I wiped my dripping nose and turned to face Regina’s angry expression as she stood looming above the sofa bed. I didn’t know how to answer her accusatory question. Tense seconds passed between us, punctuated by a whimper from me.

Abruptly, she sank to her knees and her eyes beseeched me.

“Are you really my twin sister? How could you not be? We look exactly alike…except you’re prettier. You’re a real girl—”

“You wouldn’t believe me if I told you who I really am. And it doesn’t matter. I’m leaving tomorrow morning as soon as I wash my clothes.”

“No, you can’t leave! Even if you’re not my twin. Mom is convinced you are. And I’ve never seen her so happy in years. Maybe ever—”

Tears cascaded down my cheeks again as I nodded, reaching out to grasp Regina’s hands. Not to Regina but to someone a world away, I whispered hoarsely between loud sobs.

“I’m sorry, mom! I’m sorry…”

“You really are my twin! But why are you apologizing? You were barely two weeks old when they took you away.”

“I’m not your twin, Regina.”

“Then who? Who are you?”

“I’ll tell you, but you won’t believe me—”

“Try me.”

I told her I was her in a parallel universe. A universe where no one, not least mom, took my gender dysphoria seriously. I refused to move to New York City with mom and Artie after our stepdad died. I threatened to run away because no one would listen to me. To believe I was really a girl, trapped in a boy’s body. Mom agreed to let me spend the summer in town with Uncle Richie and join them when they found a permanent place to live. But secretly, I was going to run away. I’ll be 18 in March. I wouldn’t need her consent to start on hormones and eventually get the surgery done.

“But how did you end up here…in my world?”

I told Regina about Uncle Richie investigating vortices in Parsons State Park and how I helped him draw up an electromagnetic field map of spots where people had mysteriously disappeared.

“Well, that sounds like kooky Uncle Richie, all right.”

“I thought I was going to drown in the lake, but it was like someone snapped their fingers and I came out bone dry, dressed like a girl and actually being a girl. I tried to find Uncle Richie, but he was nowhere in sight. So, I decided to walk back to Uncle Richie’s house. That’s when your stepdad picked me up on the highway. I was so stunned he was alive that I was struck dumb. I didn’t say a word until we got home.”

“I can’t process all this. It must be true. You look exactly like me, and you know every detail of our lives, except for some obvious differences. But it’s like science fiction. Parallel universes, vortices…” Regina squeezed my hands. “You can’t leave. To mom, you’re her long lost baby girl. She’d be devastated if you dropped in and out of her life like this.”

“I should leave. Maybe there’s a way to get back to my universe. I don’t belong here.”

“You don’t know if there’s a way back. Probably you’re stuck here. And you’re what you’ve always wanted to be…a real girl! A real one. You can probably have babies! What I wouldn’t give to be in your place—”

Mom appeared in the doorway of the kitchen. She had come out to pour herself a glass of water.

“Girls! It’s late. Regina, you have school tomorrow. Go back to bed. You have the rest of your lives to engage in sister talk.”

“Yes, mom,” we said in unison.

“You’re right, Sara. She’s the spitting image of Regina. It’s remarkable.”

I looked up from my bowl of Fruit Loops and met Uncle Richie’s astonished stare. Of course, it was “parallel” Uncle Richie, not the one back home. I had been finishing up breakfast with mom. She had taken the day off from work to babysit me. Or watch guard over me? Nick, Artie, and Regina had already left the house more than an hour before. I was waiting for my clothes to stop tumble drying.

“Gigi, this is my brother, your Uncle Richie. I asked him to come by—”

“Yeah, he’s obsessed with bizarre, inexplicable things. Like me?”

“How would you know that, Gigi?”

I realized I had slipped and immediately replied, “Regina told me all about you…last night.”

“Gigi, why don’t you check to see if your clothes are dry? I want to speak to your uncle privately for a minute. And just put Regina’s pajamas in the hamper.”

Reluctantly, I rose from the kitchen table, placed my bowl and utensils in the sink, and walked briskly toward the back of the house where the utility room was, with its door opening into our garage. I overheard mom whispering to Uncle Richie, “It’s spooky how she seems to know her way around the house blindfolded.” I smiled to myself. Of course, I was home. Sort of.

I pulled my clothes out of the dryer. Irresistibly, I pressed them against my nose to take in their warm, clean, floral scent. I was about to strip off my pajamas and change back into my t-shirt and jeans when the urge to eavesdrop on mom and Uncle Richie became too much to ignore. Like Spiderman, I plastered myself against the walls and tried to maintain radio silence as I approached the kitchen.

