When my daughter Sophie started second grade after we moved from Texas to Los Angeles, I never expected that a simple morning drop-off would change our lives forever. That day, Sophie was nervous about her new school. I gave her a hug and said, “Just be kind, and if someone’s not nice, walk away.” She looked up and whispered, “What if no one likes me?” I kissed her forehead and assured her she’d be okay.
But inside the classroom, something amazing happened. As Sophie entered, the room fell quiet, and then a few kids started whispering and pointing. One boy exclaimed, “It’s Sandra’s clone!” Sophie looked to the back of the class and froze—another girl, the same age, with the same face, was staring back at her in disbelief. The girl stood up and said, “Wow! We look like twins!” Sophie smiled, her nerves melting away. “Yeah, but I don’t have a sister,” she said. “Me neither,” the girl replied. Her name was Sandra.
From that moment, they were inseparable.
That afternoon, Sophie came home bubbling with excitement about her new friend. Intrigued—and stunned by their resemblance—I arranged a playdate with Sandra and her mom, Wendy, a few days later at a nearby McDonald’s.
When Wendy and Sandra arrived, I was shocked. The girls looked even more alike than I remembered. Wendy greeted us warmly, and as the kids played, we started talking. During our conversation, Wendy shared that Sandra was adopted—and that she was born in Texas. My heart skipped a beat.
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