I was standing in line at the pharmacy when a woman said, «you look just like my sister.» I smiled politely. She added, «she went missing 25 years ago.» I laughed nervously and said, «what was her name?» She stared at me and said, «your name.» The bottle dropped from my hand…

«‘Their lawyers argued that the statute of limitations «‘had passed, that they’d been good parents, «‘that I’d had a wonderful life. «‘All true, but it didn’t erase the crime. «‘In the end, they received probation and community service.

«‘The judge considered their age, «‘their otherwise clean records, «‘and my own complicated feelings about punishment. «‘I didn’t want them in prison. «‘I just wanted the truth.

«‘Meeting Emma for the first time was surreal. «‘My sister. «‘She looked like me around the eyes, had the same laugh.

«‘Her kids, my nephew and niece, «‘accepted me with the simple openness of children. «‘Are you the aunt who was lost?’ «‘seven-year-old Lily asked. «‘Grandma said you were lost, but now you’re found.

«‘Carol introduced me to the rest of the Anderson family «‘at a barbecue that felt like stepping «‘into an alternate life. «‘Aunts and uncles who’d searched for me. «‘Cousins who’d grown up hearing about the missing girl.

«‘They welcomed me with tears and hugs «‘and 25 years of stored-up love. «‘I kept my name as Jessica professionally, «‘but added Rachel legally. «‘Jessica Rachel Anderson Thompson.

«‘A mouthful, but it felt right. «‘I was both people now, «‘the one who was lost and the one who was found. «‘The Thompsons are still in my life.

«‘It’s complicated and sometimes painful, «‘but they’re the only parents I remember. «‘We have dinner once a month, «‘careful conversations over familiar food, «‘they’re in therapy, working through their choices. «‘So am I. «‘Carol and I have coffee every Tuesday now.

«‘She’s teaching me family history, «‘filling in the blanks. «‘Sometimes she brings Peanut the elephant «‘and I hold him while she talks. «‘I’m starting to remember things.

«‘The swing set in the backyard. «‘The way David used to toss me in the air. «‘Emma braiding my hair.

«‘The pharmacy where it all started «‘has become a strange landmark in my life. «‘I still go there, still stand in the same spot sometimes, «‘thinking about how a chance encounter «‘can unravel everything you think you know about yourself. «‘Here’s what I’ve learned.

«‘Identity isn’t just about who you think you are. «‘It’s about who you’ve been, «‘who you’ve lost and who you choose to become. «‘I was stolen, but I was also loved.

«‘I was lost, but I was also living. «‘These contradictions don’t cancel each other out. «‘They layer together like paint on a canvas, «‘creating something complex and beautiful «‘and entirely mine.

«‘My story went viral after the local news picked it up. «‘Strangers message me about their own identity questions, «‘their own family mysteries. «‘I tell them all the same thing.

«‘The truth will find you when it’s ready. «‘Sometimes in the most ordinary places, «‘like a pharmacy line on a rainy Tuesday, «‘when you least expect your whole world to change. «‘If you found this story meaningful, «‘please share it with others who might need to hear it.