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00:00The day the Whitlaker's real daughter came home. I didn't fight it. I didn't make a scene.
00:05I just went home with my real parents. Mr. and Mrs. Whitfield said I was a thief who'd stolen someone
00:10else's life.
00:11But later, I learned even a thief could have parents who left.
00:14Eighteen years ago, two families took home the wrong babies from the same train.
00:18Zoe and I were both just over a year old, wrapped in similar blankets, sleeping on opposite sides of the
00:22aisle.
00:23When Mrs. Whitaker got off the train, she picked up the wrong baby.
00:26The Whitler's took me. The Larsen's took the Whitler's daughter.
00:30I'm 19 now.
00:34The Whitlerks had known for years I wasn't really theirs.
00:37They never told me, and they never sent me away.
00:40They raised me while they searched for their real daughter.
00:44A little over six months ago, they found her.
00:47That was the day the two families got their daughters back.
00:50I packed my things. No jewelry, just a few changes of clothes.
00:53The Whitler's didn't exactly abuse me.
00:56I had the best food, the best things, the best schools and teachers.
00:59They just never saw me. Like I was invisible in that house.
01:02When I was little, I didn't understand. I thought I'd done something wrong.
01:05If I tried a little harder, would they finally see me?
01:08So I studied like crazy and came in first in the whole school.
01:11I set my report card on the dinner table.
01:14Mom, I came in first.
01:16Mrs. Whitlecker kept turning the pages of her newspaper.
01:19She never looked up. They said nothing.
01:22When that got me nowhere, I went the other way.
01:25Died my hair, smoked, stayed out all night.
01:27Even ended up at the police station for fighting.
01:30The officer called them three times.
01:33Your parents said they're busy.
01:34They still didn't come.
01:36Later, I realized it was simpler than that.
01:38They just didn't care.
01:39No matter what I did, they wouldn't even look at me.
01:42So the day I found out I wasn't really theirs, I actually felt relieved.
01:45So that was why.
01:46They treated me that way because I wasn't really theirs.
01:48It wasn't me.
01:49By the time I came downstairs with my bag, Zoe was already there.
01:53Zoe was the Whitlaker's real daughter.
01:55She was a little chubby, with rosy cheeks and dimples when she smiled.
01:58She looked healthy.
02:00Dad! Mom!
02:01When she saw Mr. and Mrs. Whitlaker crying, she went right up and hugged them both.
02:05And I just looked at the two people in front of me.
02:07My biological parents. Complete strangers.
02:10Their clothes weren't designer, but you could tell they dressed with care.
02:14I'd never been through anything like that.
02:16I just stood there, not knowing what to do.
02:17That's our daughter, alright?
02:19Just like that, those big rough hands closed over mine.
02:21They were warm.
02:22So warm, my heart trembled.
02:28Over there, the Whitlakers were taking Zoe to see her room.
02:31Mom took my hand and followed.
02:33As long as I could remember, the biggest, nicest room in that house had always been empty.
02:38Now it finally belonged to someone.
02:40The room had been done up with care.
02:43Mrs. Whitlaker had picked out the clothes herself, and the jewelry she'd been saving filled the vanity.
02:48Zoe froze for a second, then lit up.
02:50Wow, I really hit the jackpot.
02:56Mrs. Whitlaker looked heartbroken for her.
02:59I've been saving all this for you.
03:01From now on, if you want something, just tell me.
03:05Then Mrs. Whitlaker heard Zoe had gone into baking after high school, and was working at a bakery.
03:11A job?
03:12My daughter has to work in a bakery?
03:15When she looked at me, there was even more resentment in her eyes.
03:22My mom yanked me behind her, eyes wide with fury.
03:26What are you looking at?
03:27This was you adults' mistake.
03:28Why should a kid pay for it?
03:30Back on that train, you grabbed the wrong baby.
03:32We were careless too.
03:34We didn't realize we'd brought home the wrong child.
03:36My girl was fine, and you turned her timid!
03:38You think I don't know?
03:39I heard what your nanny and housekeeper said to her.
03:42No little girl should hear that.
03:44Timid?
03:44In my house, she had the best of everything.
03:46With a family like yours, what can you even give her?
03:49The two families started screaming at each other.
03:51First about whose fault it had been, then about which family had failed the girls.
03:56Then it got physical.
03:59My mom raked her long red nails across Mrs. Whitliad's face.
04:03Mrs. Whitlicker grabbed a fistful of my mom's curls and wouldn't let go.
04:09Neither dad could pull them apart.
04:15Zoe finally broke it up.
04:17My mom grabbed my hand and walked out.
04:24On the way downstairs, my mom gave me a secret little smile and whispered in my ear.
04:28I scratched her up good.
04:29Snuck in a few kicks too.
04:31She'll be sore all over tomorrow.
04:32Mom got even for you today.
04:34Nobody gets to bully you again.
04:35If anyone does, you tell mom and I'll deal with them.
04:38When I got into it with kids at school, the first thing Mrs. Whitlicker did was make me apologize.
04:46Apologize.
04:48But I didn't start it.
04:50I don't have time for this.
04:51Apologize, then we're going home.
