Svetlana smiled at her reflection, running her fingers through her hair, contemplating a change. “Maybe I should dye it dark,” she wondered aloud.

“No, definitely not!” Olga, her friend, responded immediately. “Dark shades would make you look older. You’re young and vibrant with this hair! Dark will age you like someone’s aunt from a government office!”

“I’m already twenty-nine, Olya,” Svetlana said with a serious look, turning to face her friend.

“Really? I never would’ve guessed. You look at least ten years younger! Just make sure your husband doesn’t age you ten years after the wedding!” Olga laughed.

The two friends shared a lighthearted chuckle, though there was an underlying truth to the comment.

Svetlana was caught up in the excitement of her upcoming wedding. With only a few minor details left to sort, everything seemed on track. She had always dreamed of a wedding like this: a beautiful country house, live music, a large group of guests, and open doors for everyone who wanted to join the celebration. Financially, everything was set. Svetlana had her career and was independent, while Andrei, her fiancé, came from a well-established family and had a successful career as a lawyer.

The couple made the perfect pair — tall, blonde, blue-eyed, almost like twins.

The day of the wedding arrived, and the venue was buzzing with excitement. Friends, family, and distant relatives filled the space. Svetlana felt joyful, eager to start her new chapter with Andrei. Guests were invited to approach the microphone and offer their congratulations, and the DJ had a playlist ready.

Svetlana, a passionate lover of music, enjoyed singing and songwriting. Her friends encouraged her to perform, and though she was hesitant, she agreed. With a microphone in her hand, her warm, mid-range voice filled the air. The guests, most of whom had never heard her sing, were captivated. After one song, they begged for another, and then a third. All the songs were hers — both lyrics and music. The guests were visibly moved, some with tears in their eyes.

“She’s a star!” they whispered, impressed by her talent.

Svetlana smiled, slightly embarrassed by the attention, but grateful for the support. She thanked everyone and was about to leave the stage when something caught her eye — a little girl, no older than six, standing in the crowd. She seemed out of place, as though she was there by accident.

Svetlana, thinking the girl was just asking for money, took some sweets from the table and offered them to the child. “Here you go, sweetie. You’re so cute, just like a little doll. How about we take a picture together?”

The girl followed Svetlana to the stage. They posed for a photo, and as the camera clicked, the girl suddenly asked, “Mommy… why are you dressed so beautifully today?”

Svetlana froze. “I’m not your mommy, sweetheart,” she replied gently. “We just met.”

The girl seemed undeterred. “Does that mean we’re going to have a daddy now? How are you feeling? Has it gotten better?”

A chill ran down Svetlana’s spine. She quickly tried to redirect the conversation. “Sweetheart, you’re mistaken. I don’t know you,” she said, maintaining a calm voice. “Did you get lost?”

The child remained calm and looked at her with a certainty that made Svetlana uneasy. Then, the girl said something that stopped Svetlana in her tracks: she named her mother… and it was the name of Svetlana’s sister.

“It’s you… Mom Lena!” the girl said.

Svetlana’s face went pale, and her hand instinctively grabbed the microphone stand for support. She felt as though her legs might give way.

“What are you saying?” she whispered. “What name… I don’t understand… Could it be…”

Svetlana’s vision blurred, and her legs buckled as she collapsed on stage. The crowd stared in shock as she lost consciousness.

In the brief moments before everything went black, Svetlana’s memories rushed forward like a blur. She remembered being seven years old when their parents had died in a car accident. She couldn't fully understand the loss at the time, but as the years passed, the pain of losing them became clearer.

She remembered her neighbor, Babushka Masha, who took her and her sister in after the tragedy, and later, their time at the orphanage. The two sisters had always been close. Svetlana, always caring for her younger sister, Lenka, would comfort her when she cried at night.

But everything changed when Svetlana was adopted. She was told her younger sister would join her later, but that never happened. Lenka was left behind, and Svetlana never saw her again.

Svetlana spent years searching for her sister, hiring detectives and trying every lead. But nothing had worked until now.

The words “Mom Lena” echoed in her mind as she regained consciousness. She tried to gather her bearings, still overwhelmed by the shock.

Andrei, who had been silent through it all, now asked, confused, “Who is she? What’s going on?”

Svetlana, still reeling, insisted, “There’s a girl here. She’s my sister’s daughter.”

Andrei seemed confused, but Svetlana didn’t have the answers yet. She excused herself from the stage and took the child aside, trying to stay calm despite the whirlwind inside her.

“Sweetie, tell me, who’s your mom?” she asked, her voice steady but trembling inside.

“You look just like her…” the little girl said. “I thought it was you…”

Svetlana felt the blood drain from her face. “And where is she now?” she asked urgently.

“She’s in the hospital. She has something bad inside her and needs surgery,” the girl whispered.

Svetlana’s heart tightened. “Where were you alone?” she asked gently.

“Daddy left a long time ago. There was nothing left at home... I went outside to ask for help.”

Svetlana’s heart ached with pity as she hugged the girl. “Don’t worry. You’re not alone now. You’re with me.”

The girl’s name was also Svetlana. And Svetlana knew that everything was connected. The memories of her sister came rushing back, and she knew she had to act fast.

Without hesitation, Svetlana contacted several clinics and finally found a match. Lena, her sister, was in the hospital. She quickly rushed there, leaving the wedding behind, determined to be there for her sister, the one she had lost all those years ago.

When Svetlana saw Lena, it was clear. They were sisters. The resemblance was undeniable, even in her weakened state. They embraced, tears streaming down their faces.

Lena was undergoing chemotherapy, and Svetlana promised to take care of her, no matter what it took. She immediately arranged for the best care and resources, willing to do whatever was necessary to save her sister.

As Lena recovered, Svetlana’s life slowly became whole again. Lena moved in with her, and Andrei accepted her sister-in-law warmly. Time passed, and the family healed, just as Svetlana had always hoped.

Through the unexpected reunion, Svetlana realized that sometimes life has a way of bringing people back together, even when it feels like all hope is lost.