The day after the fun night at Walmart and at Mickey-D's, I began the social media search for my biological parents. According to what I've seen so far, they made a Tik Tok announcing their search for me, their biological son. When the video first popped up on my For-You Page in the car last night on the way back from Walmart, the woman there said: "Please stop scrolling- I have important news." So, naturally, I stayed to listen to it. She showed a picture of a baby, which looked exactly like I did as a baby.

Intriguing. I listened more: "This is my biological son, Harper. When I gave birth to him, he was immediately and unjustly given away to a different adoptive family. I fought hard to keep him for myself and my husband so we could give him a happy home life, but was unsuccessful because of CPS demanding I give him away. For some reason, they thought I wouldn't be a good mother. So they took him away from me."
          Why didn't I know that? I feel like I should know that, but I didn't until I saw the video. The woman's story was heartbreaking, but if I didn't know my story of how I got adopted, why do I feel like I resonate so much with the story? When it said "For-You," they really meant "For-You." I listened more: "I fought against CPS and the justice system for the eighteen years he's been alive, for them to allow me to see my child, but they both failed me. Now, I am sending out a plea to anyone to let me know if you potentially know Harper, where he is, or if you have any current pictures of him. Tik Tok, do your thing and boost this." That was when I got excited and told Lucia, Cam, and Scarlett the news just as we got home last night.

I woke up late this morning to check for updates. I saw another video, during brunch, from that same woman, showing message receipts from people I know from my dance team and from a couple of my classes! I even saw more from none other than Lucia, Cam, and Scarlett! God I'm so thankful. "These receipts," said the woman in the video, "are from people his age who supposedly go to college with him at Woodstreet University in Virginia." That's my university! The story is adding up so well. "So it's good that we now know his potential location, and luckily, Woodstreet University is close to home for me and my husband."
          I excitedly texted my friends the news in our group chat: "Guys, update!!! My bio mother knows where I'm located and she's close!!!"
          Cam is first to reply back: "Omg Harper, that's great! Did u see that I sent in my own message to the creator about u?"
          Me: "Yes, and I'm so thankful that you guys did that! It came up on ur fyp, too?"
          Cam: "Yeah, both videos this morning! I'm so glad they did!"
          Scarlett: "I doubt that I would have been able to see them in the first place and send in my message if it didn't pop up on my fyp. That's great news Harper!"
          Lucia: "Ooh, same here! That's wonderful."
          Me: "Thanks, guys! When we get the chance, I should try to meet with her and confirm that I am, in fact, her son."
          Scarlett: "So like a DNA test?"
          Me: "Yeah! I'll message her soon."

I spent most of my leisure time during the next week after that doing everything I could: checking my ancestry history online (to no avail), messaging the woman from my video who I'm sure is my mother (including me sending her pictures of what I look like now), and even messaging other people who know her. Eventually, I was able to connect her with Lucia, Cam, Scarlett, and the few other people I became friends with in my classes and on the dance team.

My best friend on the dance team, Aster, offered to drive me to dinner one night... He even said it would be okay to bring Cam, Scarlett, and Lucia along. Aster then asked us all to dinner at a local Mexican restaurant.
          Aster had his car with him, so he offered to drive all of us to the restaurant. But why tonight? What was his motive? I could be overthinking this, but it was odd to have someone ask me, and even Cam, Lucia, and Scarlett, to dinner randomly the day of... an hour before leaving.

Only when we arrive there do I know why he did it tonight. The host sat us down at a table next to another with two people who looked exactly like the ones I assumed to be my real parents. "Harper, look over there," whispered Aster to me. "Don't they look familiar?"
          I looked over, in shock. "Oh my God... they do!"
          "Wait!" exclaimed Lucia. "They do look familiar! Just like the one in those Tik Tok videos."
          Cam looked up and gasped. "Exactly! This is crazy."
          "I know! Harper, you should go talk to them," suggested Lucia. "If you want to."
          "I want to, but I also don't," I replied. "What if they get annoyed? What if I just end up being awkward and they have to laugh at me? What if I get up to wave 'hi' at them and they get creeped out by not knowing who I am?"
          "We'll come with you, Harp," Aster assured me. "I understand why you'd be scared. But we gotta do this if this is what you want."
          I nodded and smiled at him, agreeing. But then I heard a calming voice behind me: "It's okay, I recognize you."
          A little startled, I turned around and saw her. And I smiled and laughed. "What the hell? Are you that lady on Tik Tok talking about wanting to find your son? And who said you didn't want to give him up when you were forced to as soon as he was born?"
          "Yes indeed, that would be me," she said. "You look an awful lot like that kid I was talking to who said you could potentially be him."
          I chuckled, possibly having a revelation. "And I think I am... you must be my mother!"

My friends all got up to support me in the moment, communicating with her too to get her to realize that she had been messaging with them to find out more information. "Oh, I remember you kids! You said you were friends with my potential son?"
          "Yes, we did," said Aster. "And Harper didn't know that I planned this meetup with us with you." He turned to me, "I did this all for you, buddy."
          I could only smile in awe at him. Did I like him like that? I think... But anyways.
          "Tomorrow," said Scarlett, "we should go out and get a DNA test for you two so we can know for sure."
          "Oh yeah... Got that planned to. Don't worry Harper, we got you covered!"
          I gave both Aster and my potential mom a hug. "You guys are so sweet," I said while hugging my potential mom.
          Lucia winked at me. "Oh, it's nothing. Anything for our best friend."
          The five of us kids also took time to get to know my potential father. He was kind, funny as all get out, and very interesting.

The DNA test the next morning, with my best friends by my side, was successful. After taking the test, we had to wait for a few minutes to find out the results. I began to hyperventilate, which was normal for me but I hadn't done it in a while. "I'm really nervous for these results, guys."
          Aster sitting next to me helped me calm my breathing. "I get it. But it'll be alright. The worst that could happen would be that she happens not to be your real mom. I'm sure she'll be understanding of that."
          "Yes, definitely! She seems like a nice enough woman," said Cam.
          "Harper and Natasha?" called the doctor from the hallway.
          She and I went inside as my friends wished us both good luck. "So, guys, your results are in, and they are exciting!" exclaimed the doctor who tested us.

I knew it! She was my biological mom. She is my mom. Walking out of the room as we got ready to leave, I celebrated the moment with my friends. I would normally be anxious to react like this around other people, but for crying out loud, I just found my real mom.