Kelly
The studio lights glared against my skin as I adjusted my posture on the plush chair. The bustling energy of the set buzzed around me, but my mind was steady. After years of clawing my way to where I was, sitting in front of a camera no longer felt daunting. I had learned to mask my vulnerability beneath a polished, unshakable demeanor.
The host, a well-dressed man in his forties named Benjamin Carr, flashed me a charismatic smile.
"And we're live in three, two, one…"
The cameras blinked red, and the interview began.
"Good morning, everyone. Today, we're honored to have one of D.C.'s most talked-about rising stars, Congresswoman Kendra Lewis. Known for her bold reforms and fierce advocacy for underrepresented communities, she's become a name to reckon with in just a few short years. Congresswoman Lewis, thank you for joining us today."
I smiled, the kind I'd perfected for the media. "Thank you for having me, Benjamin. It's a pleasure to be here."
He leaned forward, clasping his hands.
"Your journey is nothing short of extraordinary. Just five years ago, no one had even heard of Kendra Lewis. Yet today, you're one of the youngest women to hold office in Congress. Many people are curious, where did you come from? How did you rise so quickly in such a competitive world?"
My smile faltered, just for a moment.
"I suppose you could say I've always believed in hard work and perseverance. My journey wasn't easy, but I'm proud of the steps I took to get here."
He tilted his head, studying me. "Your focus on child welfare and education reform seems deeply personal. Do you mind sharing what inspired you to champion these causes?"
My chest tightened. Aiden's face flashed in my mind, the way he used to cling to me as a toddler, the tears I had wiped away before leaving him, the promises I whispered to myself that I would come back for him.
"I believe every child deserves a chance," I said carefully. "No child should have to grow up feeling unwanted or unsupported. My work is dedicated to ensuring that no child is left behind, regardless of their circumstances."
Benjamin nodded, clearly satisfied with my diplomatic response. But then he shifted in his chair, his tone becoming more probing.
"Forgive me, Congresswoman, but there have been whispers about your past. People have noticed a resemblance between you and someone else, a former public figure named Kelly Brook. Is there any truth to those rumors?"
The air in the room thickened. My fingers tightened against the armrest, but I forced my expression to remain neutral.
"I've heard those rumors," I said, keeping my voice steady. "People love to speculate, don't they? But I prefer to focus on my work and the present rather than entertain baseless gossip."
Benjamin didn't back down.
"Of course, but it's rare for someone to rise so quickly without connections or a notable background. It makes people wonder about the woman behind the name Kendra Lewis. What do you say to those who question your authenticity?"
I leaned forward slightly, my voice firm.
"I say this: judge me by my actions, not by the stories others create. I've worked hard for everything I've achieved, and I'm not here to prove myself to skeptics. I'm here to make a difference."
The tension in the room changed, but Benjamin finally shifted gears, moving on to safer topics. The rest of the interview went smoothly, but his earlier question lingered in my mind long after the cameras stopped rolling.
...
After the interview, I slipped out of the studio and into the back seat of my car. My assistant Clara, sat beside me typing furiously on her tablet.
"Great job in there," she said without looking up. "The network is already buzzing with positive feedback."
I barely registered her words. My eyes were glued to the cityscape flashing past the window, memories from the past clawing their way to the surface.
Kelly Brook, the name felt like a ghost, haunting me even now. No matter how much I had achieved, I couldn't escape the shadow of who I used to be.
"Clara," I said suddenly. "Do you ever think about starting over? Completely erasing the past and becoming someone new?"
She glanced at me, surprised. "I don't know. I guess it depends. Why do you ask?"
I shook my head. "No reason."
But there was a reason. A big one.
....
That evening, I was stirring a pot of soup on the stove while Harper sat at the kitchen table, coloring in her favorite book. Her tiny legs swung back and forth, barely reaching the floor.
"Mommy," she piped up, her voice soft but curious. "When can I meet my brother?"
My hand paused mid-stir, the spoon resting against the edge of the pot. The question was simple, but the answer wasn't.
I turned to look at her, my heart squeezing. I had told her about Aiden once, thinking her five-year-old mind would let it slip away like any other fleeting detail. But Harper never forgot.
It happened last month during bedtime. She had cuddled into my side, her curls spilling over the pillow, as I told her a story about family. Out of nowhere, she'd asked why it was just the two of us. Her big brown eyes, so full of curiosity, had made it impossible to brush the question off. So I told her about Aiden, her older brother she'd never met.
At first, she'd giggled, excited by the idea of having a sibling. But since then, Harper hadn't stopped asking. Every night, she wanted to know more, what he looked like, what he liked to do, and why he wasn't here with us.
Now, her persistence continued, her voice breaking through my thoughts.
"He doesn't know about you yet," I said gently, turning fully to face her.
Harper frowned, putting down her crayon.
"He doesn't know about me?"
I nodded, walking over to sit beside her.
"Not yet, sweetie. But one day, he will."
She scrunched up her nose. "Why not? Don't brothers like meeting their sisters?"
"They do," I said, brushing a stray curl from her face. "But sometimes, it's not the right time. Aiden doesn't know about you because Mommy had to leave him a long time ago. It's not because he wouldn't love you, it's just complicated."
Her big brown eyes widened, glistening with the beginning of tears.
"You left him? Did he get mad at you?"
The guilt hit me like a tidal wave. I hugged her tightly, pulling her into my lap.
"No, sweetheart. It wasn't his fault or mine. Sometimes, grown-ups have to make really hard decisions to keep everyone safe and happy. But I promise, one day you'll meet him."
She sniffled but buried her face in my chest, nodding.
"I just want him to like me."
"Oh, Harper, he'll love you," I whispered, kissing the top of her head. "How could he not? You're the most amazing little girl in the whole wide world."
Her face brightened slightly, but her voice remained hesitant.
"You promise, Mommy?"
"I promise," I said firmly. "Someday, you'll meet Aiden. And I'm sure he'll think you're just as special as I do."
She pulled back, a tiny smile on her lips, and reached for her crayons. On the table, her coloring book lay open to a page with two stick figures holding hands, a boy and a girl, both smiling.
"Is that you and Aiden?" I asked, pointing to the picture.
Harper nodded, her curls bouncing.
"Do you think he looks like this, Mommy?"
I crouched down, studying her drawing.
"He looks a little different," I said with a smile. "But you'll know it's him when you see him. I'm sure of it."
Harper beamed, picking up her crayons again. As I turned back to the stove, I couldn't help but dwell in my thoughts again.
...
Late that night, as I lay in bed, my phone buzzed on the nightstand. I picked it up, squinting at the screen. The number was unlisted.
"Hello?"
A pause. Then a voice I hadn't heard in five years.
"Kendra. Or should I say, Kelly?"
My breath caught. "Who is this?"
The voice chuckled. "Don't play dumb. You know exactly who I am."
My mind raced. Was it Anderson? Kate? Someone else from my past who had somehow found me? Damn that fast?
"What do you want?" I demanded, my voice trembling despite my best efforts to stay calm.
The line went dead.