“Selective amnesia can occur after traumatic or stressful experiences. Like collateral victims of war, natural disasters, the death of a loved one, sexual abuse, rape—”

“Oh God no! Not my sweet baby girl! You think she’s running away from abusive parents?”

“Happens, Sara. Happens. Unfortunately.”

“I don’t know who adopted her. It’s the damned law. They strip the birth mother of any parental rights. I have no idea what kind of hellish childhood Gigi had.”

“Let’s not jump to conclusions—”

“That’s all you ever do, Richie. You believe in ancient aliens for godsake!”

“I’ll tell you what. I have some contacts in the courthouse. Maybe I can find out who the adoptive parents are. Then check into the situation. It might just be a relatively trivial parent-child conflict.”

“It can’t be trivial if she claims to not even remember the names of her parents or where she lives. I’m not even sure her name is really Gigi—”

“But you’re sure she’s your daughter?”

“A mother knows her own child. Even separated by seventeen years.”

“What does Nick have to say about this?”

“He has no say. She’s my child, not his. Any objection he has is a non-starter.”

“Okay, Sara. I’ll get on it immediately. Hopefully, I’ll have the lowdown on her by sometime next week. This might cost me an uncomfortable date with a less than desirable companion.”

“I owe you, brother.”

Sensing their conversation was about to end, I ran back to the utility room and hurriedly changed clothes. I heard the front door slam shut just as I arrived in the kitchen.

“I feel like getting some fresh air…uh…mom.”

“Don’t go too far, Gigi. The streets in this neighborhood can be very confusing. You could get lost.”

“Mr. Tubbs knew the neighborhood streets as well as any human,” I said under my breath.

“How do you know about our dog? Poor mutt had to be put down last year. Regina cried for a week after.”

“Oh, Regina told me about Mr. Tubbs last night.”

“Quite a conversation you two had.”

“I’ll be back in a few.”

I almost stumbled over the steps of our stoop as I ran to intercept Richie before he drove off.

“Uncle Richie! Wait! I need to talk to you.”

Richie unlocked the doors and I scooted into the passenger seat next to him.

“Let me guess. Your name’s not really Gigi.”

“I can tell you because if you’re anything like my Uncle Richie you’ll believe what I’m about to say.”

“Shoot.”

“I’m Reggie, your nephew.” Richie arched one eyebrow and was about to speak when the torrent of words just spilled out of me.

I essentially gave him the same summary I had offered Regina last night. I spoke quickly and barely took a breath, not allowing Richie to interrupt. Finally, I stopped. He scratched his head and threw it back against the headrest. He whistled.

“At first, I was thinking I’m talking to a lunatic but…you know too much you couldn’t possibly know…unless you’re actually telling the truth. I’ve never told anyone about the vortices in Parsons State Park. Not even Regina. She’s a skeptic like almost everyone else. Your mom…I mean Regina’s mom…doesn’t even believe in Santa Claus, for godsake.”

“Is there a way I can get back to my own universe?”

“Who knows? No one’s ever come back to tell us. It’s like a black hole. You have to pass through the singularity to find out. No one’s gone through and come back out…as far as we know.”

“I could retrace my steps. Go back into the lake.”

“It might work but, Reggie, you might just end up in yet another universe. And you’ll probably not be a girl in that one either.”

“Wait a minute. Grant Moorefield! He went through that same vortex, and he even communicated with you in dreams afterwards. We can contact him here. He’ll be able to help me.”

“Is that one of the Moorefield brothers? The ones with the podcast? What’s it named? Oh, yeah. ‘Beyond Bizarre.’ I don’t know him, Reggie. You’re talking about the one in your universe. The Grant Moorefield in this universe might not be the same dude.”

“Shit, shit, shit.”

“In the meanwhile, Reggie, just chill. Nothing’s going to happen until we get your identity cleared up. It’s just a hunch but we’re not going to run into Regina’s real twin anytime soon.”

“How’s that?”

“The laws of conservation of mass and energy, kid.”

“That’s physics, Uncle Richie. You’re a Contemporary History professor, remember? We’re not talking about chemical reactions.”

“You’re definitely not the Reggie I know from this universe. Regina only cracks a textbook under threat of being left back a grade.”

As Richie drove away, my shoulders drooped on my slow walk back to our house. Facing an uncertain future in a completely alien parallel universe can really bring you down. A familiar face appeared above the hedge bordering our house with our neighbor’s. It was Mrs. Gillespie, a 70-year-old widow who lived alone, spending most of her time tending to her extensive flower garden. During the warm months of the year, the pungent scent of a dozen varieties of flowers wafted from her backyard. Good thing no one in our family suffered from allergies.

