Chapter 5

Narrative: Naomi McGregor

My mother and I strolled down the street together, our conversation light despite the unease stirred by police cruisers patrolling nearby. We deliberately pushed those concerns aside, focusing instead on enjoying each other’s company as we headed toward a meeting with her brother Jacob.

My clothes were simple—a yellow pair of shorts and a white top. I chose shoes that bent easily; others felt too stiff and heavy, unsuited for climbing if needed. My mother wore a white and yellow floral dress with similar comfortable shoes, ensuring she was prepared for anything.

As we walked I felt nervous, knowing we were about to meet my uncle. “Does he know about me, Mom?” I asked, anxiety tingeing my voice. “Not yet, darling,” she replied, adding, “He doesn’t even know which version of his sister is arriving—it’s going to be a bit of a shock.” Well that makes me feel much better, I thought sarcastically.

Narrative: Aisha Johnson

I noticed an ice cream van parked along the curb and it never crossed my mind that Naomi had never tasted ice cream. “Let’s get something,” I suggested as we approached the vendor, Naomi tilting her head with curiosity at the colorful images plastered on the side of the truck. “Is it food?” she asked innocently. “Kind of, it’s sweet,” I replied with a warm smile.

The Italian vendor leaned out, his face lighting up with a welcoming grin and his words carrying the distinct rhythm of his accent. “What can I get you two lovely ladies?” he inquired warmly. I placed our order—two whipped ice creams in cones topped with flakes—and he responded with enthusiastic flourish, “Coming right up!”

As the vendor worked the lever, twisting the cone in smooth circles to catch the flowing ice cream, Naomi watched every movement with rapt attention. Even such a simple task held her complete fascination.

He handed the treats to us as I completed the payment. Naomi examined hers with intense scrutiny before taking a large bite. “No! Naomi!” I exclaimed, but it was already too late—she clutched her head in agony from an instant brain freeze. I realized my mistake; I hadn’t warned her to simply lick rather than bite into the frozen dessert.

“What just happened? My head!” Naomi cried out. Once she recovered, I explained that ice cream should be savored by licking gently rather than biting. She tentatively extended her tongue, barely grazing the surface with the tip as if testing dangerous waters. A small laugh escaped me at her caution, but soon enough she grew bolder and began lapping with growing enthusiasm.

Real world Aisha had given me Jacob’s current address—a suburban house they’d recently bought. Naomi and I now stood before the charming home, where a neatly trimmed lawn met vibrant flowerbeds. The tasteful arrangement felt unmistakably like Sophia’s touch.

I knocked on the door, hearing footsteps approach moments later. As the door swung open, I raised an eyebrow in curiosity. “Auntie?” a young man asked, and recognition dawned on me—it was my nephew Eli. My eyes widened with surprise as I pulled him into a warm embrace. “Eli!” I exclaimed. He grinned and remarked, “You look so different.” Smiling back, I teased, “And you look handsome,” giving his cheek a playful pinch.

Eli gestured us inside, his gaze lingering on Naomi with quiet curiosity. Naomi kept her head bowed, avoiding eye contact as she trailed behind me. “Dad’s out back tending the garden, and Mom’s running errands,” Eli explained. I nodded and glanced around the cozy living space, appreciating its welcoming charm.

“Is she coming back soon?” I asked, referring to Sophia. Eli shifted uneasily, avoiding my gaze as he muttered, “I don’t know!” His voice betrayed a clear discomfort with my presence and its implications for his mother.

Eli leaned closer, murmuring under his breath, “Who’s that? She’s cute!” referring to Naomi. I nodded in agreement, acknowledging her appeal before adding quietly, “Yes! She is but also fifteen—keep your eyes to yourself.”

“I’ll go get Dad,” he offered, but I cut him off quickly. “No—I’ll go surprise him myself.” I gently nudged Naomi along with me, not wanting to leave her alone with Eli, whose gaze lingered on her just a little too intently.

We navigated through the living room, heading towards the glass door that led to the garden. Through the glass, I spotted Jacob settled on a deck chair, taking swigs from a beer bottle. As I pushed the door open, he turned his head in my direction. His eyes narrowed sharply as he recognized me. “Aisha?” he questioned cautiously. I responded with a confident smile and affirmed, “Yes, Jacob, it’s me!”

He stood up as we embraced, his brow furrowed with confusion. “Why do you look so different?” he asked, though I had anticipated the question. I smiled lightly. “My hair perhaps?” He studied me for a moment longer before nodding slowly. “Yeah, but you look thinner too,” he remarked, noting how the island air had subtly reshaped my figure. I gestured toward Naomi, who lingered nervously nearby. “This is Naomi,” I explained gently, introducing her properly this time so there would be no mistake about her identity or significance to me. “She’s my daughter, Jacob.”

