It was a cold Sunday afternoon when they found the bodies. The bodies that were reportedly missing for over a year. Exactly a month later after I was found.

I remember walking inside the police station, confused. I didn't know why and how my feet led me here. All I know is that I found myself walking towards the clear glass door that says pull. The place was familiar like how I remembered it but everything seems off. Everything felt hazy.

I pulled the glass door and went inside. The place was busy yet calm. There were young police officers behind a huge cubicle flicking at their keyboards and looking at their computer screen, pretending to do something useful with their time.

Paul, my husband, and I, used to joke about how these police officers and other state employees are compensated handsomely by state taxes and still do lousy jobs.

I can sense the boredom and dullness inside. It was like any other day in town. Nothing seems amiss. Except for the fact that I can't remember why I am here. I couldn't remember a single thing. My hands fidgeted as I checked the pockets of my jeans but it's empty. I don't have my wallet, car keys, and phone.

Strange. I never leave the house without those.

“May I help you, Ma'am?” a young, lanky, Police Officer with the name tag that says ‘Alvarez’ approaches me.

“I-I think I am lost. I'm not sure. I can't remember anything. All I know is, I was walking and I found myself here. May I borrow your phone? I need to call my husband. And what time is it? I need to pick up my son from daycare”.

“It's half-past two. What is your name and address, Ma'am? What's your husband and your son's name?” he asked as he sat down in his old office chair, motioning me to sit in front of him.

I heard a creak as I sat down. I stared at the officer in front of me who seemed somewhat grateful that I've saved his afternoon from being tedious.

“My name is Evelyn Dela Vega. My husband's name is Paul. Paul Dela Vega. We have a three-year-old boy named Jacob. He goes to Marina Valley Daycare. I-My family lives in Marina Valley, the one near Marina's Point”.

His eyes suddenly widened and tapped the other police officer sitting next to him. I found their actions strange. They both looked at me with confusion.

“Mrs. Dela Vega, do you know what date it is today?”

“Y-Yes. It's September 5, 2020. W-Why do you ask?” I demanded, my voice sounded alarmed.

“Espina, call the Chief!” Alvarez said to his buddy.

“The Chief's gone, Alvarez! He went out this morning with his friends. He instructed not to call him unless somebody's dying”. Espina muttered, uninterestedly.

“But, this is an emergency!” Alvarez exclaimed.

“All right. Let me see what I can do”. Espina replied.

“W-why? What's going on? Is everything okay? What's happening?”

I stood up as the other officer called Espina went inside one of the rooms inside the station. A wave of nausea hits me. My insides suddenly felt like jelly.

“Mrs. Dela Vega, this might sound shocking to you as it is to me. Today is September 5, 2021. You and your family were reported missing for a year. Your family was presumed dead”.

“What?! What are you talking about? What dead!? I don't understand! That can't be! Is this a prank? Is there a hidden camera? Let me call my husband! This isn't funny! I swear, if this is a prank, I will talk to my lawyer!”

“This is not a prank of any sort, Mrs. Dela Vega. We are just as dumbfounded as you are right now. Here. Look at this”.

He shows me various articles related to our case from the screen of his computer. I looked closely at one of the articles. A photo catches my attention. It was a photo of my family in front of our lawn from our son's third birthday. The photo was taken by my twin, Emilyn.

The air was dry and sweet because of the roses blooming in the garden. My husband was wearing his usual grey cap, plain white T-shirt, and faded denim jeans. I wore a pastel blue sundress. It was an April morning, the sun shone brightly in the neighborhood. There were balloons tied in the front porch that can be seen in the background. I was carrying our son, Jacob. He was wearing his Mickey Mouse party hat. A blue Mickey Mouse matching onesie and navy blue trainers.

We were celebrating his third birthday. We were laughing about a silly joke that I can't remember.

The smile on our faces looked genuine. Like a real happy family.

My eyes widened. My heart stopped. I couldn't believe what the heading said.

FAMILY VANISHED TO THIN AIR

“How is any of this possible?! My son! Where's my son? Oh, God! This isn't real!” My body shook as hot tears streamed down my face. “You have to find my son!”

“We'll do everything we can to find your son and your husband, Mrs. Dela Vega”.

“Then what have you been doing for a year?! Did my sister file the report? How? How did this happen? Why us?”

“Unfortunately, we weren't able to reach your sister. It was one of your neighbors who filed the report. One morning, they noticed that your front door was open. When they called you out, nobody answered. The lights were open. The whole neighborhood was alarmed when nobody was able to reach you or your husband. They thought the place was robbed but we found your phones and other valuables untouched. The only thing we couldn't find are your vehicles”.

