Part 1Don’t Be Depressed! I’m Coming Home to Save You

The indie actress I’d followed for three years, so obscure she barely had a fandom, finally called it quits.

As one of her few die-hard fans, I got a private message from her, Ava Jane.

“I found my family. I know things are going to get better now.”

I sent her my best wishes, then booked a flight to Europe to nurse my own melancholy.

That’s when the call came. I wasn’t who I thought I was. I was the switched-at-birth daughter, the imposter in a life that was never meant for me.

My mother’s voice was a soothing balm over the phone. “Darling, you will always be our most precious baby.”

My brother called from overseas. “You’re the only sister I’ll ever have. No one is taking anything from you.”

My friends kept me updated with a running commentary via a live feed from back home. The real heiress, they said, was being brutally ostracized by our elite circle, a social pariah in her own home.

Then, at four in the morning, another private message buzzed on my phone.

[Even though we've never met, you might be the only friend I have left in this world. I'm so tired. Why does it still hurt so much, even after finding my family? Goodbye. I wish you all the best.]

The words jolted me awake.

* * *

My eyes shot open. I ripped off my sleep mask and sat bolt upright in bed.

Something was terribly, terribly wrong with her tone. My hands trembled as I typed, my fingers flying across the keyboard in a panic.

[Honey, no, please don't! What's wrong? Don't do anything stupid!!!!]

She must have been shocked to get an instant reply at four in the morning. The silence stretched for a full thirty seconds.

Finally, a message from Ava appeared.

[Why are you still awake?]

A wave of relief washed over me—she was still responding. But it was followed by a fresh surge of fear.

[I’m overseas, there’s a bit of a time difference.]

[Never mind that. What happened? Can you talk to me? You said it yourself, we’re friends.]

This time, the silence was longer. So long that I couldn't sit still. I jumped out of bed, my bare feet cold on the floor, and dialed my brother, not caring that it was the middle of the night back home.

Leo’s voice was thick with sleep. "Summer? Why are you calling so late? Is something wrong?"

My own voice was grim. "Leo, I need you to find someone for me. Drop everything."

Before I could tell him about Ava, my phone buzzed with a new message.

[It’s okay now. I was in a dark place for a minute. Don't worry.]

The crushing weight on my chest lifted. I realized I was drenched in a cold sweat.

Leo was still on the line, demanding answers. "It's nothing, Leo. Go back to sleep."

He chuckled softly. "You're the only one who could get away with waking me up at this hour. I know you're not feeling great about… all this. That's why you've been away so long. But it’s okay, Summer. You’ll always be my only sister, you know that?"

"I know," I murmured. After more than twenty years together, my family knew me better than anyone. My extended vacation was, in part, a way of avoiding the inevitable.

Two months ago, I’d left on a whim to clear my head. The moment I was gone, the bomb dropped: I was the wrong daughter. The real one had been found. My family swore they wouldn’t send me away, that we would always be a family, but our social circle was a viper’s nest of gossip. The rumor was that I’d fled the country to escape the scandal. Annoyed, I decided to stay and personally oversee our company's European branch for a while.

After reassuring Leo I’d be home soon, I hurried back to my chat with Ava.

[Don't be sad, sweetie. I don't know what happened, but I'm always on your side. Always.]

Her reply came quickly this time.

[I was just thinking… if I died, it would cause a lot of trouble for other people. This is the first time in my life I've had my own room. I cherish it. I don't want to die here.]

Her words painted a vivid, heartbreaking picture. I punched my pillow in frustration. Who the hell were these people she’d found? How could anyone have someone as wonderful as Ava and not treat her like a treasure?

Sleep was impossible now. Worried sick, I sat cross-legged on my bed and chatted with her for hours.

I knew Ava’s story. An orphan, raised in a group home. She was discovered by a scout because of her stunning looks, but without connections and unwilling to play the industry’s dirty games, she never got past bit parts. I’d stumbled upon her work by chance and fallen for her talent. I was one of her handful of fans, and just when I thought she might finally get her big break, she quit.

She told me she’d found her family, but it seemed they didn't want her. Her simple, typed words on the screen made my heart ache.

[I guess if a stranger suddenly showed up and wanted to join my family, I’d have a hard time accepting it too. I get it.]

We talked for a long time. I made sure she had calmed down and that the suicidal thoughts had passed before I let myself relax.

[Honey, I'm coming home in a few days. Will you wait for me? I've never even met you in person. If your family isn't good to you, it doesn't matter. When I get back, I'll be your friend and your family. You just have to wait for me.]

She took a long time to reply.

[Okay.]

A smile touched my lips. I opened the airline app to book a flight, only to stare at the screen in disbelief.

A historic blizzard was forecast for the next two weeks. All flights home were grounded.