Higher Dimension.2
Chapter Two: The Double Life
Ava stepped off the set, the applause from the small studio audience still echoing in her ears. Her first successful show in this strange, new world. She had made it through without raising too much suspicion, but every moment felt like walking a tightrope. One wrong move, one misplaced word, and someone might realize that the woman sitting behind the desk was not quite herself.
Her assistant, Emily—oddly enough, the same name as her eldest daughter—appeared at her side, clipboard in hand. “Great show, Ava! You were on fire today. Dr. Lowry even said that he’s excited to come back on the show soon. Oh, and your car is waiting outside. You’re set to meet Rob at Treetop Lounge for lunch.”
“Uh, thanks, Emily,” Ava replied, struggling to sound casual. As Emily hurried off, Ava racked her brain for what little information she’d managed to piece together since waking up in this dimension. There was still no sign of her husband Chris. Was he even part of this life? And who was this Rob she was supposed to meet for lunch?
She climbed into the back of the waiting car, her mind racing. The driver, a middle-aged man with a friendly smile, glanced at her in the rearview mirror. “Where to, Ms. Green?”
“Uh, the Treetop Lounge,” Ava said, praying she didn’t sound as lost as she felt.
The drive was a blur of skyscrapers and bustling streets. As they neared the Treetop Lounge—a trendy rooftop restaurant surrounded by lush greenery—Ava’s nerves began to buzz. She didn’t know who Rob was or what kind of relationship they had, but she was about to find out.
The restaurant was as luxurious as the rest of this world seemed to be. Large windows opened onto a rooftop garden where tables were set amidst hanging plants and waterfalls. Ava scanned the room, searching for someone who might recognize her.
“Over here!” A voice called out, and Ava turned to see a man waving from a secluded corner table. He was tall, with an easy grin and a laid-back style that made him look like he belonged here. He stood up as she approached, greeting her with a hug that lingered just a moment too long for it to be a purely professional relationship.
“Rob,” she said, his name finally falling into place. Ava didn’t know why, but a part of her was relieved it wasn’t someone from her original life, like Chris. At least she didn’t have to face that emotional collision just yet.
“I took the liberty of ordering us a bottle of your favorite,” he said, raising his eyebrows mischievously. “Still partial to the Blue Dream sparkling?”
“Of course,” she replied, hoping she’d guessed right. “You know me too well.”
They sat down, and Ava found herself studying Rob for clues. There was a casual intimacy in the way he leaned back, his body language open and relaxed. Was he a business partner? A close friend? Or something more?
“So, are you finally going to tell me what’s been going on with you?” Rob asked, pouring a glass of the sparkling drink for each of them. “You seemed a bit…distant on the show today. Not quite your usual self.”
Her pulse quickened. “I’ve just been, um, distracted. You know, a lot on my plate.” She raised the glass to her lips, taking a small sip. The bubbly, sweet taste was actually quite pleasant, much better than any wine she remembered from back home.
“Don’t give me that,” Rob said, narrowing his eyes playfully. “I know when something’s up. You’re a lot of things, Ava Green, but ‘distracted’ is never one of them.” He leaned in slightly, his voice lowering. “You’re usually the most focused person I know.”
Ava felt her stomach twist. Did he know her well enough to notice the change in her behavior? She needed to steer the conversation into safer territory. “Tell me, Rob,” she began, “how did we meet, again?” She gave a light laugh as if recalling a funny memory. “It’s all a bit hazy for some reason.”
His brows furrowed slightly, but he seemed to brush it off. “Really? You’re forgetting how we met now?” he chuckled. “You were hosting that charity event for the Cannabis Education Alliance last year, and I was one of the guest speakers. You made quite an impression that night.”
Ava smiled, nodding. The conversation flowed easier after that, Rob recounting stories about their escapades in the cannabis industry. Apparently, they had been involved in several business ventures together, ranging from product lines to advocacy initiatives. It was clear that this Ava had a passionate commitment to the cause. But as she listened, a nagging thought persisted—none of this was her life. None of this was earned by her. It belonged to a woman who had swapped places with her, if such a thing were even possible.
