Emma

Emma went missing around the time I was seven. She was my very best friend we did everything together. I remember the day she left it was warm, and the sun shone through the steadfast tree’s leaves making the park seem prettier than it was in actuality. We went to meet up with her and her younger sister Carla. I remember playing hide and seek with her I rested my head up against the rugged oak, counting to one hundred as I turned shafts of cascading light blinded me. I looked for her constantly I had no thought to where I was going, nor where I would inevitably end up sitting on the tufty grass I reached one fatal conclusion `Emma was better at hide and seek than me’ it wasn’t fair. I ran back to our parents complaining about the travesty I’d endured “you’ll find her just keep looking”. I never did.

“We all remember Emma Woodrow don’t we- I mean local girl who disappeared 10 years ago” I shuffle uncomfortably in my seat I don’t want to remember it hurts too much-

“You okay Laura?”

“Yeah of course I just think there’s a bit of a draught in here, bit cold isn’t it?”

“No not really”

“Oh” I look down to the floor in mortification my hair falls in front masking my plum coloured cheeks.

“On the third of July 2005 she went missing in the park playing hide and seek” my fists curl I must keep it in don’t do anything irrational.

“By the time the police made it too the scene not even a foot print remained”

“Shut up David” I scream as I my physics book and the entirety of everyone’s books are thrown off the coffee table. The whole sixth form common room turns to look at me in dis belief, my cheeks turn a plum colour but this time my hair doesn’t hide it.

When the police came I still thought she was hiding I knew she was. It was so unfair why did Emma get all this special attention? Emma’s mum shook her head as she told the police man her details. It wasn’t sunny anymore it was cold and I wanted to go home tugging my mother’s skirt I whined a pair of hand emerged picking me up then moving me away from the conversation it wasn’t fair Emma always got all the attention and for once I was being ignored.

I sit on the toilet seat cupping my head in my hands I’m such an idiot why did I do that? The door swings open as it does I muffle my sobs on the sleeve of my jumper “Laura?” I don’t want to answer “Laura I know you’re in there I can see your shoes” I bite my lip maybe she’ll go away “Laura I know you’re upset but yelling at someone because of the stress of the physics exam isn’t going to help-“

“It’s not about that”

“Then what is it about?”

“It doesn’t matter” I hear the door swing shut- I no longer muffle my sobs.

“Okay honey can you tell me as clearly as possible in your own words what happened today?” I don’t like the room it’s dimly lit and there’s a mirror opposite sometimes I think I can see shaped moving behind it but I convince my self it’s nothing.

“Laura?” I stare at the lady “Laura tell me what happened” but I don’t want to tell anyone what if I get locked up in prison I never knew playing a game of hide and seek could get me into this much trouble “Laura come on I know you’re in there can you co-operate please?” I don’t like this lady she keeps glancing at her watch and although her hair and clothes seem immaculately pressed there is some sort of aura about her that suggests otherwise. “Interview suspended at 6:09” the recorder clicks off the door swings shut and just like that I’m left in the dimly lit room alone.

I walk home in silence normally Ella joins me but due to the events in the toilets today I don’t think she’s in the best mood with me today. I scuff my shoes on the pavement looking up I see her across the street from me standing there watching me I start to run across the street streaming with tears then I remember it’s not her she’s not there. It’s my mind playing tricks on me a truck honks at me I realize I’m standing in the middle of the street crying looking like a right maniac “you all right love” he yells as the window comes down

“Yeah, yeah I am” but I know I’m not” I cross to the other side of the street where she was now only a street lamp remains. I used to see her every week but ever since therapy started her visits became less. I’m broken and can’t be fixed.

They haven’t found Emma’s body but they found her clothing covered in her blood and bundled in the river. Her parents held a small funeral service for her in the local church they lost all hope but I haven’t I know she’s out there somewhere and one day I will find her. I promise.