04:54She just wanted it over with.
04:55So when I was little, everyone knew Nina had no one to stand up for her.
04:59They could bully her and nothing would happen.
05:01The first time someone stood up for me, it felt strange.
05:04Like something inside me was cracking open.
05:07Tingling and prickling and warm all at once.
05:10At the door, I hesitated.
05:11I thought I'd get to see Ethan one more time.
05:14I asked the nanny.
05:16Is Ethan back yet?
05:18Not yet.
05:19But he never came.
05:20Ethan was Zoe's brother.
05:22He was also the only person in that house who ever really saw me.
05:25Mr. and Mrs. Whitlicker never told Ethan I wasn't their biological child.
05:28Before he found out, he was a good brother.
05:31When everyone else looked right through me, he was the only warmth I had.
05:35Ethan was the only one who'd scoot me up and spin me around when I told him I came in
05:39first.
05:41Nanny, that's amazing.
05:42My sister's a genius.
05:47He came for me too, in the middle of the night after I got lolled into the police station for
05:51fighting.
05:52He came in furious.
05:54Then he saw the cut on my face and his eyes filled up.
06:00Look.
06:02See these grey hairs?
06:03You gave me every last one this year.
06:05That night, we walked in silence, one behind the other.
06:08After a long while, he turned around.
06:10His eyes were wet.
06:11Can you just be okay?
06:12I'm begging you, please.
06:13After that, my brief rebellious phase just blew me and blew me.
06:16That was the day I realized Ethan was the only one in that house who was ever going to be.
06:23A little over six months ago, Ethan found out I wasn't really his sister.
06:27After that, he changed completely.
06:32He stopped talking to me.
06:34Stopped caring about me.
06:40My whole 19 years got turned upside down.
06:43Everyone kept telling me I wasn't really their daughter.
06:49I was terrified they'd throw me away for good.
06:51So I clung to the one person in that house who'd ever been kind to me.
06:54But no matter how hard I tried, Ethan just shut me out.
06:57I became invisible in that house.
07:00Ethan joined his parents.
07:01Between the three of them, they froze me out completely.
07:03A few days ago, Mrs. Whitlier called me into her study.
07:06You've taken someone else's place for 18 years. That's enough.
07:10You have two choices.
07:11Stay and we'll support you through graduation.
07:13Or go with them.
07:15I'll go with them.
07:17I didn't hesitate for a second.
07:18Because this was never my home.
07:20And whatever came next, it couldn't be worse than this.
07:23I stood in the doorway too long.
07:24And Mom asked,
07:25What's wrong? Forget something?
07:27I shook my head, looked down, and said softly,
07:30It's nothing. Let's go.
07:36The train rattled on for two days.
07:40Then we reached a little town in northern Minnesota, buried under snow.
07:44Before I even felt the cold.
07:46A thick dow coat, still warm, dropped over me.
07:49It swallowed me whole.
07:51By the time I fought my eyes free, I looked up into a pair of bright, dark eyes.
07:55A young man, tall, broad, a little weathered, grinning at me with a big white smile.
08:00I'm Jake. I'm your brother.
08:02I'm Nina. I'm your little sister.
08:06Jake took one look at my serious face and laughed so hard he could barely breathe.
08:11Then Mom smacked him on the back of the head.
08:13Don't scare your sister.
08:16That settled him down a little.
08:18The station was tiny.
08:19A few steps later, we were outside, and the snow by the door had been churned into gray slush.
08:24Jake tucked me under his arm and carried me off.
08:26My feet never touched the ground.
08:28Before I knew it, I was in the truck.
08:30Jake grabbed a hot cocoa, and Dad pressed it into my hands.
08:35Cold on the trip?
08:36All the way home, Mom held my hand and pointed out everything outside.
08:41Look, that's your uncle's place, that's your aunt's, and that blue house, that's your other uncle's.
08:47It felt like the whole street was ours.
08:49When we got home, Mom and Dad ran ahead like they were hiding something.
08:53Jake covered my eyes and didn't let O until we reached the front door.
08:57When I opened my eyes, there was a little house glowing with warm yellow light.
09:01Christmas lights covered the whole house like a gingerbread house.
09:04The only thing ruining it was the old inflatable snowman wobbling by the door.
09:08Jake covered my ears from behind and told me to wait.
09:11Pop! Party poppers.
09:13Streamers and glitter rained down over me.
09:15Welcome home!
09:17Welcome home.
09:19So, could this really be home?
09:23My mom took my hand and hurried me to my room.
09:26Come see your room!
09:28The second the door opened, all those patterns hit me at once.
09:31Big roses on the sheets, roses on the curtains, a red plaid tablecloth.
09:36The whole room was covered in flowers.
09:38They were silent, but they still felt loud.
09:40It was the first time I realized silence could be that loud.
09:43I froze for a second.
09:45Then my mom smacked my dad on the arm.
09:47I told you this pattern was tacky, but no, you had to buy it anyway.
09:51My dad scratched his head and gave me that sheepish smile.
09:54If you don't like it, I'll take you to pick one out yourself next time.
09:58I sat on the bed.
09:59The comfort was soft, still warm from the dryer.