“Your daughter?” he exclaimed, his voice laced with disbelief. I confirmed with a nod. “How? When?” he pressed urgently, his questions completely justified given the situation. As we settled into chairs, I began my explanation. “Jacob,” I said carefully, “the Aisha you know isn’t the one standing before you now. The changes you see—the difference in my appearance and the fact that I have a fifteen-year-old daughter named Naomi—are all because I’ve been stranded on a deserted island with another man ... and it was there that Naomi was born and raised.”

Jacob looked away, deep in thought. “This is so weird,” he muttered quietly. I couldn’t help but agree silently—that was an understatement if ever there was one. He paused for a moment before continuing with a strange intensity. “I had this dream recently,” he began as my eyebrows knitted together in concentration. His words took on a surreal quality as he described the vivid scene: “It felt so real, you were there, exactly as you appear now—your hair, your presence—and Sophia was with you too. You both held each other tightly, crying.” My eyes widened involuntarily; it was the same dream that had haunted me.

“I had the same dream,” I said, my voice trembling slightly as I recounted the memory. “I told you about this exact vision a couple of weeks ago, and you dismissed it as nothing more than a dream. But now you’re claiming to remember it?” He stared back at me, confusion clouding his expression. “Jacob,” I clarified, trying to steady myself, “I never saw you two weeks ago—that was the other version of me, the one who hadn’t been stranded on that island.”

Narrative: Naomi McGregor

My mother recounted everything to my uncle—the plane crash, the island, my father being white. Though truthfully, he looked more like a shade of beige. She detailed my birth and our life in that isolated paradise, stirring memories of all I longed for from our time there. In the end, my uncle looked even more confused than ever.

In the corner of my eyes I saw an animal, it was different than any other animal I had seen before. Looking similar to those wild tigers I saw on TV but it was much smaller wondering around in the garden. Instinctively I got up slowly inching slowly.

Narrative: Aisha Johnson

“What’s she doing?” Jacob whispered beside me. I kept my gaze locked on Naomi as she crept toward the small cat. “She’s exploring,” I murmured back, watching intently as the creature remained oblivious to her slow advance. In one sudden movement, Naomi pounced just as the cat noticed her and tried to dart away—but she caught it firmly in her grasp. Jacob’s eyes grew wide with astonishment. “That cat always escapes us—it’s impossible to catch!” he exclaimed, shaking his head in disbelief. I couldn’t suppress a proud smile as I replied, “She’s a jungle girl, Jacob.”

Narrative: Naomi McGregor

As I caught this animal, it thrashed wildly, hissing and clawing at me. Its sharp nails raked my hands and tangled in my hair. “Naomi! Let it go!” I heard my mother shout out. Startled, I released the creature—my goodness, that thing was fierce. Sitting back down, I examined the scratches on my arm and hands. Had catching it really been worth all this?

“We need to tend to those scratches,” my mother said. I shrugged my shoulders. My uncle called out, “Are you okay, Naomi?” I gave a quick nod. “Why did you do that?” he asked. I replied, “I thought it looked like something we could eat!” He glanced at me and then they both burst into laughter. I stared back, bewildered. If only those claws hadn’t been so fierce, I would have killed it by now.

One thing was certain—that animal had proven itself a formidable adversary. As my mother wiped away a tear of laughter, she clarified gently, “Naomi, that was a cat! We don’t eat those,” and I realized with sudden clarity what I’d almost done. My uncle added with a wry chuckle, “If you had, the neighbors wouldn’t have liked it one bit—it’s their pet.” His laughter continued to ripple through the air as I absorbed the lesson in my bewilderment.

Narrative: Aisha Johnson

As I calmed down from that cat ordeal, I asked gingerly, “When’s Sophia coming home?” He immediately said, “She purposely left and is waiting for you to leave,” he stated as a matter of fact. “Oh, Jacob, was I that bad?” I replied. “It wasn’t just you Aisha; our parents are still making it very difficult for her and me.” he said as he continued. “It almost cost me my marriage—it got to a point where we went to a couples therapist. It affected us so much, I felt like I was losing her.”

I felt a surge of sympathy for Jacob and especially Sophia. I knew I needed to talk to my other self, to persuade her to embrace Sophia and help mend this rift in the family.

“All these years,” I murmured, my voice heavy with disbelief. “Mom and Dad still haven’t accepted her?” I pressed further, needing confirmation of what seemed incomprehensible. He nodded solemnly. “It’s eased up over time—they merely tolerate her now. They’ve come to realize I won’t abandon her, no matter what. Even her own parents had doubts about everything.”