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00:00Hey there! I'm Christina. Hit that like button and smash subscribe to MSA for stories that'll make your head spin.
00:06But first, show your love for MSA with our awesome bottles and notebooks.
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00:12Life used to be all fun and games with my twin Nadia.
00:15We did everything together. Watched cartoons, played games, and even wore identical clothes.
00:19We were so alike, even our parents got mixed up.
00:22But as we grew older, things changed.
00:24We started liking different things, and by the time we were in fifth grade, everyone saw that Nadia was way smarter than me.
00:30Mom was a university teacher, and she was always talking about Nadia's good grades to everyone and giving her extra lessons.
00:37She tried with me once, but when I didn't understand quickly, she just sighed.
00:41Some kids shine, others don't.
00:43It made me feel bad. Nadia's study sessions grew longer, and our playtime disappeared, like our matching outfits.
00:49How about a cartoon break? For old time's sake!
00:51Can't. Mom thinks they're just a distraction now.
00:53And then, Mom started giving me more and more house chores.
00:57At first, I didn't mind helping, but then I noticed she was doing it on purpose to keep me away from my sister.
01:02Leave your sister alone. She's studying. Go wash the dishes.
01:05But I just wanted a little help with my math.
01:07Ask your teacher for help. Nadia's busy, and those dishes aren't going to wash themselves.
01:12And after that, you can organize your closet.
01:15If you can't manage that mess, you're not going to get very far ahead in life.
01:18You don't always have to be like that.
01:20It's alright, Christina, honey. Let's go do the dishes together.
01:23Nadia and I were growing distant. Mom paid me no attention, and she and Dad fought a lot, mostly about the way she treated me.
01:29And I couldn't help feeling that I was the reason our family was tearing apart.
01:33Eventually, Mom and Dad split up, and I ended up moving out with Dad to a really dingy apartment.
01:39Look on the bright side, honey. Adventures await us.
01:42Adventures, huh? More like nightly mouse marathons and indoor rain.
01:46This place just needs a little love, and you can choose the decor. Pink for your room?
01:51Maybe black, just like my future. Surprisingly, I came home to find one wall in my room painted black.
01:57Dark moments show us how the little things can shine.
02:00He put bright flowers against the black wall.
02:03Notice how the colors stand out now?
02:05It's pretty, I guess.
02:06You'll understand someday. Always look for the bright spots.
02:09Positive thinking was tough, especially with school growing weirder by the day.
02:14Everyone at school thought of me as the other dumb sister.
02:17Even my teachers seemed to feel sorry for me.
02:19Christina, maybe put in some extra effort? You might surprise yourself.
02:23Sure, I'll ask Mom for help.
02:25Oh, wait. She's too busy with her star student.
02:28I left the classroom upset when I heard Nadia's voice behind me in the hallway.
02:32What's wrong now?
02:33Just another day of me growing tired of being compared to you.
02:36It's not my fault. I just keep to myself. It must be nice not worrying about anyone else.
02:41I was walking off, but Nadia grabbed my arm.
02:43Hey, listen. I know you're upset, but there's something I can't tell you right now.
02:47It's why I am the way I am now. Please trust me.
02:50Or maybe you're just self-absorbed, and that's some stupid, mysterious lie you made up
02:55to make yourself sound more interesting.
02:57Well, it's not working, cause not interested.
03:00Later, Nadia went to a fancy school for smart kids, and things got quiet.
03:05I missed her a lot, because even though we drifted apart, she was still my twin after all.
03:09And after that, I hardly saw her anymore.
03:12Even when I visited Mom's place, Mom was always too wrapped up in her own world,
03:16and I couldn't help but notice that among the family photos on the walls,
03:19there wasn't a single one of just me.
03:22On my 15th birthday, Dad had a big grin and said he had a surprise for me.
03:26Guess what? I've got a girlfriend!
03:29She's Italian and she owns a pet shop. Let's go see it.
03:32Vanessa's super cool. You'll see.
03:33We walked into the pet shop, and it was like a jungle.
03:36Instead of puppies and kittens, there were snakes and big bugs.
03:40Holy moly, what is this? Vanessa had a big snake around her neck and smiled.
03:45That's just Ziggy, my whip scorpion. He's nice once you get to know him.
03:49Vanessa was full of energy and made the scary animals seem cool.
03:53And this majestic creature is Mr. Bean, the python. He's quite the gentleman.
03:58I thought I was the man in your life.
04:00Oh, you are. But Mr. Bean here is the silent type, and he never complains about my cooking.
04:06The way they were flirting with each other was so cringy.
04:10On the drive back, Dad wouldn't stop talking about Vanessa, and it was too much.
04:14Dad, I like Vanessa, but I'm not ready for a new mom.
04:17He looked sad, but I had to say it. Next time he invited me out with them, I said no.
