A Straightforward Transaction
She had envisioned a straightforward transaction. After winning an astonishing $6 million jackpot, she was in disbelief, overwhelmed by the contrast to her past struggles – nights of cold and hunger, and frequent evictions. This windfall was a beacon of hope after so much hardship.
That morning, she boarded the first bus to the city with her daughter beside her, unaware of the challenges and surprises that awaited her at the journey's end.
Lottery Tickets
Buying those lottery tickets was Sarah Stewart's final attempt at hope. At thirty-five and facing overwhelming challenges, she had little faith in their success but felt desperation pushing her to try.
With her last fifty dollars in hand, Sarah made her way to the corner store. “Things can't get any worse,” she murmured to herself. If there was a higher power watching over her and her daughter, now was the moment for a sign of change.
A Native Of Polson
Sarah, a native of Polson, Montana, was accustomed to the rhythm of small-town life. Following a painful divorce from her husband of three years, she and her daughter were struggling to get by.
Recently, things took a turn for the worse. After losing her job due to company downsizing, Sarah found herself tirelessly searching for new opportunities throughout her town. Just when she thought things couldn't get any harder, she was faced with even greater challenges.
Rent And Utilities
Her expenses quickly mounted, from rent and utilities to internet bills, forcing her and her daughter, Melissa, into a motel.
The situation worsened as their life savings dwindled. With job opportunities scarce and odd jobs overcrowded with others in similar desperate circumstances, their financial struggles only deepened.
Covering Urgent Expenses
Sarah decided to take out loans to cover urgent expenses. Her daughter needed ongoing physical therapy for joint pain, and Sarah also had to manage other essential costs. The loans initially provided the relief she needed, and for a brief moment, Sarah believed that things were improving.
However, it wasn’t long before Sarah discovered that the loans had been a grave error. The financial strain continued, and her hopes for a smoother path quickly began to unravel.
Reviewing Financial Statements
Sarah’s realization hit hard when she reviewed her financial statements and saw the extensive list of loans under her name. With no cash left and already buried in significant debt, her situation seemed dire.
Loan companies and banks seized her remaining assets, including her car, and her credit score plummeted. Defaulted accounts made it nearly impossible to secure any further assistance, marking the beginning of a disheartening end to her financial struggles.
Seeking Comfort
Sarah stood outside the corner store, clutching fifty dollars in her hand. Her clothes were grimy, and her five-year-old daughter clung to her dress, seeking comfort.
“It’ll be okay, Mommy,” she murmured into the chilly evening air. Despite her daughter's attempt at reassurance, Sarah knew things were far from alright. She wanted to have faith, but deep down, she feared this might be the end of the road for them.
Reassuring Melissa
She gently stroked Melissa’s hair, trying to reassure her that everything would turn out fine. With just fifty dollars left, they were on the brink of sliding into severe poverty.
Sarah had gone two days without eating, saving every bit of food for Melissa. As she considered using their last bit of money to buy groceries, a new idea suddenly came to her.
Captivated By Hotdogs
Sarah entered the store with Melissa, both captivated by the hotdog stand near the counter. At three dollars each, the hotdogs were a bit pricey for them at the moment. However, Melissa’s eager gaze made Sarah step up to the stand.
"One hotdog, please," she requested, handing over her cash. Although Sarah’s stomach rumbled at her choice to forgo one for herself, she remained resolute. As she contemplated picking up some groceries, her attention was drawn to the lottery tickets nearby.
Lacking the Poker Knowledge
The tickets were perfectly arranged on the glass counter between Sarah and the cashier, each priced at two dollars. They represented a glimmer of hope for Sarah and Melissa's future.
Despite never having gambled before and lacking any knowledge of poker, Sarah felt a stirring of curiosity. She wondered if this moment was a sign from above, a potential blessing for her and Melissa.
Let's Play A Game
She bought five scratch-off lotto tickets, picked up groceries, and returned to her motel. After a quick bowl of ramen soup, she told Melissa they would play a short game before bed.
She laid out the tickets and asked Melissa to pick one. The daughter did, and Sarah scratched the card. The idea was to do this every night until she thought of a way out of this hellish life. She didn't know that everything was about to change.
Jackpot!
Each night, she'd check her online lottery account as a matter of follow-through. She didn't expect to win or anything and only needed something to keep her mind rooted in the present.
You can imagine her surprise when she saw the six million dollar jackpot staring back at her on the second day. She refreshed the page and fell back when the numbers didn't disappear.
Making Plans
It was deep in the night when Sarah found out she'd won. She gasped with her fingers over her lips before letting out a scream. Scrambling from her laptop, she called out to Melissa.
Her daughter, asleep beside her, arose to find Sarah pacing all over the room. Every problem she had was suddenly nonexistent, and she was thinking about how she'd put Melissa into an excellent physical therapy program before enrolling her in a fancy private school. But her dreams would be cut short.
Lottery Offices
Sarah couldn't wait for sunrise to come so she could visit the lottery offices. She was a millionaire now, and her life was about to change.
At dawn, she dressed Melissa in her favorite dress and wore one of her remaining work suits. She'd sold the rest to survive the tough days. All set, they hopped into the first bus headed for the city. They had no idea who was about to beat them to the punch.
A Quick Exchange
The bus dropped Sarah and her daughter at the lottery offices in Missoula, Montana. This was supposed to be a quick exchange. Sarah had already called her bank, informing them of the incoming transaction.
All she needed to do was present her lottery ticket and collect her winnings. But nothing prepared her for who she saw walking into the head office.
Like Looking Into A Mirror
The woman had the same build as Sarah, short and a little stout, and her strut and how she stood exuded confidence. Her voice was just as smooth, her hair the same blonde hue.
