Snipped...Probably trivial to this case, but I agree that it could certainly be relevant to someone keenly interested in twin studies. (Fraternal) twin births have dramatically increased. What are you thinking? Is fraternal vs identical relevant here? (I'm of the uneducated opinion that identical and fraternal twins are basically different species, but curious about your thoughts!)
The pain of a four-year old sibling being murdered is incalculable, especially when the other sibling is also only four. It will be difficult for Carter to process even as he grows older. The bond between twins at this age, even for fraternal twins, is just so immense. Same age, same experiences, sleeping in the same little bed---two halves of a whole.
If they are (were ) fraternal, they'd still be two halves, but they wouldn't be considered a package as much as identical twins are. As identical twins, you become accustomed to no one ever knowing who is whom, people asking you the same questions every day (who is smarter, who is prettier, do you ever play tricks on people, can your parents tell you apart). As fraternal twins age into adults, they don't get asked those questions and they become more like regular siblings, but with the same birthday.
I don't know if Cash and Carter were identical, although to me they don't look it. Regardless, even though I think identical twins identify with each other much more, this is a pain too deep for any child. When he is older and looks back on their joint birthday party pictures, or them playing together, or being dressed alike, he will always know he was deprived of this special brotherhood.
Fraternal twins have increased in numbers due to IVF and embryo implantation, IMO. My twin and I are natural freaks.
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