04:22It felt like everyone was moving on except me.
04:25Dad had Vanessa, Nadia was busy being smart, and here I was feeling stuck and unnoticed.
04:30Vanessa, the snake lady, started hanging out at our place a lot.
04:34One afternoon, she was trying to bake a pumpkin pie,
04:37and she dumped a whole bag of flour on the floor and then tripped over the cat.
04:41I couldn't help laughing, even though I was trying to ignore her.
04:45After some time, Vanessa plopped a piece of pie in front of me, raising an eyebrow.
04:49Truce? she asked. And honestly, it smelled too good to ignore.
04:53Look, I know you don't like having me in your dad's life, and honestly, I never saw myself as a stepmom.
05:00I'm more like a free spirit, you know?
05:02But hey, your dad's got my heart doing cartwheels, so let's try to be friends, huh?
05:07I'm not like your typical stepmom witch type.
05:10Does that mean you won't give me a hard time for eating junk food?
05:13I'm the one offering pie for lunch, aren't I?
05:16Okay, she was quirky, and she had a point.
05:19Later on, I found myself helping her cook, and dad got all teary seeing us getting along.
05:24Turns out, Vanessa was kinda cool to have around, but I still felt a bit like I was on the sidelines of everyone else's game.
05:31One day in my room, I noticed the flowers next to the black wall looking sad, their petals falling.
05:36Time for new flowers!
05:37Fresh flowers had become my thing.
05:39They cheered up the room.
05:40At the flower shop, I met Mrs. Garcia for the first time.
05:43She was super cool.
05:45Zipping around in her wheelchair, arranging bouquets with the biggest smile.
05:48Pick whatever makes you smile, Christina, she said, handing me the brightest bunch.
05:53I walked out of the flower shop, super happy with my new flowers.
05:56I wasn't looking where I was going and didn't see a bike coming.
05:59It knocked me over, and I blacked out.
06:01I woke up in a hospital bed, and Nadia was there looking super worried.
06:05She ran off to find dad as soon as I opened my eyes.
06:08The doctor said I'd hit my head pretty badly and was out for three whole days.
06:12But they checked me over and said I could go home.
06:15Back in my room, something about my flowers caught my eye.
06:18They seemed cooler somehow.
06:20I grabbed a pen and paper and started drawing,
06:22really getting into all the shapes and patterns I could see.
06:25What's up with you?
06:26Did you know flowers are kind of like math?
06:28They've got these patterns that are all just cool.
06:30Nadia looked at my drawings and turned white as a ghost.
06:33No way.
06:34Here, try these math problems.
06:36Stuff that used to look like alien code suddenly just made sense.
06:40I even solved the complex equations.
06:42Did my brain just level up or what?
06:45We gotta tell mom, like she'd care to check on me.
06:47She's not heartless, okay?
06:49She was actually worried.
06:50Don't defend her.
06:51You don't know everything.
06:52Then tell me.
06:53I told you, I can't.
06:54Ugh, then just go ahead and leave.
06:56I don't even want to know your stupid secret.
06:58Later, when mom popped by, she barely glanced at dad and Vanessa
07:02and came straight to me with a stack of papers.
07:05Time for a little test, Christina.
07:07After I finished, she examined the papers and just said,
07:09Pack up, you're staying with me now.
07:11Uh, what? Can we talk about this first?
07:13No need.
07:14She's got a gift, and I'm going to make sure it doesn't go to waste.
07:17Wait, you can't just show up and decide to take her.
07:20Where were you before, and why are you suddenly loving her now?
07:23My God, I can't believe I'm even standing here listening to you, a nobody.
07:27I'm her mother, but if you must know,
07:29Christina might have acquired savant syndrome,
07:32and it's not something either of you can deal with.
07:34I can help her.
07:35She explained that sometimes a head bump can switch on a talent
07:39for things like art or math.
07:40She thought that's what had happened to me,
07:42and I couldn't help feeling excited.
07:44Could this be my shot to shine and get Mom's attention?
07:47I begged Dad, and finally, he said yes.
07:50Better watch out, Christina.
07:51My cousin in Rome got that acquired savant syndrome.
07:55He became arrogant and out of real pain.
07:57Then he bumped his head again and went back to being stupid.
08:01Not that you're stupid, but you know what I mean.
08:04What kind of dumb syndrome is that, Vanessa?
08:06Did you come up with it while watching cartoons?
08:08I ignored Mom and ran to hug Vanessa before leaving.
08:11Mom enrolled me in Nadia's school,
08:13and on my first day, I felt nervous.
08:15But I noticed Nadia was popular,
08:17and people were also interested in me.
08:19When they wondered why I just started there,
08:21Nadia jumped in.
08:22She was sick and overseas for treatment.
08:24Come on, Christina.