I couldn't believe what I just heard. The kind police officer offered me a box of tissues and a cup of hot water. I wiped the snot from my nose and took a sip from the paper cup. I excused myself and asked where the restroom was and followed the directions he gave me.

I must've looked awful.

I saw a reflection in the mirror. A woman in her late thirties is looking at me. There is evidence of crow's feet near the corners of her eyes that looked tired and sad. It took me seconds to realize that the woman staring in front of me was myself.

“I don't understand. What the hell is happening?” I ask myself.

I took a deep breath and closed my eyes. My hand felt cold against the edge of the ceramic sink. “Think, Evelyn. Think. What is the last thing you remember?” I opened my eyes and I was suddenly transported back to the last thing I remember. The last memory I had before our family vanished.

Before we were gone.

I remember I was running outside the house. I went straight to the car parked in front of our lawn. I was carrying Jacob in my right hand and the car keys to my left. My hands were trembling as I pressed the button while my car unlocked. I placed Jacob in the passenger seat. I forgot his car seat but I was in a hurry like our lives depended on it. The car seat didn't matter anymore. I put on our seatbelt and started the car. I glanced at Jacob who was now fast asleep. I let out a sigh of relief.

I need to get out of this place as soon as possible.

“But why am I running? Who am I running away from? Where's Paul?”

I left the restroom and made my way to the cubicle where Officer Alvarez is sitting. I sat as I listened to him talk to someone over the phone.

“You need to come with us, Mrs. Dela Vega. I think we've just located your car. Any other relatives who we can contact to inform them of your current situation?”

“My parents are dead but I do have a sister. Her name is Emilyn Castillo”. My twin.

I gave him the details of my sister's contact information and he tried to dial the phone number through his cell and put it on speakerphone.

Nobody answered.

“She might've already changed her phone number. It's been a year. We'll check to see if she's still at her old address. For all we know, she might've moved to a different city or had gotten married”.

We made our way out of the station. I asked Officer Alvarez where he was taking me. “We're going to Marina's Point, the one near the cliff. The plate number of the car matched with the information on our database. This might give us a clue what happened a year ago to you and your family”.

When we arrived at the scene, I felt like throwing up. I saw the car being pulled out of the shore. The windshield was broken.

It was empty.

There was no sign of my son nor my husband inside. I felt ashamed for feeling slightly relieved.

After signing the papers, the police took me home. I went inside. Everything feels unfamiliar. I went upstairs and found two rooms. The one on my right is bigger than the other. I opened the door and saw the bed.

Then I remembered everything.

At first, everything was a blur. I saw my twin standing in front of me, she was holding a knife in her hand.

“Emilyn! How could you do this to me?!” she lunged at me and I jumped out of the bed as quickly as I could.

The sheet fell and I felt the cold air against my body. Paul was sleeping beside me. We had been having an affair for two years. I never thought Evelyn would find out. Until today, she did.

“Evelyn, I can explain!” Paul shouted. I grabbed my clothes and wore them quickly as I ran outside the room. I can hear Evelyn and Paul shouting at each other. I heard something break. I heard Jacob crying from his bedroom.

“How could you do this to us, to our family, Paul?! I will kill you!” Evelyn shouted.

I grabbed Jacob and went back to the master's bedroom where Evelyn and Paul are still fighting.

“Don't move, Evelyn! I swear I'll drop Jacob. You know how much I loved Paul. We were seeing each other before the two of you met. He was mine first!” I hissed.

Frantic, she dropped her knife and ran towards me. I ran downstairs and quickly grabbed the car keys. I started the car and drove to Marina's point without turning back.

Evelyn followed us. I ran towards the end of the cliff threatening to drop Jacob. I look down and see the waves crashing. Jacob kept on shrieking and thrashing. I almost dropped him.

“Emilyn, please! Don't hurt him. He's innocent. He's your nephew. Please don't hurt my son!” she pleaded.

I looked at my nephew. She's right. He's innocent. He doesn't deserve to be caught in the middle of all this. I left him near the edge of the cliff and ran back inside the car. I was prepared to leave when I saw Paul from a distance. He ran towards his family. I saw him begging my twin for forgiveness.

My heart sank.

How could he? I thought he loved me.

It was all a lie.

Bile rose to my throat. I hit the accelerator and heard a loud thud. The windshield broke and I hit the brakes just before the car reached the edge. I jumped out of the car.

SPLOOOOK!! CRAAAASH!!

The next thing I knew, they were gone.

A year later, they found the bodies.

I was living as Evelyn Dela Vega until they found her. Now I have two choices: either face the consequences or vanish forever.

I'm leaning towards the latter.

END

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