Serpents lurk under the flowers

'Please accept my condolences for the loss of your mother,' said the surgeon.

Awkward silence.

'I'm not entirely convinced that both of you understand all the implications,' he continued. 'We rarely perform surgery to separate conjoined twins in their late teens. As is usually the case with our much younger patients, some body parts will have to be given to one of you at the other's expense.'

Cain and Abel shuffled on the bench that had been provided in the dreary consulting room. It was made of some vile kind of hard plastic, but they wouldn't both have fitted onto a single chair. 

'You do fully appreciate that one of you, and that will be you, Cain, will have two lower limbs and genitalia? Abel will have only a left lower limb after surgery.’

Cain's eyes glinted. Neither of them said a word. 

‘Your brains and cardiovascular systems will be fully independent and functional, of course. From that point of view, your prognosis is good. Although there is always a risk of complications.'

'I understand,' said Abel quietly. Cain smiled a dark smile.

'Is there no older relative you can turn to for support and advice about this?’ asked the surgeon. ‘It’s a major undertaking.’

'We’re over sixteen and can sign our own consent form,' said Cain, too quickly.

'Mother didn't want it,' said Abel. 

Cain elbowed him savagely, 'Shut ... It’s my, it’s our decision!’

The grey memorial stone was engraved quickly. Abel's name was added. 'Beloved son of Norma Smith ...' He had outlived her by only eight months. 

I heard that Cain overindulged in the ‘refreshments' after the interment. He tried to pocket some of the money collected for medical research and then disgraced himself by pestering one of the waitresses.