"You were following me this morning. And now you're in my room." She paused staring at the girl sitting at her desk who had clearly been making use of her stationary. "How curious."
The woman was not afraid. And as intrigued as she was, had not yet really asked any questions. For the moment she was content to gather as much information as she could from observing the still quiet stranger. The intruder was unusually attired. A no longer crisp white shirt was tucked into charcoal fitted trousers in turn tucked into black military boots. Her shirt was rolled up to the elbows exposing an elaborate 3/4 sleeve tattoo on her left arm. Shiny dark hair swept up in a messy bun. A rogue layer sweeping across her eyes obscured them.
Still no questions. They were openly staring at each other. Leisurely. Quietly and yet somehow without the awkwardness one might imagine in a situation such as this. The woman spoke goodnaturedly, "Well seeing as you've gone through all this trouble to see me, come stand up. Let me get a good look at you. You curious curious thing." She did as she was told and stood across from the young woman, leaving a distance of two feet between them. She tucked her hair behind her ears so that the latter could take a good look at her face.
It was apparent now that girl's eyes were a most unusual shade, a vivid-gemstone green unlike any she'd seen before. But the eyes. The shape of the eyes. The shape of her face. Those cheekbones. The dark, silkiness of her hair. The paleness of her skin. Were all too familiar. Except for the charming button nose and the shape of her mouth. All too familiar. A ghost of a memory embodied before her. She played with the locket around her neck as she involuntarily fell back a step.
She finally asked, "Who are you?"
No reply came. She looked like a girl now, no more than 18, she looked small and unsure of herself. There was a pleading in those too green eyes. There was compassion. And hope. Wordlessly, she reached out and positioned the two of them in front of the cherry wood vanity mirror. Side by side the resemblance was uncanny. The girl turned slightly pulling at the chain around her neck to reveal her own locket previously hidden beneath her shirt. Opening it so that the small black and white photo of a smiling eight-old-girl was displayed. The young woman mirrored her action and there appeared the most beautiful face betraying the faintest hint at an amused smile playing at her lips.
Unexpectedly, the girl reached out to cup the locket preciously in her palm, running her thumb over the picture as if she could somehow touch that face.
They were both in tears.
"How?" She gasped this time, "That's my picture, that's my mother's locket."
The young trespasser finally spoke touching the locket that was now closed against her chest, "Christina?"
Christina nodded, shaking her head in confusion and drying her face with her palms.
She spoke again, "Christina, please tell me what you're thinking. Who do you think I am?"
"It's impossible but, you have a look about you. I would know you anywhere. You look like my-my mother. So very like her. If I'd had a sister, I imagine she would look very much like you." Christina was smiling softly through fresh tears and reaching to softly draw the girl closer to her.
"You look like my sister," she shrugged shyly.
"I am." Came the reply. "I'm Charlotte."