08:25Later, I asked her why she lied.
08:27Mom's orders. Just play along, okay?
08:29That sounded weird, but I brushed it off
08:31because I had lots to do.
08:33Before long, I caught up with all the schoolwork
08:35and even started getting better grades than Nadia.
08:38That's when Mom finally said she was proud of me.
08:40For the first time in my life.
08:42And late one night, I overheard Mom screaming at Nadia
08:45in the living room.
08:46You call this a report card? Pathetic.
08:48All the years I spent working so hard with you,
08:51down the drain.
08:52I'm trying my best.
08:53Your best? Your best is a joke.
08:55You're nothing like your sister.
08:57If you don't smarten up, you'll be a nobody,
08:59just like your father.
09:00Hearing this, I felt stunned.
09:02Why was Mom being so harsh with Nadia?
09:04And calling Dad a loser? That was just mean.
09:06I snuck into Nadia's room later
09:08and told her I heard the argument.
09:10Great. Now what?
09:11Mom's on my case expecting the best
09:13and you're making it harder.
09:15You're doing all this for her?
09:17Yes. She's always pushing me, being super strict.
09:20If I don't do well, she gets really mean
09:22and I can't deal with that.
09:24I didn't say anything before about how mean she is
09:26because I thought I wanted to be the best too
09:29and she was helping me.
09:30Now it just feels like she's making me miserable.
09:33Mom was even tougher on Nadia than I thought
09:35and hearing that shook me.
09:37And now, Mom was dragging me to these math contests too
09:40that usually Nadia competed in.
09:42I didn't want to stress out Nadia more,
09:44but I also wanted to shine.
09:46Was that so bad?
09:47And soon, I was winning the math contest
09:49with record-breaking results.
09:51People started calling me a genius.
09:53Reporters interviewed me, I got my pictures taken,
09:55and I even spoke at Mom's university.
09:57All that praise and validation should have felt good,
10:00but somehow, I still felt empty inside.
10:03This isn't what I wanted.
10:05That weekend, I needed to clear my head,
10:07so I visited Dad.
10:08On the way, I stopped by the old flower shop.
10:11Mrs. Garcia was there.
10:12Hey, Christina! What's new?
10:15How are you feeling now after the accident?
10:17And catching up with her, I spilled out my whole story.
10:20She was putting together a bouquet as she listened,
10:22then she looked up and said,
10:23You know, Christina, a flower doesn't worry about
10:26being the tallest or the brightest in the bunch.
10:28It just grows at its own pace.
10:30That's kind of like us too.
10:32Suddenly, it made sense.
10:34Being myself was enough,
10:36whether I was winning math contests or not.
10:38Dad, Vanessa, and my friends didn't care about any trophies.
10:41They just liked me for me.
10:43They always had.
10:44Mom was the one caught up in
10:45who was the tallest, brightest flower.
10:47But Mrs. Garcia saw something else.
10:49A garden where every flower mattered.
10:52Seeing Nadia so unhappy,
10:53just trying to please Mom, made me sad.
10:56I used to be jealous, but not anymore.
10:58And I decided that something had to change.
11:00I got Dad and Vanessa on board,
11:02and we cooked up a plan.
11:03We just needed the perfect time to kick it off.
11:05That chance came during a live TV interview with me and Mom.
11:09The host asked me what it was like
11:10growing up with a ton of books.
11:12She loved it.
11:13Actually, that was Nadia.
11:15She always had her head in a book
11:16and never got to have any fun.
11:18The crowd was shocked, and Mom got stiff.
11:20I wasn't the bookworm.
11:21My smarts came after a head bump.
11:23You mean the illness you had.
11:25That's just Mom's story.
11:26She didn't want to acknowledge she had a dumb kid, I guess.
11:29Be quiet.
11:30I won't, and I don't care about winning math contests.
11:32Nadia doesn't either.
11:33We're done trying to please you.
11:35With that, I walked off and went backstage to find Nadia.
11:38Why'd you do that?
11:39Mom didn't bat an eye when she separated us,
11:41ruined her marriage, and used you to become popular.
11:44She ignored me all my life, and now she's using me.
11:48Nadia, we deserve better.
11:50Aren't you tired of being Mom's puppet?
11:52Come with me.
11:53We bolted before Mom could stop us.
11:54Dad was outside, ready to whisk us away.
11:56You can't take my kids.
11:58They're old enough to choose.
11:59Or do you want to take this up in court?
12:01Mom looked furious, but she stayed quiet, and we went home.
12:05Vanessa had a lovely dinner waiting, and it felt like a fresh start.
12:09And Nadia started helping Vanessa with the snakes,
12:11and it seemed to be her calling working with those slimy creatures.
12:15As for me, I'm still figuring things out.
12:17But for now, I'm just happy with the good stuff around me.