I’m lying on my bed with my laptop on my lap…
Casually scrolling through my social media feed…
When there’s an incoming video call from my boyfriend, Jake.
I answer the call and give him a cheeky smile.
Sarah
You only left a couple of hours ago…
Sarah
But you just can’t get enough of me, can you?
Jake doesn’t return the smile.
Sarah
Why do you look so serious?
Sarah
Is something wrong?
Jake
Sarah, there’s something I need to show you.
The photo appears on my screen.
It’s a group of friends posing for the camera on a dance floor.
It looks like any other regular nightclub scene…
The girl in the center of the group…
Jake
This photograph was posted to the club’s social media last night.
Jake
It was taken at 11:33 p.m.
I prop myself up and tuck my legs beneath me.
Sarah
But I wasn’t out at a club last night.
Jake
We were watching a movie together at your place.
I peer closer at the group around me in the picture.
Sarah
Who are these people?
Sarah
I’ve never seen any of them before.
Jake takes a deep breath.
Jake
What I’m about to say is going to sound crazy…
Jake
There are rumors going around…
Jake
That a creepy cloning company has been operating in this country for decades.
Jake
Parents pay them a ton of money to have their kids cloned at birth…
Jake
And then the clone is sent off to be raised by actors pretending to be parents.
I let out an incredulous laugh.
Sarah
You’re right, that does sound crazy.
When Jake remains serious, I frown.
Sarah
Why would anyone create a clone of their child?
Jake
To be the perfect organ donor…
Jake
If that child were to ever need a transplant.
Sarah
Wait, you’re not saying what I think you’re saying, are you?
Jake raises his eyebrows.
Jake
Your parents have always been really overprotective.
Jake
They’re exactly the kind of people who would have you cloned…
Jake
To make sure you were covered if you ever needed a transplant.
My eyes dart from side to side as the reality sinks in.
With a swift motion, I grab my laptop.
I hold it up as I get out of my bed…
Sarah
This is why they’ve always been so weird, isn’t it?
Sarah
They’ve been hiding this huge secret from me all my life.
Sarah
They cloned me at birth!
Jake
Sarah, keep your voice down!
Jake
Here’s the scariest thing:
Jake
If the clone ever finds out the truth…
Jake
They’re taken care of.
I twist my head to one side.
Sarah
When you say “taken care of…”
Sarah
What do you mean, exactly?
Jake
The fake parents say they’re taking them “to the grocery store.”
Jake
But they actually take them…
Jake
So that the cloning company isn’t exposed.
Sarah
What if that girl finds photos of me online and starts questioning things?
Sarah
What do I do, Jake?
Jake
I think you know what you need to do.
I slowly place my laptop on my desk…
Sarah
I need to contact her…
Sarah
And help her escape.
Jake
She’s been tagged as Angelica Preston.
Jake
I’m sure it won’t be hard to find her.
And I type “Angelica Preston” into my video-calling program’s search bar.
Her profile picture appears immediately…
I click the “call” button…
And when Angelica answers…
Her face goes as white as a ghost.
Sarah
Angelica, you don’t know me…
Sarah
But my name is Sarah…
Sarah
And as you can see, we look identical.
Sarah
I know this must be super weird.
Sarah
But please, whatever you do, stay on the call.
Angelica just stares at me, her eyes locked on mine.
Sarah
Do your parents know that you’re speaking to someone right now?
Angelica silently shakes her head.
Sarah
Is your bedroom door locked?
Angelica nods, still looking petrified.
Sarah
Okay, there’s no easy way for me to break this to you…
Sarah
But…you’re my clone.
I see Angelica’s breathing begin to quicken.
Sarah
You were created to serve as my transplant donor.
Sarah
Your parents aren’t really your parents.
Sarah
They’re actors hired to raise you.
Sarah
And if they find out that you know about this…
Sarah
They’re going to kill you.
After a moment of silence…
Angelica finally opens her mouth to speak.
I close my eyes for a moment…
And try to convey the gravity of the situation through my pained expression.
Sarah
Please, you have to believe me.
Sarah
Your life is in grave danger.
Sarah
You need to escape through your bedroom window and run away.
But Angelica just shakes her head.
Angelica
No, I’m telling you, you’ve really got this wrong.
Angelica
I’m not your clone.
I pinch the bridge of my nose, wishing she would accept what I’m telling her.
Sarah
You have to believe me!
Angelica abruptly raises her palm.
Angelica
Just…stop talking.
Trembling, she lowers her hand to her side…
And pulls her mobile phone from her pocket.
Then, she slowly raises it to her ear…
I’m about to ask Angelica who she’s speaking to…
When my mom’s voice calls up the stairs:
Mom
Honey, we need to go to the grocery store.
