The Shadow Behind the Spotlight

Being famous isn’t always something to be happy about or proud of. Sometimes what others see is very different from what’s actually happening. Receiving love from many people? Not all famous people experience that beautiful thing.

Clara, a sweet girl adored by many. Beautiful, smart, and charming. Her beautiful face and voice have successfully captivated the hearts of her fans. She is a successful solo singer on the international stage.

However, no one knows the truth behind her success. Clara isn’t Clara. Yes, you read that right. Clara is Caitlyn. They are identical twins who share the same talent: singing.

Caitlyn was forced by circumstances to take over the role of her twin sister, who was a soloist. While she was far from home, her parents suddenly contacted her to come visit.

She had no other thoughts in her mind. She didn’t care what the invitation meant. All she could think about was that she could finally be reunited with her family after so long apart and living on her own.

“You have to take your sister’s place, Caitlyn.”

The words pierced straight through Caitlyn’s being without warning. The happiness she’d felt just moments ago vanished just as quickly, along with the words that slipped so easily from her father’s mouth. Time and again, she had to be her sister’s shadow.

Refuse? Of course. But what could Caitlyn do? She couldn’t even defy her parents’ will, who always prioritized her twin sister—especially now that Clara was pregnant. Yes, Clara was currently pregnant, and the identity of the baby’s father was unknown.

Clara was indeed talented and a famous singer, but she was also an artist with many scandals. There had been plenty of gossip and rumors circulating due to her poor behavior. Finally, her manager discovered she was pregnant because of her carelessness.

Caitlyn could only comply, of course. From the moment she began her day—when she became Clara—that’s when her life changed completely. There was no more peace or tranquility. The love she longed for was never hers. Instead, she received nothing but insults and abuse every single day.

At the agency, she was constantly met with scornful stares from the staff. She faced bullying from the public who hated her, and even on social media, the barrage of insults against her never ceased.

Caitlyn knew she shouldn’t have to feel this way, but facing so much of it left her stressed. She even had to see a psychologist to seek professional advice so she wouldn’t lose her mind.

The climax came when she was pelted with a rotten egg by some fans while at the airport. Not only did she face cruel treatment, but she was also forced to hear and swallow—raw—utterly inappropriate insults.

It hurts. Her feelings are deeply wounded. In times like this, she hopes someone will offer her support. Nothing. Not even her family cares. They’re actually celebrating the birth of baby Clara.

Caitlyn could only cry in her big house. It was quiet and empty. There was no hope left for her. Want to give up? She couldn’t. She couldn’t escape this vicious cycle. Whatever she did would always be wrong in her parents’ eyes. One idea currently on her mind was to disappear. She wanted to vanish to a place where no one could find her.

No one suspected that what Caitlyn meant was to meet her death. The sweet young girl who had lost her golden years had now vanished forever, leaving deep regret for those who had hurt her, as well as a note that read:

“Caitlyn is not Clara.”

Read my other work, The Light That Once Faded