Blood raced through Alabama’s veins as she longed to understand where her DNA came from. Of course, Alabama understood intellectually that the origin of her DNA came from her two biological parents, but this knowledge was not helpful when she did not know them yet. Her primary prayer had been the same for sixteen years’ worth of nights, and that had been no different this night. This prayer was that tomorrow would come with answers. Gazing into the sunset sky questions had begun to multiply in Alabama’s mind, thus, she felt herself spiraling into an anxiety attack. These attacks had become a near-nightly occurrence. From wondering whether her biological parents were even capable of loving her? What was their story? To why they abandoned her?

As she tried to sleep, Alabama found herself imagining and creating what her biological parents may look like in her dreams. Her mind became flooded with all sorts of different combinations of various features that they could have. Alabama felt like she was building people out of what she pictured. The number of potential possibilities kept Alabama’s mind active as she pieced together opinions and worked through why the combos may or may not fit. From eye color and hair color to skin tone and facial features. After trying to sleep not successfully, Alabama decided to sketch out the some of the ideas that stood out to her this went on into daybreak. At daybreak, she stumbled down the stairs and choked down a dry chocolate chip muffin.

Rushing out the door in excitement, Alabama drove into town. The images that Alabama had sketched out had impacted her so much that she saw them in each person she crossed paths with that day. With each passing moment, she had become more and more determined and adamant about discovering the truth about her biological parents, thus finding out the truth about herself. Planting herself by the water, Alabama let the sound of water soothe her soul as she examined her options of how she wanted to go about things. Every thought was daunting; thus, every thought made Alabama’s heart skip beats as it responded to the anxiety she felt.

Although nothing seemed certain, Alabama needed to know the truth no matter how messy the truth could be that was certain. With that in mind, Alabama knew she had to keep going, even though the path would be difficult. Difficult roads lead to beautiful destinations such as feeling whole she thought as she leapt to her feet. Alabama raced to the Main Street Library. As she stepped into the library, Alabama scanned the library swiftly, her eyes locked onto the woman at the desk because Alabama thought the woman may have looked like her no way she thought to herself but what if she thought. ‘How can I help you today?” the woman with a warm, welcoming smile asked. Breaking out into a grin, Alabama replied where are the computers, please?” ‘Right this way.” Said the woman with a welcoming smile as they walked. Twisting in the chair, Alabama anxiously pounded the keys on the keyboard. Alabama could not let go of the idea that she and the woman looked alike.

Then again, she thought that she resembled everyone she met usually, it fades however this time the feeling did not fade away. Gleaming at the screen, Alabama became frozen by the thoughts of the unknowns that could begin to unveil themselves and what could be done in her life. The information that the computer held seemed exciting yet daunting. Alabama’s mind fought her because fear and excitement raged a war within her as her eyes darted back and forth between the keyboard and the screen. As if the answers would just arise without any action being taken. The longer Alabama peered at the computer screen, the more her anxiety arose. Although time seemed to halt, Alabama felt her stomach drop to her toes. Before she knew how information greeted her eyes, then her eyes lifted slowly from the keyboard.

Alabama felt her body shake from head to toe as she stumbled onto a newspaper article on the mystery of baby Jane Doe with a baby picture that she had seen and had told it was her. A multitude of emotions pulsated through Alabama’s body as the image circulated through her mind. The longer she examined the picture, the more she realized she needed some support from someone; thus, Alabama texted her best friend Jazzy to meet her at Moon Cows Milkshakes.

Despite her legs feeling like Jello, Alabama stood up and bolted from the library without any eye contact with a single soul. The next thing Alabama knew, she was at Moon Cow’s Milkshakes, although she did not remember how she got there after being caught up in her emotions. Jazzy tapped impatiently on Alabama’s window. “Anyone home?” Jazzy yelled repeatedly, questioningly bolting back to reality. Alabama answered with a laugh.

This was written by our contributing writer, Melissa Dingman.