It's four o'clock in the morning, and it's very dark. Doutzen's head of school has given her mother permission to take her on holiday for no more than eight days, and she panics while packing her bags. It's not an emergency trip. Marit would argue that it's not really a necessary trip at all. Doutzen's mother, who has no issue letting her daughter roam free, would have agreed to let Doutzen go to America alone for a week. Marit is much more easygoing than a lot of parents. Doutzen's parents were more than happy to help arrange the trip. She has no idea what to expect.

After leaving Verena's house, Doutzen received a message containing the contact information of a teenager named Juno, who lives in Alaska. She's spoken to the girl many times since then. It's interesting to know that Doutzen's biological family has roots in so many places. It's strange to consider that other people have lives just as complex and confusing as Doutzen, even though to her, they're only side characters. Before Beatrix brought this up the other day, Doutzen had never considered it.

"I really hope you know what you're doing."Doutzen didn't get enough sleep. In less than an hour, she's due to leave her house. Marit rummages through suitcases, anxious about the trip. "Remember, things don't always turn out the way you want them to."

It's March. Doutzen wishes it was spring. "I know, Mama."

There's no proof showing the name of Doutzen's biological parents - but with all the conversations she's had with people, and information she's learned about her genetics, it's almost certain that she was born to a man called Pim. Doutzen knows nothing about the woman who gave birth to her. According to the family she's spoken to, no one else does either.

"Tell me more about Pim," Doutzen said to Juno, when they spoke on the phone. It was late at night in Alaska, and Juno was very tired. "Does he have any kids? Is he nice?"

It's so easy to envision someone in your head. Doutzen does it all the time. There's no issue with this, until the way you've envisioned them turns out to be completely wrong. This is the most nerve-racking part for her. Doutzen could arrive in Alaska and find that her family is nowhere near the way she imagined them. She could arrive and find that nobody cares to meet her at all.

"I never met him," Juno said, sounding apathetic. "But I have a cousin, Ivo, who's Pim's son. He lives with me."

It's a very long flight to Alaska, and Doutzen has to make several stops. When her plane departs from Amsterdam, she'll land in Philadelphia, where she'll need to spend the morning waiting for the next flight. From here, she'll fly to Seattle, and then Fairbanks, where Juno will meet her. It seems like too much work. Maybe, all of the money and stress won't end up being worth it at all. It's like Marit says. You can't expect anything to turn out if you never try. As a minor, Doutzen can't take a connecting flight without a guardian, and she can't rent a hotel room. She follows her mother closely through customs, clutching her suitcase tightly in her hand.

Marit has no interest in meeting Doutzen's family. She's not obligated to come along. When Doutzen was eleven, she took a plane for the first time to visit family in the United Kingdom. Marit has a sister who lives in Cardiff, and rarely feels like driving the distance. It's pretty there, and friendly. Doutzen could never imagine leaving her hometown.

The flight from Amsterdam to Philadelphia is eight hours, and departs at eight. Doutzen isn't a morning person. Marit, who works as a massage therapist, can choose her own schedule. During her first layover, Doutzen will have five hours to kill. When it comes to traveling, killing time is the worst part. The airplane is small and cramped. Doutzen has a message from a woman named Saakje, who's just appeared on her ancestry website as either an aunt or grandmother. You're not allowed phones on airplanes."I love you, Mama," says Doutzen, preparing for takeoff. "Thanks for coming with me."

Philadelphia is much larger than Winschoten. It seems like Doutzen could get lost just trying to cross the street. She's never been out of Europe, and feels overwhelmed with the changes. Juno, who said she'd check in with Doutzen thoroughly during the day, hasn't been in contact all day. "I have a brother," Doutzen said, when she last spoke to her cousin, "I want to meet him."

This tale has been unlawfully lifted from Royal Road. If you spot it on Amazon, please report it.

Juno had laughed a little, surprising Doutzen. "No," she'd said, "you don't."

"Stop dawdling, Doutzen. I don't want to spend hours getting through the airport."Marit isn't an uptight woman, but she's easily stressed, and Doutzen knows better than to interfere. She'd like to know what her mother is thinking: not just about their trip, but about everything. She's hungry, but there will be lots of time later to explore the city. It's eleven in the morning. Doutzen's legs are sore. She's very tall, but Marit is taller.

