EPISODE 1 – MISTAKEN IDENTITYA young lady’s desire to nurture a relationship with someone like her loving sibling sparks tension, as suspicious accusations and jealousy mount.
A young lady’s desire to nurture a relationship with someone like her loving sibling sparks tension, as suspicious accusations and jealousy mount.
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A Tight-Knit Union
ASHLEY shares a close bond with her brother, Shannon, who is two years her senior. Often seen laughing together at outings, they have similar interests in food and entertainment. Their parents cherish the close-knit family.
In her mid-twenties, Ashley contemplates marriage and children. When family and friends discuss this, she feels pressured. Seeking guidance, she turns to her brother in the privacy of his room.
“Shannon, knock knock. Are you decent?”
“Sure. Come in. What’s on your mind?”
While rubbing her moist palms together, Ashley asks, “What qualities should I look for in a potential partner?”
“That’s a question you’d be better off answering yourself, Ashley.”
“I know, but I respect your opinion.”
“Well, he should treat you kindly and make you laugh.”
“Like you do?”
“I guess so. Good looks wouldn’t hurt.”
“Like yours?”
“That’s debatable, but thank you. He should also have a stable income.”
“Unlike you.”
“Harsh, but true.”
“Okay, thanks for your input. I’ll appreciate your feedback on my prospects.”
Trial and Error
Debutante balls aim to attract aristocratic suitors in her favorite period-piece romance movies. For Ashley, the world is her oyster when considering her options for a potential partner. Nightclubs haven’t been fruitful, partly because Shannon always accompanies her, sharing the same offbeat dance moves.
As if it’s the only obstacle, research on an actor on whom she had a crush during childhood reveals he is now a quadriplegic. Ashley decides to try a dating website. She builds her profile with no promising matches. Unbeknownst to her, Shannon also creates a profile, and Ashley appears as his perfect match.
Roger, an ignored acquaintance since high school, asks her out for the umpteenth time. To his surprise, she finally accepts. They spend the day bike riding and eating ice cream, which she pays for, since he forgot his wallet. When she returns home, Shannon expresses disapproval of the relationship. So Ashley ends it.
Shannon plays a prank by replacing his online photo with a fake one and begins sending Ashley messages through the dating app. She wants to meet this mysterious man. When he admits his mischievous act, she chases him around the house, snapping a wet towel.
The Search Continues
Ashley remembers Shannon's desirable qualities, leading to her search for similar-looking men on a doppelgänger website. She finds a few matches and starts corresponding with two men. After eliminating one due to a criminal past, she continues with Derrick, who lives further away but seems promising.
Ashley is conscious of her superficial basis for pursuing this relationship. Each video chat reminds her of conversations with her brother. Yet, she persists until overcoming the uneasiness of resemblance.
She is sympathetic to Derrick when he reveals his emotional trials. “Ashley, I appreciate you reaching out during a difficult time. My fiancée cheated on me, leading to a two-year depression.”
Ashley learns that Derrick wants to start a family. He has a home and is an attorney. As they open up more, she admits that there is a resemblance with her brother, without mentioning a doppelgänger. The mutual desire to have children and their connection on both intellectual and emotional levels draws them closer. In time, they arrange to meet in person.
“I think we’ve come to know each other pretty well. Yet, there is more to a relationship than air kisses and emoji embraces. If I send you an airplane ticket, would you visit me?”
“Isn’t that the plot of every horror movie? A woman in love meets a stranger online who leads her to her demise.”
“Well, it looks like you foiled my plan to do you in. Don’t be surprised if you hear my footsteps as I lurk over your shoulder.”
“Really? You’d do that?”
“I would drive a thousand miles to dine with you.”
“Your humor can be so odd sometimes, just like my brother’s. I’d love to see you if you’re serious about coming here.”
The clandestine meetup is a tense moment. Ashley spends a wad of money on a new hairdo. She then rushes home to try on a dozen different outfits and apply her makeup three times. An abrupt knock on her door startles her.
“Hey, Ashley, can I come in?” her brother asks.
“No, Shannon, it’s not a good time. Let’s talk tomorrow.”
After one last look in a full-length mirror, Ashley is ready for her second date with someone besides her brother. So she peeks around corners to slip out of the house without detection.
When her eyes catch sight of Derrick’s amid the hanging string of evening lights on the restaurant patio, her beating heart drowns out his greeting. She assumes that he said hello but he could have proposed marriage without her knowledge.
Finally, she hears, “You look amazing, Ashley,” during a welcoming embrace.
“Thank you,” she graciously replies while modeling a colorful short form-fitting dress. “And you’re a pleasant sight for the eyes as well.”
Soon, they are sitting at a table, as upbeat music suppresses the ambient street voices. The effort Derrick has gone through to meet her speaks volumes.
“I appreciate you coming this far for—dinner.”
“It’s no problem. The restaurant was on my way.”
“On your way where?” Ashley asks with puzzlement.
“It was the natural path to your heart.”
“Okay, you keep talking like that and I’ll have to pinch myself to prove this isn’t a dream.”
When Roger sees them in such an intimate setting on the patio, he marches over to express his disgust. “You two have no shame. I tried for years to offer you a legitimate relationship but you rejected me because of these sick feelings for your brother.”
“Roger, you don’t understand. My date is not Shannon. This is Derrick.”
“I can see with my eyes, and won’t let you play me for a fool twice,” Roger shouts before storming away.
The interaction perplexes Derrick who asks, “What was that all about?”
“Ignore him. He’s some disgruntled neighbor who has been harboring a crush since high school. We went out only once. Don’t let him spoil our evening.”
“It’s difficult to ignore someone who just spit on me.”
Dampening a cloth napkin and dabbing her date’s shirt, she replies, “I don’t think it was intentional. He tends to spray his s’s. If you don’t mind, I’d like another glass of wine to calm my nerves.”
The meal is exceptional and Derrick continues to make Ashley smile. His presence in the flesh is better than the many video chats and text messages. So she is curious about how the evening ends.
“Well, Derrick, it’s getting late. I hope you have a safe ride back home. Perhaps we can do this again tomorrow.”
He smiles at her snarky remark, offering a surprising reply. “I have a hotel for the week. So my fair maiden, I will look forward to your company tomorrow.”
“Really? That’s wonderful. Pick me up at my house to meet my family before we go out.”
When Ashley gets home, crickets are chirping in the backyard beneath the starry sky. Her brother yanks her dangling ankles from her bedroom window…, averting his eyes from her briefly exposed underwear, until the lawn cushions their fall.
In the backyard, he questions her about the new relationship and the text from Roger. “Sneaking in at night like a cat burglar is not like you. Do you care to explain yourself?”
“Shh! I’m not sneaking. I’m just trying to get inside—without detection.”
“That’s not funny. I received an odd text message from Roger about a certain woman dating a certain man. What’s that all about?”
“I appreciate your concern but it’s late. We don’t keep secrets from each other. I have met someone. Before I go out with him tomorrow, he will meet the family, here. Now, will you stop acting like an over-protective parent, so I can get inside from the cold?”
Continued…
Return twice weekly for miniseries. Any relation to actual persons or events is coincidental. Login provides the most immersive experience. About 2700 total words. Audio may include sound effects that alter reading time. Cinematic materials are available with ClinicalNovellas Cinematic membership. Story includes one or more generative AI images to help readers visualize scenes.
