What would you do if you had a terrible accident, went into a coma for 3 months and when you woke up, the only thing you remember is your twin brother’s face? This is the unfortunate predicament that happened to Alex Lewis in 1982, and the plot of the new Netflix documentary series, Tell Me Who I Am.

The show follows the real-life story of twin brothers Alex and Marcus Lewis as it explores the extents to which family members can go to hide the truth from their siblings.

As it turns out, Alex Lewis’ documentary was the only bridge that helped the brothers find closure and reconciliation in their lives.

Getty Images / Ideal Image

Alex Lewis’ "Tell Me Who I Am" documentary is a true story

As a documentary, Tell Me Who I Am delivers as advertised, as it takes viewers on a journey of discovery as Alex Lewis discovers who he really is.

Speaking to Time, Ed Perkins, the show’s director said that the show gets its authenticity from the fact that it involves truth as a dominant societal theme.

Getty Images / Ideal Image

The conflict between the main protagonists, Alex and Marcus, is that after Alex lost his memory after a terrible motorcycle accident, his brother had to lie to him to protect him from pain and childhood trauma.

After his coma, Alex relied on Marcus for truths about his past life since he was a blank canvas. To him, his only connection to life was his twin brother, who he trusted with stories of their childhood, family, and youth. While Marcus admits that he lied to his brother for close to 15 years, his intents were justifiable.

Prostock-studio / Shutterstock.com

Marcus led Alex to believe that they grew up in a wealthy family in Sussex, England, but in reality their childhood was filled with pain and trauma. Growing up, their mother sexually abused them as kids and their father had neglected them.

spixel / Shutterstock.com

It was only after their mother died that Alex came to know the truth and understandably, he was mad at his brother for lying to him.

For the filmmakers, creating an environment of trust was important as this was the only way that the brothers could explore the truths of their lives in a way they never had before. “I don’t want to be silent anymore” was Marcus’ mantra and the show provided him the opportunity to speak out.

Watched the extraordinary new documentary Tell Me Who I Am last night.

Truly incredible story of two twins with a harrowing secret told with great skill & sensitivity by @ejcperkins & @simonlchinn.

The brothers’ bravery & determination to confront the past was awe-inspiring. pic.twitter.com/7C93iAS0GZ

— James Jones (@jamesjonesfilm) October 9, 2019

While it is understandable that Alex was disappointed at his brother’s deception, it is also admirable that Marcus was able to keep the secret to make sure his brother only had good memories. Marcus took the burden to carry the painful truth to make sure that his twin lived a happy life.

Despite the traumas of their past, Perkins added that now, the brothers “live incredible and emotionally rich lives” as they overcame their differences and pain.

What should you do if you suspect child abuse?

Tell Me Who I Am is a great cautionary tale that shows the impacts of child abuse on their lives. If people Alex and Marcus’ community had been able to identify the signs of child abuse, they could have been able to rescue them from the hurt when it was still early.

Some indicative signs of child abuse include:

• Physical abuse: If a child has bruises, burns, and injuries or even show signs of avoiding physical contact, they might have suffered from physical abuse.
• Sexual abuse: When children avoid some person(s) for no reason, get pregnant, or have STDs, it can be a sign that they were abused.
• Emotional abuse: Constant anxiety or worries, depression, poor academic performance, and extreme behavior can indicate some form of abuse.
• Neglect: Children that miss school, poor at gaining weight, and always look unkempt could be neglected since they have to fend for themselves.

Sabphoto / Shutterstock.com

If you identify any signs that indicate abuse, call 911, notify child help services, or even take the child to a hospital to give them a fighting chance.

Alex and Marcus’ story starts an important debate that challenges the world to be proactive in caring for children wherever they are to prevent them from suffering from trauma, hurt, and pain.