#cosyma

Emily turns to lean back against the counter. She reminds herself to breathe. Just because Sarah’s calling does not mean that something is wrong. Maybe Sarah wants to catch up. Emily scoffs before that thought’s even finished. Sarah never calls to chat.

The last time they spoke was months ago, Sarah was trying to get out of a relationship. Emily offered to help financially, but Sarah mostly needed someone to talk to her and remind her of what was important — her family.

Foster kids like them learn to cling to whatever family they have. Emily’s already lost her dad, Amanda, Aiden, and Declan. She doesn’t even want to hear what Sarah’s into now. 

Still, she says, “Hey. Sarah, I… I can’t believe it’s you either.”

“Right.” Emily can hear Sarah fidgeting, pulling at her hair and shifting the phone in her palm. “Well, you told me before you’d help me with anything. I’m calling that in.”

Of course. “Sarah, I—“

“Emily!” Urgency slips into Sarah’s voice, loud and shaky, and Emily stops breathing long enough for Sarah to say, “It’s Kira.”

“Hi,” the little girl smiled up at Emily, all shy eyes and hands at the sides of her dress, “I’m Kira.”

Emily couldn’t stop the grin from forming on her own face. “Hi, Kira. I’m Emily.” Emily glanced around the park. “Do you have parents here, Kira?”

Kira nodded. “But my mummy won’t be happy if I don’t get my shoe.” Kira looked down then, and Emily followed her eyes to where there really was only one shoe on Kira’s feet. The girl wiggled the toes on her right foot and then lifted her bare left one. Where did her other flip flop go? “I lost it swinging.”

Emily lowered herself down to Kira’s level. “Do you know where it went?” Kira pointed to a bush nearby. “I’ll go get it. Come with me?” Emily held out her hand. Kira stared at it a moment before latching on. Together, they walked over to the bush so Emily could dig through it for the shoe. Before she could pull it out, she heard what she’d been waiting for.

“Kira!” The mom.

Emily pulled the flip flop from between the low branches and spun around in time to see a woman in a rock t-shit and pants tighter than probably even Amanda owned. Kira smiled at the voice and tucked her shoeless foot behind the other.

“Mummy. This is Emily.”

The mother noticed Emily, stiffened and motioned for Kira to come to her. “Hey, monkey, you know what we said about strangers. Mrs. S almost called the cops when you weren’t at the swing.”

Kira glanced down at that. Emily lowered the shoe to the ground then and stepped back. She addressed the mom, “I’m sure it won’t happen again. Your daughter seems far too smart to make a habit of it.”

Kira slipped her foot into her shoe. She looked to Emily, “Thank you,” then to her mom, “Can I go on the swings again?”

Mom sighed. “Yeah, sure, stay with Mrs. S though. Go.”

Kira rushed off in the direction of another woman who looked older than all of them. That woman — Mrs. S — turned enough to stop Kira from trampling over her. As Emily caught sight of Mrs. S’s face, she froze. Did that woman look familiar? The mom cleared her throat, pulling Emily’s attention away.

Mom said, “Hey, uh, thanks for not kidnapping her or anything. I’m Sarah.”

“Emily.”

“Emily?”

“Sorry. I’m here. What’s going on?”

“My life’s gotten really complicated, and now someone’s got Kira. I think I know who, but getting her back is hard. I need help, Ems.”

Emily sighs. If Sarah knows who to look for, Emily can get Nolan on it. Though, Nolan can’t do much if he doesn’t start answering her calls again. Where is he anyway? “I’ll call around and see what I can do.”

“Calling’s not enough. I need you and all your crazy focused spy stuff.”

“I’ve got my own stuff, Sarah. Buildings exploding, lives falling apart—“

“I’m a clone.” What? Sarah gulps on the other end. “That’s my stuff. I’m a bloody clone, and my bloody creators stole my kid because I wouldn’t sign over the rights to let them play around with my body twice a year. I can’t fucking handle all of this. Do you have any idea what it’s like to have your whole identity shattered?”

Yes. Emily clears her throat. “Better than anyone.”