10:03I liked that warm, clean smell.
10:07So I smiled.
10:09I really like it. Thank you.
10:12I still couldn't call them mom and dad.
10:14I saw the disappointment in their eyes, but they quickly took me to see the rest.
10:18The Whittakers said you've kept up with piano, so we wanted one here for you too.
10:23It's second hand though. I hope that's okay.
10:27To show I didn't mind, I opened the piano and played a simple piece.
10:32All eyes were on me.
10:35When I stood up, all three of them clad so loud it made me jump.
10:41That's my girl. She got her musical talent from me.
10:44Oh, please. You couldn't carry a tune as a kid and now you've got musical talent?
10:49Obviously she got it from me. My music teacher loved me when I was little.
10:53They kept arguing, each trying to get me to pick a side.
10:56Then Jake saw his chance and pulled me into his arms.
10:59Okay, obsessed fans, back up. Official statement.
11:02My sister's musical talent came from her brother, me.
11:05I sang lullabies in her ear every day when she was little.
11:08Of course it rubbed off.
11:09Jake's shamelessness finally got my mom and dad on the same side.
11:12He hid behind me, still mouthing off while dodging their swats.
11:16The warm light softened every face and I was right in the middle of it.
11:20So this is what home feels like.
11:25The day Nina left, Ethan was on edge all day.
11:28He knew Zoe was coming home that day.
11:31She was his biological sister and he still wasn't ready to face her.
11:36Only six months ago, his parents told him Nina wasn't his sister.
11:41Their real daughter had been switched on a train 18 years earlier.
11:47Keep an eye on your sister.
11:49Ethan had been on that train too.
11:53His mother told him to watch his sister and he ran off.
11:56From that day on, he believed losing his sister was his fault.
12:00He'd heard Zoe's adoptive family didn't have much.
12:03Would she hate him for that?
12:04He came home uneasy.
12:07Mrs. Whitleader had scratches on her face.
12:10That family came by. They're already gone.
12:14Where's Nina?
12:15No one answered.
12:16His parents seemed to have forgotten there was another daughter in the house.
12:21Instead, a bright, smiling girl was waiting for him.
12:24Chatting excitedly about the life she'd lived.
12:27The Larsons didn't have much.
12:29But they were good to Zoe.
12:31And she really did love baking.
12:34Ethan found himself thinking he'd open Zoe a dessert shop someday.
12:37Here he is.
12:37It didn't have to make money.
12:39She just had to be happy.
12:41They talked until dinner.
12:42By the time they finished talking, it was dark.
12:45Nina never came downstairs for dinner.
12:47Ethan figured Zoe's return had upset Nina.
12:50He thought he'd bring her something after dinner and check on her.
12:54He barely paid attention through the meal.
12:56Once everyone had gone to their rooms, he finally took something upstairs.
13:02Ethan knocked on Nina's door.
13:05No answer.
13:06The room was dark.
13:08The nanny passed by and gave him a strange look.
13:11Miss Nina left this afternoon.
13:14Ethan froze.
13:15He pushed the door open.
13:21The room had barely changed.
13:25Ethan checked the closet.
13:28Nina had only taken a few pieces of clothing.
13:36He relaxed.
13:39She was probably just angry and had gone away for a couple of days.
13:45Still mad at me, huh?
13:47You really can't hold a grudge, kid.
13:51He sat in Nina's room for a long time.
13:55Nina had never been far from home.
13:58After years of comfort, there was no way she'd adjust to the country.
14:02She was just acting out.
14:04In a few days, she'd come back to him in tears.
14:08When she came back, he'd apologize.
14:11For the past six months, he'd made Nina suffer because of his own issues.
14:16Nina had always been a thoughtful kid.
14:21When they were kids, he once spilled boiling water on Nina.
14:28She was burned so badly she cried.
14:31And still she comforted him.
14:33Said she didn't blame him.
14:35Nina would forgive him this time, too.
14:41And he'd be a good brother again.
14:50I thought I wouldn't be able to sleep my first night here.
14:54Instead, I slept better than I ever had.
15:01It was just after dawn.
15:03The northern sky was pale blue, and the sun hung red in the distance.
15:08Mom was sweeping the living room.
15:10When she saw me, she asked softly,
15:13Why are you up so early?
15:16I slept really well last night, so I woke up early.
15:21That's great.
15:23She smiled at me, eyes warm.
15:27Then she marched into Jake's room and ripped off his blanket.
15:34Look at the time.
15:36Get up and go get your sister a gallon of milk from the corner store.
15:45Jake shivered and tried to hang onto the blanket.
15:48Then he saw me, jolted awake, and yelled.
15:51Mom, can you not embarrass me in front of my sister?
15:57Mom dragged me out, slammed his door, and gave him an ultimatum.
16:02If your sister doesn't get her milk this morning, you're not touching my car for a month.
16:10Jake groaned, then shot out of bed, brushed his teeth, raked a hand through his hair, raked a hand through
16:17his hair, and stuck his face right in front of mine.
16:22So? Is your brother handsome or what?
16:27His hair was a mess, but he was tall and handsome.
