What The Flood Didn't Take

Synopsis

Six years ago, a flood nearly took my brother's life. I pulled him out of the water, but the current dragged me under. After that, I disappeared. My family believed I was dead. Not long after, they adopted a girl named Regina Clarke. She moved into my room. She took my name. She lived my life as if it had always been hers, enjoying everything that once belonged to me. Six years passed before my memories came back. When I finally returned home, my parents drove Regina out without a second thought. I told myself that blood was thicker than water. I believed that, at least for a little while. Then we argued. In the heat of it, my brother and my childhood friend shoved me off the balcony. "She should have died in that flood," one of them said. "It would've saved us all this trouble." I hit the ground hard, but I stayed conscious. Every word they said reached me, clear as day. Footsteps rushed closer. When I opened my eyes and saw them running toward me, I slowly tilted my head. "Who are you looking for?" From that moment on, I stopped thinking of them as family. They were just tools now.