"Do you and your twin have the same mother?" I have been asked this question by one person which is easy to answer because my twin and I do have the same mother. I mean him and I were womb-mates, for goodness sake.

What's it like to be a twin? Is the most common question I get when I tell people I have a twin brother, a minute older than me. I never know how to respond to this question because I've always been a twin. I wouldn't want to know what it would be like without my twin brother. I remember being very young, about 6 years old, trying to understand death and I remember thinking my brother better live to be 90 years old, so I can. I thought since we came into the world together, we died together.

When I was 18 years old, I just wanted to get away from him and become my own person, so we went to separate colleges. And it probably was the hardest thing I've endured. It was the longest I've ever been from him. And I didn't realize the bond I had with my twin. It's a bond that all twins have, a unique bond.

To my twin,

I didn't think I would miss you when we went off to separate colleges. I thought, yes I'll finally have my name said without someone mentioning yours in the same sentence. And I'll be able to sit in a class without a teacher calling me the wrong name even though we look nothing alike. I don't have to worry about competing with you.

I miss the arguments, your jokes, picking on each other, your personality, having class together, the small talks with you, getting on your nerves and nagging you. It hasn't always been fun having you around, but I've enjoyed most of it.

You've always been there for me. You won't let anyone else pick on me except for you, not even our younger brother. And if I am upset you will attend to me before doing anything else. You have listened to me rant on and on for hours without complaining. And you know how to calm me down better than most.

I know as we got older, we grew apart. We both became interested in different things. We grew to like different movies, music, tv shows, sports, etc. But you still supported me in all my hobbies and endeavors -- despite the fact that sometimes I didn't always support you. I appreciate the effort you made. Also, I enjoy our small conversations about movies, music, and popular culture, but it is also our way checking up on the other. And I love the arguments we have over movies and music.

I've probably annoyed you as much as you've annoyed me growing up. You hate how I nag you to think more about your future or try to teach you how to clean better. I hate the music you listen to and you dislike me telling you what to do, but I dislike you telling me what to do. We both know how to annoy each other. We know how to make the other happy. We know when one the other is hurt. We know when the other is sad. We know that we can't live without the other.

I know I don't say this much, but I support you more than you know. I might sometimes act envious or competitive, but I do it to push you forward. I might not be our mom, but I still want what is best for my twin. I'm there for you as much as you are for me. I know at times I'm not the best twin sibling. I love you and appreciate you.

You let me be right when I'm wrong. You spoke for me when I was younger. And we made lots of trouble growing up. So I couldn't have asked for a better twin. And I can't imagine living without you.