16:30Even like that, he still looked good.
16:34I looked at him seriously and noted.
16:37That actually made Jake blush.
16:40His ears turned red, and he flicked my nose hard.
16:44Look at you, kid.
16:45Already know how to sweet-talk your big brother.
16:50I stood in the kitchen and watched my mom cook.
16:54She seared big chunks of beef until they were golden brown.
16:58Then tossed in potatoes, carrots, and onions.
17:02That's how we do things in this family.
17:04If you've been away, first thing you do is eat your mom's beef stew.
17:09Then the lid went on, and it simmered all morning.
17:13The whole house filled with that rich, meaty smell.
17:17At lunch, the whole family sat around the table.
17:20Nobody expected silence while you ate.
17:22The three of them talked over each other, loud and happy.
17:27I didn't know how to join in, so I just watched them smile.
17:31Cross the state line, finish that bowl, and you're home for good.
17:38When I was little, I never understood why everyone else wanted salad and grilled fish.
17:43And all I wanted was a hot bowl of beef stew.
17:46The Whittierards never made it.
17:48Whenever I asked for it, the nanny would say,
17:52Too greasy. Mrs. Whittier won't allow it.
17:55After a while, I stopped asking.
18:04Now I finally understood.
18:06I belonged here all along.
18:09No wonder this was the food I wanted.
18:12It had been snowing for days.
18:15It was so cold, I barely went outside.
18:22Life was simple.
18:24Quiet, too.
18:26My only problem was that in just one week, I'd gained five whole pounds.
18:31Back then, Ethan was the only one in that house who talked to me.
18:36And he usually wasn't home.
18:43So I got into the habit of talking to myself.
18:46I'd say something, then answer myself.
18:48And when I thought about those five pounds, I got louder without realizing it.
18:53Can you believe it?
18:54I gained five whole pounds!
18:56Then I heard Jake from the bedroom next door.
18:59Can you believe it? Skinny as you are, and you're still trying to lose weight?
19:01So the walls really were that thin.
19:03I covered my mouth.
19:05Had he heard everything I'd been saying these past few days?
19:07Jake knocked on the wall and said lazily,
19:09You're skinny as a rail.
19:10I was gonna take you rowing on the lake this spring.
19:13One strong gust and you'd blow right into the next state.
19:26When I messed up as a kid, the nanny would lock me in the attic storage room.
19:38Sometimes I'd wake from a nightmare, back in that dark room, and whisper a few hopeless words to myself.
19:46I hate the dark.
19:49Jake said.
19:51Easy.
19:52Tomorrow I'll get you the brightest flashlight at the hardware store.
19:56Brighter than headlights.
19:57Even the neighbor's dog won't bark at you.
20:02Then he started singing through the wall.
20:04So off Ein, I swear the next county could hear it.
20:08With Jake, nothing I said ever fell flat.
20:13That's how Jake cured me of talking to myself.
20:18A few days later, the sky finally cleared.
20:21With Christmas coming, the town's Christmas market opened.
20:25That day, everyone got up early and took me to the market.
20:28We went as a family, happy as could be.
20:34It was my first time at the market.
20:36Everything felt new.
20:37If I stopped at a booth for one extra second, Mom was already paying.
20:41Before long, Jake was carrying a mountain of bags.
20:45You don't have to buy so much.
20:46I can't eat all this.
20:48Dad watched me eat and couldn't stop smiling.
20:52Just have a bite.
20:53You don't have to finish it.
20:54Your mom wants you to try everything.
21:01Then Dad took the donut I'd already bitten and finished it without a second thought.
21:09I hadn't brought many clothes with me, so we stopped in a clothing store too.
21:14Mom, Dad, and Jake each put together an outfit for me, then argued over whose was best.
21:21In the end, they all turned to me.
21:23So?
21:24Who's got the best taste?
21:26The shopkeeper smiled and said,
21:29Your daughter's beautiful.
21:30She looks like a TV star.
21:32She'd look good in anything.
21:33That made Mom, Dad, and Jake beam.
21:36They bought all three.
21:38Before I knew it, it was Christmas Eve.
21:46Mom and Dad had been busy since morning.
21:50Mom and Dad.
21:50Mom and Dad.
21:53Mom and Dad.
21:55Mom and Dad.
21:57As soon as it got dark, Christmas lights came on all over the neighborhood.
22:05The Christmas Eve table was full of my favorite foods.
22:13I'd never even told them what I liked.
22:18But when people love you, they notice.
22:22Outside, the snow started falling again.
22:26I raised my glass in a toast.
22:32Thank you, Dad.
22:34Mom.
22:35Mom.
22:36It had been a long time since I'd called anyone Mom and Dad.
22:40The first time, it still felt strange.
22:43So I tried again.
22:45And this time, it felt natural.
22:48They'd always been my parents.
22:51Dad.
22:51Mom.
22:52Mom.
22:55My dad's eyes welled up.
22:57My mom pulled me into her arms.
22:59Oh, my sweet girl.
23:01All these years, you've been through so much.
23:05Before that, it hadn't even felt that bad.
23:11But in my parents' arms, I couldn't stop crying.