"Sorry."

Despite studying English in school, Doutzen knows little. When they arrive in Alaska, Marit will be taking herself to the hotel, letting Doutzen meet up with her later.

Five years ago, Doutzen's parents told her the truth about her birth. It's a story that sounds like it should come out of a movie. During a weekend trip to Zwolle, Marit was startled to hear a noise that sounded like a newborn baby crying, coming from the inside of an alley dumpster. It's hard for Doutzen to wrap her head around this. If Marit hadn't come to investigate, Doutzen wouldn't be alive. Her mother had taken her to the hospital, and subsequently adopted and taken her home.

It's eight o'clock in the morning in Alaska. It's possible Juno is still asleep, and this is why she hasn't checked in yet. In less than twenty four hours, Doutzen will know her biological brother. Before their next flight, Doutzen and Marit explore Philadelphia. There's a lot to do. Doutzen could visit a museum, or meditate in a park, or see the zoo.

The plane departs at quarter after four in the afternoon. Marit says this means they must return to the airport at three o'clock to ensure they make it on time. Marit is a punctual woman, and becomes impatient when her children take too long. Time zones make Doutzen feel confused. Traveling takes much longer than she'd anticipated, and it's very late when she arrives. She has a message from someone named Aspen, who says she's Juno's sister, and tells Doutzen to be expecting her. Marit rents a car from the airline, unwilling and unfamiliar with public transportation. Outside baggage claim, a short blonde teenager waves in their direction.

"Doutzen?"

Alaska is much smaller than the Netherlands, and Doutzen knows little about it. Tired and crabby, Marit leaves for the hotel she's booked for their trip. They've traveled nearly nineteen hours to be here. If the trip isn't worth it, Doutzen will feel guilty. The teenager, who looks too young to drive, is accompanied by a man with bright pink hair and a scruffy beard, who doesn't greet Doutzen. She can't help but wonder if he's her brother.

"Aspen?"

It's dark outside. It's nearly midnight, and Doutzen feels too energized to sleep. She longs to make conversation, and falls into step beside Aspen, who takes a long look at her. Perhaps, she's trying to find similarities. "You look nothing like him."

Native speakers always speak too quickly. She follows, rolling her large suitcase behind her, feeling very oddly comfortable around people she's only just meeting. "Where is Juno?" Doutzen has never had a need for English before. It's intimidating, being so far away from home.

Aspen looks at the man, speaking to the floor rather slowly. "She couldn't make it."

Doutzen points. "Are you Ivo?"It's rude to point. This is something she's been told a hundred times. Sometimes, she gets excited and can't really control herself. Stopping at a slim silver car, the man begins to toss Doutzen's suitcases into the back seat, leaving enough space for her to sit. When she spoke to Juno, she was invited to her house.

"No. I'm Ciel. You don't want to meet Ivo, trust me."

Doutzen doesn't understand every word of what's being said. Using surrounding words and context clues, she can figure out the basic meaning of most things.

"Why?" She could fall asleep. Juno speaks Dutch. Since landing, she hasn't heard a word of it.

Aspen sighs. "Because he's a dick."

"A what?"

It's uncertain how much time it will take to arrive at Juno's house. Hopefully, when Doutzen arrives, she'll feel more at home. Ciel glances at Aspen before beginning to drive. "He's not friendly." The last time Doutzen spoke to Juno, the girl mentioned she had a sister and a brother. Even on the other side of the world, Doutzen has family members she's never heard of. Ivo can't be as bad as everyone's saying he is. Maybe he's just awkward or shy, or a bit unfriendly. Doutzen can be that way too.

Saakje, the woman who reached out to Doutzen earlier that day, is her maternal aunt. She lives in Toronto, and insists on speaking to Doutzen over video call. It all seems like too much, truthfully. For all of the years Doutzen has been alive, she's been oblivious to so many things. Aspen says that she doesn't live with her brother. Ciel says he doesn't want strangers in his house. This is understandable, even though it's disappointing. Tomorrow, Juno promised to take Doutzen out to a cafe, and to get to know each other. Maybe, by the time Doutzen flies home, she'll have been allowed to see Juno's house.