The Missing Twin Chapter 1

It was Sunday, and I was playing hide-and-seek with my twin daughters.

My younger daughter, Anna, was hiding right behind the door, giggling. But my older daughter, Lily? I couldn't find her anywhere.

Just then, my wife came home. She saw me looking under the sofa and asked what I was doing.

"I'm looking for Lily," I said.

My wife’s face went blank. She looked at me with pure confusion.

"Honey, we only have one daughter."

* * *

I stared at my wife, Sarah, completely lost.

Sarah likes to prank me and the kids, sure. But joking about our children’s existence? That’s crossing a line.

I was anxious to find Lily, so I snapped back impatiently.

"Stop playing around, Sarah. I really can't find Lily!"

I walked toward the bedroom, calling out, "Lily! Come out! Daddy gives up!"

Sarah dropped the grocery bags on the floor and followed me into the bedroom. I thought she was finally going to help me look.

Instead, she leaned against the doorframe, looking at me like I had grown a second head.

"Will, are you out of your mind? Who is Lily?"

"We don't have a daughter named Lily!"

I slammed the closet door shut and yelled, "Enough! Stop the joke!"

My outburst scared Anna, who was standing in the hallway. She started to cry.

I immediately crouched down to comfort her.

"I'm sorry, Anna. Daddy shouldn't have yelled. Did you see where your sister hid?"

Anna was sobbing so hard she couldn't breathe. It broke my heart. I picked her up and rocked her.

Anna is non-verbal; she can only make simple sounds. She pointed frantically toward the bathroom.

I put her down and rushed into the bathroom.

I spun around. Nothing. Lily wasn't there.

Anna ran in after me. She grabbed my hand and pointed at the mirror, making urgent noises.

I froze for a second, then realized what she meant. She was saying I had mistaken her reflection for Lily.

They are identical twins, sure, but I’m their father. I don't make that mistake.

Anna shook her head violently, gesturing wildly.

I was getting frustrated. "Anna, stop it. Daddy is looking for your sister."

Sarah rushed in, snatched Anna up into her arms, and looked at me with genuine fear.

"Will, have you lost it? There is no Lily!"

Impossible!

I dragged Sarah into the living room and pointed at the large family portrait on the wall. "Tell me who the four people in this picture are!"

She pushed me away. "Look closely! Count them!"

I turned around, ready to scream, but the words died in my throat.

In the photo, it was just me, Sarah, and Anna sitting between us.

There was no Lily.

This was insane. I ran to the kids' room to find Lily’s clothes, her backpack, anything.

The bunk bed was still there.

But the top bunk—Lily’s bunk—was piled high with Anna’s toys and boxes. It looked like nobody had slept there in years.