Higher Dimension.3

Ava couldn’t take her eyes off the cryptic note. It felt alive in her hands, its simple words pulsing with meaning she couldn’t grasp: “Are you wondering why you’re here, or do you already know?” She had no idea who had sent it, but it suggested one thing—someone in this new world understood her situation, or at least suspected it. Whether they were friend or foe was still unclear.

She set the note aside, her thoughts tangled with uncertainty. She pulled the covers up and lay back, the penthouse’s lavish bedroom feeling more like a cage than a retreat. She tried to sleep, but rest was elusive, and when she finally drifted off, her dreams were filled with confusing images of Chris, the kids, and the other Ava—an indistinct, ghostly presence that watched her silently from the edge of her consciousness.

The next morning, Ava’s phone buzzed sharply, jarring her awake. She reached for it groggily, her heart leaping when she saw the number was blocked. She hesitated before answering, her voice unsteady. “Hello?”

A moment of silence followed, then a distorted voice emerged through a voice modulator. “I see you got my note.”

Ava sat up quickly, her mind racing. “Who are you? What do you want?”

“That’s not the question you should be asking,” the voice replied. It was eerie, mechanical, completely devoid of gender or emotion. “You should be asking why you are here, Ava.”

The use of her name made Ava’s blood run cold. “Why am I here, then? If you know so much, tell me!”

The voice paused, as if considering the weight of its response. “Let’s just say this is your chance at a different life—one the other Ava didn’t want anymore.”

Ava’s stomach churned. “Did she do this? Did she—switch with me on purpose?”

“Curiosity is good, Ava,” the voice said cryptically. “But be careful. Not everyone around you wants the real you back. You’re becoming a better version of yourself, aren’t you? Don’t lose that edge.”

The line went dead before Ava could press for more answers. She stared at the phone, her mind swirling. The call confirmed one thing: she wasn’t alone in this experience. But whether this unknown informant was an ally or a manipulator was still unclear.

Ava’s mind buzzed with the new information as she prepared for the day. By the time she arrived at the studio, her body was moving on autopilot. She barely noticed when Sophia approached her, clipboard in hand and a curious look in her eyes.

“You’re early,” Sophia remarked, her voice tinged with surprise. “You’ve been…different lately. But in a good way, I think. The old Ava was more distracted, lost in her own head. This version of you is—well, more present.”

Ava tried to suppress the unease rising inside her. It was the second time someone had commented on her behavior, and it made her feel like a fraud. “Just trying to be the best version of myself,” she replied, forcing a smile.

Sophia’s gaze lingered a moment longer than usual, her eyes searching for something Ava wasn’t sure she wanted found. “Well, keep it up. Everyone’s noticed. It’s like you’re back to your old self, and we’ve missed that.”

The comment sat uncomfortably with Ava. What did it mean to be back to her “old self”? She didn’t even know who that was. But one thing was clear: the other Ava had struggled with something big, and Ava needed to find out exactly what.

After the show, Ava sat in her dressing room, staring at her reflection. She wasn’t just playing a role; she was living someone else’s life. She picked up her phone and pulled up her contact list. She scanned the names, hesitating when she saw “Dr. Helen Carter”—her therapist. Or, rather, the other Ava’s therapist.

Impulsively, Ava dialed the number and made an appointment. If there was one person who might know the depths of the other Ava’s psyche, it was Dr. Carter.

Ava arrived at the therapist’s office later that afternoon, nervous but determined. The waiting room was calming, filled with serene music and soft lighting. When Dr. Carter emerged, she was a middle-aged woman with kind eyes and a no-nonsense demeanor.

“It’s good to see you, Ava,” Dr. Carter said warmly, guiding her into the office. “It’s been a while. How are you feeling?”

Ava hesitated, unsure how much to reveal. “Honestly, a bit lost. I’ve been…re-evaluating a lot of things lately.”

Dr. Carter nodded knowingly. “That’s not surprising, given everything we discussed last time. You’ve been through a lot of changes—some you’ve been open about, and others you haven’t.”

Ava felt a rush of panic but tried to stay composed. “What changes are you referring to?”

