A Child Called Me Claiming I Am Her Aunt —

One afternoon, a FaceTime call from my estranged sister Phoebe’s number shocked me. Instead, her daughter Amani, unknown to me, pleaded for help from Pinebrook. Confused and alarmed, I drove five hours to a secluded cabin. Amani, a young girl with urgent eyes, let me in, desperate to know her family. Phoebe appeared, stunned, and revealed she’d been hiding Amani to protect her from our abusive father, who turned violent after our

mother’s death. Fearing his threats, Phoebe had vanished, changed her name, and kept Amani secret. Devastated, I realized she endured this alone to shield me. We embraced, tears flowing, as Amani asked if we could be a family. Phoebe, hesitant but hopeful, agreed to try. I promised we’d face the healing process together, reuniting our broken family with cautious optimism.