23:17Maybe it's like when a kid falls down.
23:19If nobody comforts them, they just get up.
23:23But once someone does, all that hurt comes rushing out.
23:29Jake looked at me, eyes red, and said very seriously.
23:34I'm sorry.
23:37I should have kept an eye on you that day.
23:40All those years of pain, that's on me.
23:49That night, Jake finally told me what happened.
23:54I was eight.
23:55You were just over a year old.
23:56You couldn't walk yet, and you were bundled in a blanket.
23:59We were on the same train as the Whitleaders, right across the aisle.
24:02They had a baby girl, too, about your age, wrapped in the same Light Clyde blanket.
24:06Mom told me to watch you.
24:07You were asleep.
24:08So I laid you on the seat and ran off to look at another kid's toy.
24:12The Whitleaders' stop came up, and they rushed off.
24:15Mrs. Whitleader grabbed the wrong baby.
24:18When I came back, there was still a baby on the seat.
24:20I didn't think anything of it.
24:24We didn't realize till we got home.
24:26Mom pulled back the blanket, and it wasn't you.
24:31Back then, the station didn't have cameras.
24:35The Whitmakers bought their tickets from someone else, so there were no names.
24:39We couldn't find them.
24:45After that, every school break, I'd go back to that station.
24:49I never found you.
24:56Then six months ago, Mom found the Whitmakers' missing child post.
25:03When Jake finished, his hands were still shaking.
25:06No wonder Jake always looked at me like that.
25:09Guilty, careful, like he was afraid to hurt me.
25:13He'd been carrying that all this time.
25:16It's over.
25:17She's home.
25:19Jake was crying so hard, I copied his tone and said,
25:23Come on.
25:24A grown man?
25:26Crying?
25:26Look at that ugly face.
25:30That got Jake laughing, snot bubble and all.
25:39I handed him a tissue, then looked him in the eye and said,
25:43I don't blame you, so stop blaming yourself.
25:48Jake's eyes welled up again.
25:51He buried his face in my dad's chest and cried like a little kid.
26:00After that, Jake was easier with me.
26:03He stopped trying so hard to please me, and sometimes we'd even bicker.
26:08Like we were a real family.
26:14Over Christmas break, Jake drove me around to meet the whole family.
26:20At every house, he pushed me to the front.
26:25Say hi to your aunt and uncle.
26:32The second I said hi, they pulled me into a hug,
26:35and handed me wrapped Christmas presents.
26:40I didn't know how to take them, so Jake did it for me.
26:44My sister's shy.
26:46I'll hold these for her.
26:48Jake and I got good at it.
26:50I said hi.
26:51He took the gifts.
26:54After a few days, the backseat was full of boxes.
27:00My dad runs a children's home in town, taking in kids who have no one else.
27:06Jake grew up with those kids.
27:07He was basically their leader.
27:10Jake introduced me to his crew like it was official,
27:13with a lollipop hanging out of his mouth.
27:15From now on, she's under my protection.
27:18Got it?
27:23All the kids clapped.
27:24It was so childish, I got a little embarrassed.
27:34I was climbing the jungle jid when Tommy tugged at me and I fell.
27:38It wasn't far, just a few scrapes.
27:47Jake ran over to check my scrapes, then grabbed Tommy and snapped.
27:50Why'd you do that?
27:52Tommy had probably never seen Jake like that.
27:55He got scared and burst into tears.
27:58I tried to calm them down.
28:01I even jumped up and down a couple of times to prove it.
28:05I'm okay. It's fine.
28:10Then I said to Tommy,
28:12I'm sorry, I lost my footing.
28:14I was 19, and apologizing was still my first instinct.
28:20Growing up with the Whithields, I never dared get into it with anyone.
28:24If I caused trouble, they'd just hate me more when I got home.
28:29I still haven't unlearned that.
28:33Jake looked at me and let out a long sigh.
28:39His eyes were red when he ruffled my hair.
28:43You didn't do anything wrong.
28:45Why are you apologizing?
28:47Then he looked at Tommy and said,
28:50Tommy, apologize.
28:53Tommy apologized through tears.
28:56I'm sorry, I just wanted to scare you.
28:58I didn't think you'd fall.
29:00It's okay.
29:03How is that okay?
29:05This is serious.
29:06Tommy, think about what you did.
29:08Then he crouched down and motioned for me to get on his back.
29:14I'll carry you to the clinic and get that cleaned up.
29:17I hesitated, then climbed onto Jake's back.
29:20He carried me toward the clinic.
29:23Jake said,
29:25Those kids grew up in the children's home.
29:28They're attached to me and wary of outsiders.
29:31So they were hostile toward you.
29:34I'm sorry.
29:36I was about to shake my head and say it was okay.
29:39Then I remembered what Jake had said.
29:41You didn't do anything wrong.
29:43Why are you apologizing?
29:45So I stayed quiet.
29:47After that, Jake loved messing with me and getting me riled up.
29:53You're too nice.
29:54Everybody thinks they can push you around.
29:57I gotta toughen you up a little.
30:02One day I got so mad, I grabbed a broom and went after him.
30:07Yeah, that's it.
30:08If somebody messes with you, hit back.
