Conjoined twins simply may not need sex-romance partners as much

Hear the words of Alice Dreger, seeker of human truth and teller of hidden stories: “Conjoined twins simply may not need sex-romance partners as much as the rest of us do. Throughout time and space, they have described their condition as something like being attached to a soul mate.” These words reveal a mystery not of the stars, but of the human heart. For Dreger speaks of those rare beings who enter the world not as one, but as two in one—conjoined twins, whose lives are forever entwined. In their condition lies not only struggle, but also a profound lesson: that companionship, intimacy, and belonging can take forms beyond what the world expects.

For what is the longing of the human heart? It is to find connection, to be known fully and not be alone. Most men and women seek this through romance, through lovers who bridge the gap between solitude and togetherness. Yet Dreger shows us that conjoined twins may already possess what so many spend their lives searching for—a bond so deep, so constant, so enduring, that it is like being bound to a soul mate from the moment of birth. Their condition, which some might see as burden, they themselves describe as completion.

History itself tells us of such pairs. Consider Chang and Eng Bunker, the famous “Siamese twins” of the nineteenth century, joined at the sternum. Though they married and had children, their greatest bond was not with their spouses, but with each other. They worked, traveled, and lived as one, their entire existence a testament to shared destiny. They endured the gaze of the curious, the hardships of exposure, and yet found in one another a steadfastness that others only dream of. Their bond was not chosen, but it was deeper than choice—it was the very foundation of their being.

Dreger’s words remind us that society often misunderstands those who live differently. We measure worth by independence, love by romance, and wholeness by separation. Yet conjoined twins show us another truth: that wholeness can also be found in shared existence, that intimacy is not only about desire but about enduring presence. They live what many poets only imagine: the union of souls so close that neither breathes nor moves without the other. What others might pity, they often describe as blessing.

And what lesson does this give to us who are not joined in body? It teaches us that the deepest need of humanity is not sex, nor romance, nor even passion—it is companionship, the certainty of being seen, known, and never abandoned. While we seek this through partners, friends, and families, conjoined twins show us that such unity, though rare in form, is universal in longing. Their lives challenge us to expand our understanding of love, to see intimacy in new ways, to honor the bonds that hold us together beyond the conventions of society.

The truth is this: in a world that moves too fast, where loneliness stalks even the crowded streets, we must learn from those who embody unity. We must cherish our soul mates, whether they come as lovers, friends, siblings, or companions. We must remember that intimacy is not measured by physical desire alone, but by presence, loyalty, and the enduring act of sharing life’s burdens and joys.

So let Dreger’s words echo as wisdom: to be attached to a soul mate is the deepest gift. Seek not only romance, but true companionship. Value not only independence, but the beauty of togetherness. And when you find those rare bonds that anchor your life, honor them as sacred. For in the end, the greatest treasure is not power or wealth, but the presence of another soul beside your own, reminding you that you are never alone.