But her clothes were different, more tailored and expensive looking. She had this air of importance about her that made everyone cower from her path. Everyone except Sarah.
Is This A Nightmare?
Sarah had never believed in the supernatural. She didn't even believe in science to some extent. But what she'd seen here left her reeling toward the wall.
She rubbed her eyes, watching the woman through the office's glass walls. Was this one long nightmare slowly unfolding before her? It was about to rob her of the little sanity she still had left.
Trying To Rationalize It
"Mommy," Melissa tugged at her dress, pointing at the office. "Look, mommy. It's you." That alone was enough to snap Sarah out of her trance. She didn't know what was happening here, perhaps identity theft.
But one thing was clear. Whoever was inside the office posing as Sarah was about to claim all her money.
This Is War
Sarah took Melissa by the wrist and cut through the busy office floor. There was no way an identity thief would steal from her while she watched.
She threw caution and etiquette into the wind and shouldered the office door open. Rarely a violent person, even she understood that sometimes people just lost all restraint. This was war.
These Are Confusing Times
The man inside the office turned to Sarah before facing the woman on the chair. His mouth fell open, his eyes wide as he pointed a trembling finger toward Sarah and the lady.
The woman turned, too, shocked by the commotion. Like the man adjacent to her, her eyes broadened. She pushed back her chair as if to scramble away. What was happening?
Two Mommies
Sarah had expected the woman to sprint for her life after being caught in a lie. But she seemed just as shocked as Sarah was when she first saw her. Melissa jumped and clapped by her side, shouting, "I have two mommies!"
The woman's eyes bounced to her, her lips quivering. "What is this?" she asked the man across the table. "What's happening?"
Sarah Stewart
Her voice was identical to Sarah's, albeit with a distant British accent. "Somebody talk, or I'll scream," she warned. "Somebody say something!"
"Ms. Stewart," the man called, and Sarah and the woman answered "Yes" quickly. "No," they both said, pointing at each other before smoothing out their curls simultaneously. The man leaned forward, closing his eyes tightly before opening them. His brows drew up.
It Gets Even More Confusing
The two women were each called Ms. Stewart, which didn't make sense. But this was only the beginning of a mind-boggling journey.
"Ms. Sarah," the man tried to change the name to avoid confusion. But as before, both Sarah and the woman answered the title. "Are both of you called Sarah Stewart?" he asked with a disbelieving chuckle, wiping his mouth with the back of his hand.
The Confusion Continues
"Yes," Sarah said at the door, and Sarah in the seat answered the same. "I have two mommies!" Melissa exclaimed. The man shook his head and pointed at Sarah at the door, "Please don't tell me you also have a winning lottery ticket."
"I do," Sarah said, holding Melissa back. "Six million dollars. I'll be damned if someone else takes it from me."
Her Ticket
The woman faced her before standing. The power she'd exuded while walking into this office suddenly returned, and Sarah found herself inching back.
But the woman presented her own lottery ticket, urging Sarah to take it. "Take a look," she said. "It's from last night's win. I never have and would never steal from someone."
They're Both Winners
Sarah's brows parted, her lips thinning. The ticket was identical to hers, from the winning number to the date sold. "Here's mine," Sarah said in a low voice. The woman took the ticket and studied it carefully before smiling.
"A bit of a conundrum, then, Ms. Stewart?" she asked. "I am Sarah, Sarah Stewert," she added, and Sarah had to introduce herself too.
Two Winning Tickets
"Sarah Stewart as well," she said, and as if on cue, Melissa whispered her refrain about having two mommies. The woman smiled at her and turned to the man, who was still dumbfounded in his seat.
"Two winning tickets by two identical and similarly named ladies," she said. Sarah was still in shock but needed to be on top of her game to go home with her money.
The Only Way Forward
"What happens now?" she asked. "Two winning tickets. What's the procedure for that?" "Well, usually, we would split it down the middle, giving both tickets half the amount.
But this is a special case. “Are you two identical twins by any chance?" he asked. Sarah had considered the possibility. But it didn't make any sense.
Being Objective
She had grown up a single child in a small family. She'd also been very close to her mom, who would have told her if she had a twin sister somewhere in the world. There was also no way her 'twin' would have the same name as her. What made it even more confusing was that they'd bought identical lottery tickets and won the same lottery. But there was still more confusion to come.
"I'm confident we can split the prize," the man said. But the other Sarah's face fell. "Sir, I came here for six million dollars," she said. "I won't leave with anything less." "Well, neither will I," Sarah exclaimed beside her. She had no idea the woman had enough firepower to win this battle. But Sarah had everything riding on this. She'd prayed for this blessing and wasn't about to watch as it slipped from her grasp.
So Close, Yet So Far
The other Sarah started making phone calls immediately, clearly not mincing her words. On the other hand, the only person in Sarah's corner was God and Melissa. Would Sarah lose out on all the money simply because she couldn't share it? "Hey, hey," she inched toward the woman, who, on seeing her advance, stopped talking on her phone. "I am sure we can come to a sound understanding," Sarah said. "Go on," the woman, clearly interested, answered. "Coffee," Sarah suggested. "My treat. Let's talk about this somewhere less hostile." To her surprise, the woman agreed. Sarah had about ten bucks to her name, which she used for the coffee.
"Three million dollars is still a lot of money," she said. "It is," her counterpart agreed. Splitting the cash was slowly becoming a viable option both women were considering. For Sarah, this was the last draw before everything overwhelmed her completely. For the other Sarah, this was another load of cash to add to an already-existing sum rotting away in the bank. "Let's split it," they said simultaneously, and Melissa reminded them of what she had: two mommies. The women agreed, and the cash was split in the middle after they presented their tickets. But they didn't part ways after receiving the money. What had started as a war in the lottery office ended in a long friendship and sisterhood that neither of the two women saw coming.