Wow, what a great topic this is. I saw it, and it sparked some imagination, or should I call it creativity? Anyway😁, it sparked something in me. So, I would be exploring this topic in a short story format. I would make sure to include what I would do, how it might be of help, and also what could go wrong.
Right from time have I been hearing people say, "Humans are made/created in twos." Well, I never believed it, not until this scientist stood face-to-face with me, smiling in an odd way as he conveyed those words to me, *“Trust me, we can make you, I mean another you, and everything will remain the same, *" he said, smiling, "same height, face, and all, just agree to it"
His words were just too convincing, and I cant help bit think of allmade me think of all the things he could help me with. My clone could help me go for meetings, help me handle work at the office, sign contracts, hustle, and do all the hard work. It would even ease me of the stress of fighting for bus, meeting up with deadlines, and such. What a sweet temptation that was.
Guess what? I said yes. I agreed to being cloned.
They did all that was needed, called me into the lab a billion times, and eventually, they unveiled him; they unveiled me, and I froze. I had to use they unveiled me because he didn't look like me; he was me. Even I find it hard to know if I was the original. He has my smile, my walking style, and all. What shocked me more was when he walked over to me, smiled, and said, *Finally, you've got some time out to rest. "
*"What, me? Well, I couldn't voice anything. I looked at him and wondered if he would be my new best friend. I'm sure he would understand me the best since he's me.
Fast-forward to when my clothes started going to work. It would go very early in the morning and return late at night. I would still be in bed rolling or pressing my phone, the room scattered. He would return with that same tired face of mine. I always lock my door and have banned anyone from coming in. I don't make sounds. I would just be indoors alone; my bro would have gone to work, my mum would have gone to her store, and my clone has gone out to work for me as well.
There are a lot of times I would hear him cracking jokes with them in the sitting room, sometimes discussing and all. It never bothered me then. But then, as time goes on, things began to change. One day, I was together with my cloned version. It was a weekend; my mom had gone to her store as usual, and my brother went for lessons. I asked him to rearrange the house and cook, which he did. When my mom returned at night, I had already eaten and returned in; he was in with me as well. I just heard my mom praising me from the dining room: "Wow, you cook much better these days, very well seasoned," I heard her say. I remember my bro talking in the sitting room the other day and saying, "You're easygoing these days; you don't rush or get angry at little things. It's cool."
That was when I started feeling some way about him; even my own family was rating my clone version more than me. I tried brushing it off. After all, I wanted it, and I agreed to it. One evening, I walked into my to meet him sitting and writing in my diary, I was shocked and gave him a kind of eye. He looked at me and smiled as he said, "It's nothing to worry about, I'm only keeping your memories safe." My memories? He didn't even reply, he just continued to write. That was when I realized he wasn't just carrying my burdens. He's carrying me. The whole of me.
I tried my best to limit him and keep him off my family, workspace, and all. But he already knew a lot about me. He even knows the way I think, what my next word/statement would be, and all.... And guess what, he never argued or tried fighting me. There was a day I told him to stay in and not make a sound till I returned. I was going to work by myself; he just smiled and said, "But you made me so you could rest." I couldn't even talk; I just looked.
I no longer sleep deeply these days; I don't even sleep well at all. Not only that, but I'm always bothered and thinking. What if one day it gets out and we are both seen together? Would it agree that I was the original? Will it claim to be the original while I keep claiming and arguing too? What if they accept him, so he's going to be a better son, a better friend, a better colleague, a better cook, a better brother, and a better version of everything I was lacking?
So, next time you ask me if I would clone myself and allow it to carry my burdens, be my friend and do all that I was supposed to. Here's my honest answer.... I have done it once, and that's enough. I won't advise you to, because I've discovered that nothing whatsoever haunts one more than meeting a version of yourself that doesn't need you. He's already you.
These days, I no longer check the mirror. Why? Because I'm no longer sure of myself anymore. More like... He's won.
All images were generated using AI.
Thanks for taking your time to read through.