30:12He just kept dodging and laughing.
30:16Jake messed with me again today.
30:19He shoved snow down the back of my collar and I shivered.
30:25I got annoyed, grabbed a handful of snow and charged at him.
30:30We ended up wrestling in the snow, then both lost our foot and fell.
30:35Jake got up first and was about to help me up.
30:39Then someone punched him to the ground.
30:45I scrambled up, thinking it was someone with a grudge against Jake.
30:50Instead, it was Ethan.
30:52Zoe was right behind him, looking panicked.
30:56I hadn't seen him in over a month.
30:58He'd gotten a lot thinner.
31:01Then he snapped.
31:03What the hell are you doing to my sister?
31:07Jake raised an eyebrow.
31:12How is she your sister now?
31:14You're the one who used to be her brother, right?
31:19Jake took a step toward him.
31:22You shut my sister out for six months.
31:26I've been wanting to hit you for a long time.
31:29Jake threw a punch.
31:34And the two of them went at each other in the snow.
31:45Ethan knew how to box.
31:47I was scared Jake would get hurt, so I threw myself in front of him.
31:53Ethan knew how to box.
31:54I was scared Jake would get hurt, so I threw myself in front of him.
32:03Ethan held back because of me.
32:06Jake took his chance and kicked him to the ground.
32:10Zoe rushed in to break it up.
32:14Jake! Ethan! Stop it! Both of you!
32:18Only then did they finally break apart.
32:23Ethan stared straight at me and called out.
32:26Nini, I'm here to take you home.
32:29I didn't look at Ethan.
32:32I walked right past him and checked on Jake.
32:37Jake, are you okay?
32:41Jake spat blood into the snow and grinned.
32:45I'm fine.
32:46That guy's nothing.
32:48Three of him still couldn't take me.
32:50I gave him a light pinch.
32:53He winched and flashed all his teeth.
32:55No more fighting, okay?
32:57When you get hurt, so do I.
33:00Jake shot Ethan a smug grin and answered extra loud.
33:03Yes, ma'am.
33:04Whatever my sister says.
33:07Ethan just stood there watching me.
33:09He looked hurt.
33:12I didn't pay him any mind.
33:15I just helped Jake inside, with Zoe right behind us.
33:19I could feel Ethan's stay burning into my back.
33:23The second we got inside,
33:26Mom and Dad saw Ethan and their faces fell.
33:30Mom stared at him and said,
33:33What are you doing here?
33:38Zoe forced a smile and took Mom's hand.
33:42I missed you, so I came to see you.
33:46And Ethan wanted to see where I grew up.
33:53Mom and Dad weren't about to throw anyone out, so they let them in.
33:57As Ethan stepped inside, Mom stopped him and lowered her voice.
34:01You can stay.
34:03Don't mess with my daughter.
34:06The Larson house only had three bedrooms.
34:09So with two more people, we had to squeeze in.
34:12Mom sorted it out on the spot.
34:20Zoe, you're with Nina.
34:22Ethan, you bunk with Jake.
34:24Mom? I'm not sleeping in the same room with him!
34:27Jake looked ready to lose it.
34:30Then Mom gave him one look,
34:31and he sold off with Ethan to the room.
34:35I took Voey to my room.
34:38My feelings about Voey were complicated.
34:41She was the Wicker's real daughter.
34:44I'd spent 19 years living in her shadow.
34:48But I couldn't bring myself to hate her.
34:51Zoe greeted me warmly, her eyes shining.
34:56I'm Zoe.
34:58I was born a few months before you,
35:00so you can call me sis.
35:05Then I heard Jake yell from the next room.
35:08Nina! Don't listen to her!
35:10She's been bugging Mom for a little sister forever.
35:13Now she finally gets one,
35:14and she's loving the big sister act.
35:17Zoe immediately fired back.
35:19Jake! You are so dead!
35:23Then Zoe seemed to remember I was there.
35:27She cleared her throat, turned back to me,
35:29and smiled like a big bad wolf.
35:33It's okay.
35:35If you don't want to, you don't have to.
35:39But I make amazing cake.
35:41You won't be able to resist.
35:44At breakfast, Ethan and Jake both had dark circles under their eyes.
35:48Zoe was the only one glowing.
35:50She'd held on to me all night,
35:52and apparently she'd slept great.
35:54The second Jake looked at Zoe, his eyes went wide.
35:58You didn't somehow drain the life out of my sister, did you?
36:01I've seen those Switched at Birth videos.
36:03Don't pull that creepy crap.
36:05Zoe gave him a tight smile and said,
36:08Then watch yourself.
36:09If I turn into a witch, you're my first target.
36:12The two of them kept smiling at each other.
36:15Ethan ate in silence.
36:16A stack of fresh pancakes steamed in the middle of the table.
36:20There was something almost pleading in his eyes.
36:22He took the top pancake and put it on my plate.
36:26NeNe, I remember this was always your favorite for breakfast.
36:29The pancake had barely hit my plate before Jake skewed it and stuffed it into his mouth.
36:33This one's burnt. I'll get you another one.
36:34Ethan's face darkened. He glared at Jake.
