In an outdoor cafe imbued with nature’s essence, Ms. Evelyn’s hands were gripped tightly on her lap, a physical manifestation of her deep worry and anxious anticipation. After contacting the number Agnes had given her before his departure, she arranged to meet Mrs. Frank to clarify matters. Sitting there, she pondered whether she would end up with a case of mistaken identity this time, just like on previous occasions. From her youth till now, she had made numerous attempts to find her younger sister but was disappointed. She placed so much faith and hope into this meeting.
The agreed-upon time had arrived, yet Mrs. Frank needed to be seen. Ms. Evelyn’s nervousness surged with every moment, her heart pounding harder. Suddenly, from a distance, a slender woman of dignified presence was strolling toward her. The woman removed her sunglasses and asked, “Are you Ms. Evelyn, who arranged to meet me?”
Overwhelmed with relief, Ms. Evelyn stood up. Her large, black eyes shimmered, her petite, sharp nose unmistakably hers. She eagerly grasped her sister’s hand, her enthusiasm catching Mrs. Frank off guard. Mrs. Frank recoiled, her hands slipping from Ms. Evelyn’s grasp. Realizing her inappropriate reaction, Ms. Evelyn apologized, and they both settled into their seats to talk.
According to Ms. Evelyn, Mrs. Frank had been separated from her family at the age of six. The two sisters had been at an amusement park in the city, and when Ms. Evelyn stepped away to buy ice cream, Mrs. Frank got lost. Despite years of desperate searching, the family could not find any trace of her.
Ever since that incident, their parents have treated Ms. Evelyn with resentment. Her relationship with her family worsened over the years, and despite her best efforts to make amends once she came of age, things could never go back to how they once were.
Emotionally, Mrs. Frank unclasped the necklace from her neck and handed it to her sister. Ms. Evelyn placed the two necklaces side by side. Their similarity was striking. Unable to control their emotions, they embraced each other and burst into tears. A name was engraved on each necklace – “Evelyn – Anna.” But after being adopted by another family, Mrs. Frank was given a new name.
For years, Mrs. Frank had kept the necklace without knowing its significance. She, too, had tried countless times to find her family, but to no avail. When she was ready to give up all hope, happiness unexpectedly found her.
Mrs. Frank told her sister about her life over the past few decades. She was adopted by a kind family and inherited all their assets as they had no biological children. She then married a good man and thought she would live happily ever after, but a tragic twist of fate stripped her of everything.
Mrs. Frank came to a halt as she mentioned her own family, her voice imbued with a biting bitterness that encapsulated years of suppressed outrage. She pulled out a handkerchief to wipe away the bitter tears that had welled up. Her face sagged in a painful grimace that stirred empathy in others.
Suddenly, Ms. Evelyn recalled her sister’s daughter and asked, “What about your daughter? When will I get to meet her?”
Mrs. Frank looked up and shook her head in despair. “I desperately wish to see her, but I have resigned myself to the likelihood that I will not get that chance in this lifetime.”
The surprise was evident on Ms. Evelyn’s face – could it be that mother and daughter weren’t living together or…
Then, she remembered the picture – it was of Mary. She asked, “Can it be that the child isn’t Mary?”
At the mention of “Mary,” Mrs. Frank erupted with fury. “It was she who deprived me of my child. If not for her, my happiness would have been whole. But how did you come to know her?”
Taken aback by Mrs. Frank’s response, Ms. Evelyn remembered Mary didn’t believe such things. Otherwise, she wouldn’t have carried their picture.
Mrs. Frank couldn’t fathom what had transpired between them, but her sister lived through lonely days without a husband, child, and bereft of assets.
“Mary visited me once, and that picture is what she dropped. It’s how I learned of your existence,” she explained.
Ms. Evelyn then began to unfold the heartbreaking life story of her sister. She couldn’t believe the daughter she had raised and loved for many years was not her own. Moreover, it was the appearance of this child that had severed their mother-daughter bond. She felt an overwhelming desire to strangle Mary when she learned this truth. The pain was so immense that she could hardly hold it in check.
Suddenly, Ms. Evelyn noticed something unusual in her sister’s story and asked, “So your child was deliberately swapped? If she’s still alive, she’d be about Mary’s age now, right?”
Mrs. Frank remained silent, her tacit nod in agreement.
A sudden image of a child crying out in the harsh, cold night came to Ms. Evelyn’s mind – a child whose face always reminded her of her lost sister. She couldn’t believe that their resemblance was a mere coincidence.
After a long silence, Ms. Evelyn gently advised, “Don’t dwell on the past. I want to share something, but I’m unsure whether I should.”
Seeing her sister’s hesitation, Mrs. Frank was eager. “Please, just say it.”
“Years ago, I found an abandoned child. But I can’t help feeling she resembles you and me, as if she is one of our own. Would you be willing to take a DNA test?”
Mrs. Frank pondered for a while before agreeing. But they decided to keep this between them until they were sure of the outcome. As for the girl, Ms. Evelyn would tactfully convince her to agree.