Losing Me Finding You Read Free Page A

on,” my mum calls out.
    “Well, let’s go and find out what this is all about,” I say to my reflection as I pull on my dressing gown. Then I walk out of the bedroom I don’t remember and into a house I don’t know, to meet a family I don’t really recognise.
    “Here she is!” a man, who I’m know must be my dad, says.
    I smile at him because he looks warm and very friendly. He stands from his seat at the breakfast bar and wraps me in a huge bear hug. “Happy birthday, Evie girl,” he says, ruffling my hair as he pulls back.
    “Thanks, Dad,” I say, trying it out as I smile up at him.
    “Presents or breakfast first?” he asks, guiding me to a seat at the counter.
    “Umm, breakfast,” I say, more interested in finding out if my favourite breakfast is still my favourite breakfast. I don’t feel like I have changed, so I’m thinking not. But then my house, my bedroom, and my parents seem to have changed. I mean, nothing about this place or this family feels familiar, so who knows.
    “Here we go, birthday girl,” my mum says, placing a plate in front of me.
    I smile with relief when I see the french toast sitting on a pile of baked beans. Still my favourite. “Thank you,” I say, smiling at both of my parents, who are still smiling at me.
    To them, this and apparently me, is all very normal.
    Breakfast passes without too much weirdness, despite the fact that these two people feel like relative strangers to me. I don’t understand what’s going on, but they are very nice to me and it seems like I am happy here. I also discover I have a baby sister, who is only nine months old and spends most of the morning sitting in her high chair smiling at me. I don’t remember having a sister last night or for the last eight years and it’s weird to have one now, although not necessarily in a bad way.
    “Okay, time for presents, then it’s off to school,” my mum says stacking the plates in the sink.
    “Here we go, birthday girl,” my dad says, placing three wrapped boxes on the kitchen bench in front of me.
    I stare at them, not quite sure what to do. There’s something familiar about the smallest box.
    Don’t you want to open them?” he asks.
    I turn and see him smiling down at me and I nod, reaching for the parcel in the middle. When I rip off the paper, I see a Walkman inside and I can’t help the squeal of excitement I let out. The largest box contains clothes including a new jacket, which I decide I will wear to school today. Finally, I reach for the smallest box, which is wrapped in silver paper. My stomach flips a little as I try to imagine what’s inside. I pick it up and gently shake it to try and work it out. For some reason, something about this box, this package, feels very familiar.
    “Do you want to save it for after school,” my mum asks as if sensing my hesitation. “Have a present to come home to?”
    I glance up at her and see it’s okay if I do, so I nod, not quite sure why I’m not ready to open it yet.
    “That’s fine, Evie. But let’s go and get ready for school, okay? You’re going to be late, sweetie.”
    “Okay,” I say, jumping off my stool and heading towards the stairs, the unwrapped present still in my hand. Just as I reach the foot of them, I turn and take in the sight of what is apparently my family now. “Mum, Dad,” I say. They both turn to face me, smiles on their faces as they wait for me to speak. “Thank you,” I say, smiling back.
    My dad’s smile gets bigger as he says, “Of course, Evie, no need to thank us, sweetie.”
    I nod before heading back up the stairs to get ready for school.
    Still, as I climb the stairs, I have the strangest sensation.
    Almost like something is missing.
    Something very important.
    Something that might be related to what’s in this tiny silver-wrapped box.

24th July 1985
    Nine years old

    We’re getting new neighbours. I’ve been sitting here at my window watching the removalists unpack all morning. I have no idea who