ipping tea. The sun cast shadows across t

comes back?"

ictoria replied. "An

persi

k worried. "She's n

oks exactly

on we didn't ch

it's easier to sa

act

rings felt heavy. Her reflection stared back-pe

eyes did

asn't

the slums, raised by a wom

e'd died in a bus accident

made her s

l radio station. She'd spent all day walk

eed to let her tell her stor

s," the woman said. "A

es burning from

m., the mic

oice trembling. "Not the girl you see in the ne

switch. The lies. The

aid. "My friends, my teacher s

e staye

"Alright, we'll

alls

t

"Maybe rest, hija. Sometimes trauma

the statio

w much longer she

lesson with a guest tutor one of Vi

he woman bar

ened her back

Relax your

exh

someone who's n

t," Sara

ha

thi

u know, when you first came her

tayed

u're le

ave to," Sar

. "Do you miss

d slowly.

ose something. But some of us l

room without

at her refle

he mirror sti

-

ty, Kara met someone

photographer who voluntee

broadcast. He

ound her

girl from

e. "You b

et a lot of liars. You

m n

ttle of water. "Th

n, Don Enrique ha

wants to verify some detai

heart

d," Enri

e phone to her

voice aske

idn't

hat you? Wh

I'm

ara has a slight accent. A c

calm. "Maybe the ac

e didn't buy it. "I

the phone. "T

hun

ed at him

calm. "Accidents cha

ictoria confronted

o control y

try

. That girl is ga

You mean... she

. "She's alive.

oftened. "Let

estroy ev

should be

to go back to sleeping on th

looke

I want th

. "Truth is a luxu

alked

n the hallway,

rviving or

l helped Kara

ocuments Kara had hidden in a secret album in the

ed it: Th

ge for themselv

, comments

ved her. S

n Grade 3. This girl is her. I remember the

a c

finally

t invisib

the Villanueva m

indow, phone in hand, reading comme

ered. "It's gai

ver," Vict

also re

we need to act fast. If she gains enough

maybe it's time to end

call to someone who alway

oel's laptop. Her blog had nearly a thousan

Noel said. "You'

ht back," K

ot alone

That's the only reaso

g hair from her face

enter's door. A tall man in a suit.

forward. "Can

our presence has been requ

equest them

ot a re

he door. "You

and-desist order for defamation, signed b

" Noel said, closing th

king. "They're really

're lou

yard, trying to focus on a book.

re no

. "Trisha, I alr

oke in public. She wasn't afraid of debates. She didn't sit

e book. "Peo

like

What do you w

t the

ent, something flickered

er," she s

ha g

had no

ole her

orced to

Then maybe it's time

d into Sara's r

old Tr

ornere

go to th

t her. I'm tire

this is a game? If this falls a

cheek. "Then let i

she'll fo

d. "I don't care.

ria f

h," Sara continued. "But all this-money, d

e cracked. "You

whispered. "By the

Victoria witho

l received a message from

" she said. "Bu

bum. "This was my life. My moth

plied. "You need somethi

I get a D

come from the Vill

hesit

oel said. "Leave

the mansion's service entrance. Inside, he carefu

hbrush-perf

sealed bag, dodged th

as submitted for testing. Kara

days," the lab

ded. "I'

r, Trisha poste

n that mansion isn't her. This other girl-the one they're ca

loded

it from h

nd curled up in bed, unsure

slept prope

ted to

ere wa

rique confron

losing c

se of

s cra

owned. "The

an sile

coldly. "We remind h

g room just then. "I d

tightly. "You ow

her. "Then take it bac

d out of

lowly. "You're m

or. "No. I made a mist

ter, Kara g

cian said. "100% parent-child

hone, tears spilli

as o

had

't just

s the

he first time, Kara felt l

your life ba

nod

e she wa