36:36You.
36:37Yeah? What?
36:37They were about to go at it again, so I squeezed Jake's hand and smiled at him.
36:41I'm okay, Jake.
36:42I acted like Ethan wasn't there.
36:49No matter what he did or said, I ignored him.
36:55He tried to talk to me more than once.
36:57I pretended not to hear him.
37:03Just like he'd done to me these past six months.
37:06Jake was right.
37:08If someone hurts you, you hit back.
37:12I used to be scared of being abandoned.
37:14So I learned to be good.
37:17To take whatever came.
37:22But this time, I wasn't going to say it's fine.
37:28After breakfast, Zoe dragged me to the bakery where she used to work.
37:34The minute the owner saw her, he let her take over the kitchen.
37:39Please, just try my bread.
37:43You'll fall in love with me.
37:45She wore me down, so I went.
37:49The smell of fresh bread hit me the second we walked in.
37:53Eat whatever you want.
37:55It's on me.
37:56That day, I couldn't get enough of everything she made.
38:00Zoe was right.
38:01Her bread really was that good.
38:05For those few days,
38:08Zoe kept stealing me away from Jake.
38:13She took me to her secret hideout,
38:15bought me pretty hair clips,
38:17and begged me to wear them.
38:20I've wanted a little sister forever.
38:23Just let me have this.
38:26Okay?
38:31Zoe was the daughter
38:33my mom and dad raised.
38:36My parents raised her well.
38:39She was cheerful and confident.
38:41Neither insecure nor arrogant.
38:46Even after living with a rich family,
38:49she could still stand outside the shop
38:50and call out to customers.
38:54When I came back,
38:56she never felt like I was taking love away from her.
38:59She just loved me too.
39:03People who grow up loved don't hoard it.
39:06All of a sudden,
39:08having a sister didn't seem so bad.
39:11So I called her.
39:16Sis.
39:18Zoe looked at me,
39:20stunned and thrilled,
39:21then grabbed me and spun me around.
39:23Oh, my baby sister!
39:26Just like that,
39:27I had one more sister who loved me.
39:31Whenever I went out,
39:32Ethan trailed behind us in silence.
39:35Jake couldn't stand him.
39:37He bad-mouthed Ethan to me,
39:39loud enough for Ethan to hear.
39:42So when's that little shadow behind us gonna leave?
39:45Ethan heard it all.
39:46He still kept following us.
39:50NeNe, I know you're mad at me.
39:52Take it out on me if you want.
39:54Get it out of your system.
39:56Then come home with me.
39:58It'll always be your home.
40:03Jake actually laughed at Ethan's words.
40:07What home?
40:09That tiny attic bedroom?
40:11Even the nanny had it better than my sister.
40:13Or the one where nobody in that house gave a damn about my sister?
40:17When she first got here,
40:19she talked to herself so much I thought she was possessed.
40:23Or that love of yours?
40:25The kind you give, then take back?
40:28So Jake had heard all of it.
40:32Ethan went quiet for a long time.
40:35Then he finally said,
40:38I'm sorry.
40:43Then he turned and left.
40:46He didn't come back till after dark.
40:54Ethan grew up in California, so he couldn't handle the cold.
40:58That night, he came down with a fever.
41:03Half delirious with fever, he wouldn't let anyone touch him.
41:07He just kept calling my name.
41:10NeNe.
41:12NeNe.
41:17Shameless.
41:19Who said you could call her that?
41:22Jake looked ready to throw him out.
41:26I smiled and took the towel from Jake.
41:29I'll do it.
41:30I wiped his face, then fed him some soup.
41:46Ethan calmed down a little, then he grabbed my hand.
41:51I tried to pull away, but I couldn't.
41:54So I let him hold on and pulled up a chair by the bed.
41:59It took me back to when I was little.
42:01One night, I came down with a high fever.
42:06It was cold, and the nanny couldn't be bothered to take me to the hospital.
42:12She gave me some fever medicine and went to bed.
42:18I was half out of it with fever.
42:22Ethan found me when he came to check on me that night.
42:28Ethan was still just a kid.
42:30There were no adults home, and he couldn't wake the nanny.
42:38NeNe, hold on tight.
42:41He carried me out to the main road and flagged down a cab.
42:49To the hospital! Hurry!
42:55The doctor said if I'd gotten there any later, the fever could have done permanent damage.
43:03So this time, I'll stay with Ethan until he's better.
43:13On the third day, Ethan woke up.
43:17I didn't look at him.
43:18I just got ready to leave.
43:21But Ethan stopped me.
43:24NeNe, are you really gonna treat me like this?
43:27I was wrong. Can you forgive me?
43:30I'll talk to Mom and Dad.
43:32I'll have your room redone.
43:35Whatever you want, I'll make it happen.
43:38I knew there was no avoiding this conversation.
43:41I turned and looked at him.
43:47I treated you the way you treated me, and you can't take it?
43:51Ethan froze.
43:53Then Ethan grabbed my hand and rushed to explain.
43:55I got it wrong back then.
43:57I know that now.
43:59Do you remember?
44:00When we were kids, we were happy.
44:02Then Mom and Dad started fighting all the time.
