anymore. You make things feel weird.”
That hit me hard.
A few months later, I got a wedding invitation in the mail. I wasn’t part of the wedding party. Jamie and our younger brother Kyle were, but not me. Megan, my girlfriend, didn’t even get a plus-one invite, even though she had met everyone and had been kind to them.
I felt like I was being invited just to keep up appearances—not because they wanted me there.
So I didn’t RSVP.
The day of the wedding, no one contacted me until an hour before the ceremony. Suddenly, my phone blew up with texts and calls. My mom finally called and yelled, “Where are you?!”
I answered calmly and said, “In Portland. Where you all seem to prefer me to be.”
She was shocked.
I told her, “If I really mattered, someone would have checked in when I didn’t RSVP. Or when I missed the rehearsal. Or when I didn’t show up last night. But no one did. You’re only upset now because other people noticed I’m missing.”
She tried to respond, but I wasn’t done.
“I wasn’t invited to the engagement party. I wasn’t included in anything. Jamie said I make people uncomfortable. You didn’t invite Megan. I wasn’t even given a seat at the family table. What was I supposed to do—just show up and sit alone?”
She didn’t say a word.
I ended the call by saying, “Tell everyone I said hi,” and hung up.
Later, I got angry messages from family calling me selfish and dramatic. But Megan just hugged me. She listened as I talked about how close Dylan and I used to be. How we shared birthday cakes. How I once took the blame for something he did because he was too scared to admit it.
Then Megan said something I’ll never forget:
“They didn’t cut you out because you changed. They cut you out because they didn’t want to adjust to the real you. You stopped pretending, and that made them uncomfortable.”
She was right.
I hadn’t changed into a different person. I just stopped trying to be someone they were okay with. Maybe I didn’t fit their idea of what a “family member” should be anymore.
And yeah, it still hurts. I miss them. Every wedding photo I see stings. But I also know this: I tried. I showed up for years. I gave love, time, and effort. And when it wasn’t returned, I stopped begging for a seat at the table.
I’m still the same Aaron who helped Jamie with homework, who bought Kyle his first video game, who helped Dylan pick out his prom suit.
But I’m also Aaron who built a new life. One where I’m seen, loved, and accepted for who I really am.
And that version of me? He’s not going anywhere.
Dedicated and experienced pet-related content writer with a passion for animals and a proven track record of creating engaging and informative content. Skilled in researching, writing, and editing articles that educate and inspire pet owners. Strong knowledge of animal behavior, health, and care, combined with a commitment to delivering high-quality content that resonates with audiences. Seeking to leverage writing skills and passion for pets to contribute to a dynamic and mission-driven team.