“Oh, Regina, nice to see you. No school today?”

“Uh, good morning, Mrs. Gillespie. Just a little under the weather. But I’m already feeling a whole lot better. The fresh air helps.”

“I understand. I hated going to school on a nice day like today when I was your age too. I must say, Regina, I can’t believe you were a boy named Reggie just a little more than six months ago. You look so beautiful now. Like you were meant to be. I’m glad your parents finally saw the light.” She disappeared behind the hedge for a second before popping back up, a single red rose in her right hand. “I just took some cuttings this morning. Here, this is for you, dear. One of many you’ll receive from your future swains, I’m sure.”

I took the rose from her and thanked her. The petals tickled my nose as I breathed in its perfume.

“O my love is like a red, red rose
That’s newly sprung in June.
O my love is like the melody
That’s sweetly played in tune.”

“Robert Burns, the Scottish Bard. Do you still read him in school, dear?”

I blushed a rosy, red hue as Mrs. Gillespie smiled at me over the hedge.

When I eventually returned from my “fresh air” jaunt, mom motioned me over to the kitchen table. She patted the chair next to her. I plopped myself down.

“You need several changes of clothes. Some tops, slacks, skirts, socks, tights, panties…and, oh yes, some bras. I really don’t think a proper young lady should go around braless. Your adoptive parents let you walk around like that?”

“I…I don’t know. I don’t even remember how I ended up dressed like this yesterday.”

“Well, let’s not worry about that right now. Uncle Richie will get to the bottom of it soon hopefully. As for now, I want Regina to take you to the mall tomorrow and shop for what you need. I’d take you myself, but I had to switch days at work to take off today. Now I’ll have to work the weekend to make up for it.”

“I’m sorry you had to do that, mom. I’m causing you so much trouble—”

She reached over and held my face in her hands, tenderly.

“No trouble, honey. Never. I just love having my baby girl back. And you’ll have so much fun shopping with your sister Regina. You know, just a month ago she had her first bra fitting and she was so proud. All she does now is read fashion magazines. I wish she’d apply herself more to her studies. I’m afraid she’s going to be as boy crazy as I was at her age.”

“I can’t stand taking the bus everywhere,” Regina almost screamed as we entered The Westfield Garden State Plaza in Paramus, a mall I’d been to countless times in my life. I could recall shopping for mom’s birthday gift here just two months ago…in my universe. “I bet you drove back home in your world.”

“No such luck. I got my license but then dad died…my dad…and we couldn’t afford to get me a car. Even a beat-up used one. Why doesn’t Nick buy you one?”

“Well…I know they’ve had to spend a lot on my counseling and hormone therapy. I feel like I’ve been enough of a financial burden on them. Neither of their health plans cover my…stuff.”

“You’re a good daughter, Regina. Better than I was…”

“Well, you can turn over a new leaf now, Gigi. Ha ha. Reggie—”

“It’ll be different having a sister. And being a sister!”

“You and me against the world, sister!” She hooked her arm into mine and we started to traipse through the mall, singing the Laverne & Shirley song like a couple of lunatic teenage girls (which we were!).

“Schlemiel! Schlimazel! Hasenpfeffer Incorporated.”

People in the mall couldn’t help but stop and shoot us some curious looks. Some laughed. Some snickered and shook their heads. More than a couple of teenage boys whistled and pointed at us.

“We’re getting a lot of attention, Regina. They’ll call the men in the white suits with fish nets to take us away soon.”

We sang even louder as we made our way through the expansive concourse, headed for the row of teen apparel shops on the first level of the mall. Suddenly, Regina stopped singing and pulled me over into a side corridor behind a T-Mobile store.

“What?”

“It’s George Parker and that bitch Winnie Schlitter! I don’t want them to see me!”

“George is my best friend in the world and Winnie…sure she’s a bit much but what do you expect from the head cheerleader who dates our star basketball player—”

“Basketball? He’s the quarterback on the football team! George and I used to be best friends forever. Then I started transitioning and he’s given me the cold shoulder ever since. He acts like I’m some kind of monster. It makes me…” Regina’s eyes started to redden.

“Well, well. If it isn’t the girly boy itself. Hello, Reggie. Or do you prefer your alter ego, Regina?”

Discovered, we came out from hiding. I tried to stay a couple of paces behind Regina, raising the hood of the pullover I’d borrowed from her to obscure my face and turning slightly away from view. Winnie had a tight grip on George’s arm even as George carried shopping bags in both hands. He did a double take.

“You’re twins?”