I didn’t know what to say. So, I lowered my head, eating the crustless toast on the table, trying to digest everything alone.
The more I thought, the worse I felt.
Suddenly, I heard my mother’s voice. I turned my head and saw her hair was already turning white. Yet, her eyes looked at me with the same gentle kindness as before.
“Mom…” I threw myself into her arms and started crying.
I wanted to tell her everything that had happened, but before I could speak, a delicate-looking girl stepped out from behind her.
“Sis! It’s really you! You haven’t changed at all! Where have you been all these years? Mom and Dad have been searching everywhere for you!”
Mom gently let go of my hand, looking embarrassed. She explained softly that ten years ago, I had suddenly disappeared.
They looked for me everywhere, but couldn't find a single trace. It was like I had completely vanished from the earth.
Alexei was never the same after I disappeared. He drowned himself in alcohol every day.
My father died in an accident while searching for me. My mother fell into despair and even thought about ending her life. In the end, with our relatives’ persuasion, she adopted a girl named Camille. She looked a bit like me.