As Rob talked about the upcoming cannabis expo they were preparing for, Ava’s thoughts drifted back to her family. She imagined Chris struggling to manage the kids, juggling the chaos of their daily lives. Did the other Ava have any clue how to handle the mess she’d left behind?
After lunch, Ava headed back to her penthouse to gather more information. She needed to start treating this like a real investigation—if she was going to maintain this charade and somehow find her way back home, she needed to understand everything about this world’s Ava Green.
She sat at the large mahogany desk in her office, booting up the computer. A password screen flashed up, and she hesitated, but then her fingers typed automatically. The password was accepted on the first try. It was as though some muscle memory of this life was surfacing, guiding her.
She found herself sifting through old emails, calendar appointments, and files. This world’s Ava was certainly a public figure, but there was a deeply private side to her as well—one Ava hadn’t expected. The alternate version of herself kept a digital journal, an encrypted document on her desktop titled “Reflections.”
When she opened it, a new layer of mystery unfolded. The entries were emotional and raw, detailing struggles that sounded almost too familiar: anxiety, burnout, loneliness. This Ava, despite her glamorous life and high-profile career, felt trapped in the very world she had built. There were hints that she was considering stepping back from the spotlight, and Ava wondered if this dissatisfaction had anything to do with the switch. Could the other Ava have intentionally sought an escape? If so, had she traded places on purpose?
The days that followed were a blur of preparation and performance. Ava immersed herself in learning everything she could about her new world, watching old episodes of The Ava Green Show late into the night and reading up on the industry. She tried to imitate the confident persona she saw on screen, refining her behavior to avoid raising any red flags.
Still, her thoughts drifted often to Chris and the kids. During a particularly lonely evening, she picked up her phone and searched for Chris’s name in her contacts. There it was, with no notes to suggest a different context. Was he her husband here too, or just someone with the same name? She didn’t know whether to call him or leave it alone. For now, it seemed too risky. What if this Chris didn’t know her as his wife? What would she even say?
Instead, she drafted a carefully worded message to Rob, asking for more details about her personal life under the guise of organizing a surprise. The reply she got was brief but informative. Chris, it seemed, did exist in this world. However, he was not her husband. He was a financial advisor who worked with some of her business partners. They had met at industry events but were not close. Ava felt a pang of sadness; here, Chris was nothing more than a passing acquaintance.
As days turned into weeks, Ava’s ability to play the role of this world’s cannabis queen improved. She started to get comfortable in front of the cameras, to anticipate the questions that would come up in interviews, and to navigate the maze of her new life with more confidence. Yet, every time she walked back into her penthouse, the silence was a stark reminder that something was missing. This life was shiny and beautiful on the surface, but it felt hollow without the noise and chaos of her children.
One evening, after wrapping up a particularly exhausting day, Ava found herself drawn to the encrypted journal again. She opened the latest entry, dated just a few days before she woke up in this world. It read:
“I’m so tired of it all. The fame, the expectations… I miss being just a person, not a persona. Sometimes I wonder what it would be like to wake up in a different life, a simpler one. Could I ever let go of everything here? Would I even know how?”
A chill ran down her spine. The other Ava had been struggling too, possibly even looking for a way out. But if that was true, then why trade places with someone living in the chaos of her original life? Had she chosen it as an escape, or was this all a horrible accident?
The weeks passed in a strange rhythm. Ava grew more comfortable in this role, but her longing for answers intensified. One evening, after an event, she returned to the penthouse and was greeted by a package on her doorstep. The label had no return address, and inside, she found a single slip of paper with a cryptic message:
“Are you wondering why you’re here, or do you already know?”
The message was unsigned, but it was clear that someone was aware of the swap, or at least suspected it. Ava felt a surge of hope—and fear. She wasn’t alone in this. But whether that meant help was on the way, or if someone was playing a dangerous game with her, she couldn’t be sure.
For the first time since waking up in this reality, Ava felt like she was not just reacting to the situation but becoming an active participant in uncovering the truth. She needed to find the other Ava, figure out who sent that message, and most importantly, determine if she truly wanted to go back to her old life—or embrace this one fully.
