Alice observes her son Adam creating peculiar drawings featuring two identical boys. When questioned, Adam claims the drawings depict him and his twin despite him being the only son in their family. Later, her son disappears, and upon his return, Alice discerns that the boy is an imposter pretending to be her son.
As the day neared its end on the city outskirts, 32-year-old Alice, a resilient realtor, picked up her son Adam from school. Simon, her husband, dedicated long hours to their family-owned cafe. Despite his frequent absence, the family of three remained tightly bonded.
Adam, a unique ten-year-old with autism, added a special dimension to their dynamic. His early realization of being adopted at seven astounded his parents but brought a sense of relief.
Despite challenges in social situations due to his autism or “specialty,” as his parents affectionately termed it, Adam found solace in books, drawing, and outdoor moments with the family dog, Rocky.
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The familiar warmth of their home welcomed Alice and Adam as they stepped inside. Directing her son to change out of his school uniform, Alice went to the kitchen to prepare dinner.
After dinner, Adam vanished outside to play with Rocky, leaving Alice to do her evening chores. Upon finishing the kitchen cleanup, Alice entered Adam’s room. While tidying, her eyes caught Adam’s school bag, still packed.
As she unpacked it, her fingers brushed against the familiar texture of Adam’s sketchbook. Initially filled with his typical fantastical creatures, it revealed something new. Drawings of two boys, strikingly similar, almost like twins, emerged. Their resemblance was uncanny—they shared the same hair, eyes, and smile.
In one sketch, the boys held hands, radiating joy. Another portrayed them engrossed in a ball game, frozen in mid-action. A third showed them proudly standing in front of a building resembling Adam’s school.
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This departure from Adam’s usual solitary or abstract art puzzled Alice. Seeking clarification, she decided to ask Adam about these unique drawings.
“Honey, I was sorting your backpack and saw these sketches. Could you tell me what these pictures signify and who these boys are?” Alice asked her son.
“It’s me and my new friend,” Adam answered, his voice steady and unambiguous.
“I didn’t know you had a new friend,” Alice echoed, sounding surprised. “Why didn’t you mention him earlier?”
“I thought you wouldn’t believe me,” he admitted.
“What exactly would I find unbelievable?” she queried, her eyes probing Adam for answers.
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“He’s my twin,” Adam declared, the words resonating in the silence that followed.
“What do you mean by ‘twin’?” Alice asked, attempting to decode Adam’s unique perspective.
“He looks exactly like me,” Adam clarified, his tone nonchalant. “His name is Arthur. We play together outside the school almost every day while I wait for you to pick me up.”
Speechless and flooded with questions, Alice refrained from pressuring Adam for details. Instead, she resolved to meet this mysterious “twin” by arriving early at school the next day.
An hour ahead of schedule, she parked at a distance, hoping for a clear view of the main exit. Unable to endure the suspense, she stepped out of the car, continuing her search on foot.
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Outside the staff room, she ran into Mrs. Cage, her son’s teacher.
“How is Adam feeling?” inquired Mrs. Cage, sounding concerned.
“What do you mean?” Alice asked, puzzled.
“Adam informed me about two hours ago that he wasn’t feeling well and that you were on your way to pick him up and take him to the doctor,” Mrs. Cage explained.
Without wasting another moment, Alice dashed out of the staff room. She and her husband scanned the whole school and drove around the neighborhood, but there was no sign of their son.
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They were on the brink of giving up when Mrs. Cage called, informing Alice that her son was okay and back at school.