44:04Later, they still lived together, but they weren't really together anymore.
44:06They were both seeing other people.
44:08You were the only one who still made it feel like home.
44:11Six months ago, Mom and Dad told me you weren't my real sister.
44:13They said my real sister was switched on a train 18 years ago.
44:16I remember that train. I was there.
44:18Mom told me to watch my sister, and I ran off to play.
44:20That's when I realized it all started on that train.
44:22All those years of fighting, this family falling apart.
44:26It was my fault.
44:28Back then, I hated myself.
44:31So I took it out on you.
44:33Somehow, that made it easier to live with.
44:36Back then, I had so many questions.
44:38I couldn't understand why Ethan, who had always been good to me,
44:42suddenly hated me so much.
44:43After what Jake said, I started to suspect.
44:46Now Ethan had finally said it out loud.
44:48But even then, what did I do wrong?
44:50I was just a baby.
44:51I couldn't even talk.
44:56I looked at him in silence and slowly rolled up my sleeve.
45:01A scar showed on my wrist.
45:06You know, back then, sometimes I'd look out the window and think,
45:11what if I just jumped?
45:15Then I'd think about the blood all over the garden.
45:19And how the gardener would have to clean it up.
45:21So I didn't.
45:23Later, I even cut my wrist.
45:27But the bleeding stopped on its own after a while.
45:30So I figured maybe God wanted me to live.
45:33Living was better than dying, so...
45:36I kept going.
45:39But the scar never went away.
45:45To me, I already died once.
45:48My mom, my dad, and my brother brought me back.
45:54Ethan struggled up, grabbed my wrist, and stared at the scar.
46:00Something warm landed on my hand.
46:03It was a tear.
46:09I pulled my hand away and looked at him one last time.
46:16Thank you for taking care of me all these years.
46:21But this is the last time I'll ever call you my brother.
46:24Leave when you're better.
46:26This is my home.
46:33I walked away.
46:36I didn't look back.
46:43Mom and dad were in the yard with Jake and Zoa, building a snowman.
46:48When they saw me, they waved me over.
46:58Later, there were five snowmen in the yard.
47:05That kid who never had anyone in her corner had a mom and dad now.
47:10A brother and a sister, too.
47:14It was snowing hard the day Ethan left.
47:22Zoe went back to California with him.
47:25The Larson family saw them off at the train station.
47:29Once Nina turned away, she never looked back.
47:35Watching the four of them walk away,
47:37Ethan finally knew Nina was loved.
47:50And he finally understood.
47:52No little girl would ever trail after him again,
47:55calling him brother in that soft voice.
47:58He'd lost his sister.
48:02Ethan came back without Nina.
48:05Mr. and Mrs. Whitleaker stared at him in surprise.
48:11Nina didn't come back?
48:13She'd really give all this up?
48:19That was the biggest fight Ethan had ever had with his parents.
48:22Years of anger and confusion came pouring out.
48:26Nina lived here for 18 years.
48:29Did you ever treat her like your daughter?
48:35And Zoe?
48:37Do you see her as your daughter?
48:39Or just making up for lost time?
48:41No.
48:41No.
48:43No.
48:45No.
48:46But in the end, he still had one more question.
48:51Did you ever really love me?
48:59Zoe clashed with the Whitlers more and more.
49:04When they tried to dictate her marriage too, she left that house.
49:09Fine.
49:10Then don't ever come back.
49:16Listening to his parents keep shouting after her,
49:19Ethan knew Zoe was never coming back.
49:23Later, Zoe opened her own cake shop in California.
49:29Her cakes were so good, she built a whole chain in just a few years.
49:35Ethan may have funded the first shop, but he knew Zoe could build a good life on her own.
49:45After Zoe and Ethan moved out, the Whitaker house felt empty.
49:53Sometimes Mrs. Whitley would remember that little girl,
49:57standing on a stool, trying so hard to make breakfast,
50:01carrying it over with that hopeful look on her face.
50:08Mrs. Whitley couldn't remember what she'd said back then,
50:12but it wasn't kind.
50:17Years later, she was the one left alone in that empty house,
50:22waiting for one of those children to look back at her.
50:29This was her punishment.
50:34Years later, Ethan quietly made one trip north.
50:47He knew Jake had come back after graduation,
50:50and kept the children's home going.
50:56Nina taught at the town's elementary school.
50:59They were short on teachers.
51:02Some days she taught until she was hoist,
51:05but she always smiled.
51:16Over the years, the factories left town.
51:20A lot of the kids' parents had to work out of state.
51:24Sometimes, looking at them, Nina Whitlicker, no, Nina Larson now,
51:29saw herself as a child.
51:32Kids with parents who might as well not have been there.
51:35She treated those kids the way she'd once needed to be treated.
51:39Nina Larson wasn't starved for love anymore,
51:41so now, she could share that love with others.
51:52Now she could finally say it loud and clear.
51:56Nina Larson never stole anyone else's life.
52:01Nina Larson was the child her parents cherished most,
52:06and the little sister Jake and Zella cherished most.
52:11The child won't be a child.
52:11how the child could be defeated. She was