Dr. Carter studied her for a moment. “You talked about feeling like you were living in a cage of your own making. You wanted to break free, even if it meant leaving everything behind. Is that still how you feel?”

Ava’s heart pounded. The other Ava had wanted to escape her life—perhaps even more than Ava wanted to escape hers back home. She carefully chose her words. “Maybe I’m trying to understand what that would look like now. How did we leave things last time?”

Dr. Carter leaned back, her expression turning contemplative. “You mentioned wanting a radical change. You weren’t specific, but you were clear that it had to be something drastic. You were ready to shed your old self, in any way possible.”

Ava’s mind raced. This fit with the theory that the other Ava had somehow orchestrated the switch. But why? Was her alternate self so desperate that she would give up fame, success, and a platform she’d built over years?

Back at the penthouse, Ava was restless. She scoured the other Ava’s digital journal again, searching for answers. One entry stood out:

“There’s a small house outside the city, hidden from everyone. It’s the only place I feel like myself. Maybe I’ll go there and never come back.”

Ava immediately set out for the address, driven by a mix of curiosity and desperation. She found herself on the outskirts of the city, in front of a modest, run-down house. It was a stark contrast to the luxury of her penthouse. Inside, everything was frozen in time—dusty furniture, faded photographs, and half-packed boxes. In one room, she found a child’s belongings—baby clothes, toys, and a crib.

Ava’s breath caught in her throat. Had the other Ava lost a child? The possibility was like a punch to the gut, explaining some of the pain and desperation she’d sensed. Her chest tightened with emotion, a mix of empathy for the other Ava and a deepening guilt for being in a world she hadn’t earned.

Returning to the penthouse that evening, Ava felt a renewed sense of urgency. She couldn’t shake the feeling that the other Ava’s story wasn’t over, and neither was hers. She poured herself a glass of wine and sank into the couch, trying to make sense of it all.

Her phone buzzed again—another blocked call. She answered quickly. “What do you want from me?” she demanded, frustration and fear bleeding into her voice.

The voice modulator responded, cold and unfeeling: “You’re getting closer, Ava. But be careful what you wish for. Not all truths are meant to be discovered.”

“What happened to the other Ava? Is she in my world now?”

A pause. “Perhaps. Or maybe she’s just found what she was looking for all along.”

The call ended, leaving Ava more confused than ever. But this time, she felt a spark of defiance. If someone was playing a game with her life, she was determined to play it better.

The following evening, Ava attended a high-profile networking event, held in a sleek downtown venue filled with movers and shakers from the cannabis industry. She needed to maintain her facade, but she also hoped to gather more information.

There, she was approached by Victor Cain, a sharp-dressed, intense man who exuded power and authority. He was one of Ava’s major investors and seemed both intrigued and wary of her.

“Ava Green,” he said with a thin smile, his voice low and commanding. “I’ve been watching you lately. You seem…different.”

Ava forced a laugh. “New perspectives, I guess.”

Victor leaned in slightly, his gaze piercing. “Let’s hope it’s a good thing. But just so you know, I’ve always been able to spot when someone’s hiding something. If there’s anything I should know, you’d better tell me now.”

Ava’s pulse raced, but she kept her composure. “I’m just trying to find a new approach, Victor. Isn’t that what we always talk about? Reinvention?”

Victor’s eyes lingered on her, unblinking. “I hope that’s all it is.” His words were a veiled warning.

When Ava returned to the penthouse, she found Sophia waiting for her. “I need to know what’s going on, Ava,” Sophia said bluntly. “You’re acting strange—different. But… maybe better?”

Ava stared at Sophia, the one person who had consistently offered her a lifeline in this new world. “Maybe I am different,” she admitted slowly. “But I could use someone to talk to. Do you think you can handle that?”

Sophia’s expression softened. “If you’re willing to trust me, I’ll help you. Whatever it is you’re trying to find, I want to be part of it.”

Ava felt a mix of relief and trepidation. Sophia’s offer was genuine, but Ava knew that trusting someone too deeply could backfire. Still, she needed an ally. “I’m trying to rediscover who I am,” Ava said carefully. “And I need someone to help me dig through the past—my past.”

Sophia nodded. “I can do that. Let’s find the real you, Ava. Whoever she is.”