on Valley, a world I had conquered, or so I thought. I drove my rental car down Main Street, past the familiar but faded storefronts. I was here for a sin

oked like it hadn't changed since the 1950s. My goal was simple: close my parents' ac

rected to the office of the bank manager, a man named Mr. He

ile on his desk. "It's been a long tim

evel. "I'm here to finalize their accou

f course. We have all the paperwork here. Your parents' accounts a

ing the silence

your outst

oan? I don't have a loan with this bank.

. "Well, our records show otherwise, Alex. A signifi

acing to process the absurdity. "Four hundred thousand? That's imp

as if he was on more solid ground now. "The loan was taken out under your

rising anger. "Show me," I dema

side, I saw a loan application filled with my personal information: my social security number, my date

closing a multi-million dollar deal on the date this was supposedly signed. I

er and pulled out another document. "Perhaps this will clar

cate, issued by the county clerk's office. It stated tha

een this woma

oreign and ridiculous on my tongue. "I have nev

The situation had spiraled from a bureau

epeated, pushing the certificate back

condescending, as if speaking to a child. "The loan, the marriage

t the words stopped my heart for a second. "Wh

showed that my family home, my parents' house, had been "so

document, another

office. "This is a joke. This is insane. I am telling you, I did

en satisfaction-in his eyes. "The signature on the loan applicati

heck the digital timestamp on that signature file. When wa

king in, searching fo

of a second. "Our systems are secure, Mr. Mill

can prove I was on another continent. I can prove I'm not married.

ional mask slipping back into place.

ill be facing a lawsuit that will make that four-hundred-thousand-dollar loan look like pocket change.

floor. I was shaking, not from fear, but f

, a man who was eithe

whisper. "Because I am coming for my life, and

sun outside felt like an insult. My phone buzzed in my pocket, but I ignored it. My quiet