I kicked a rock down the cracked sidewalk, watching it skitter into the gutter. Another pointless day at school. My grades were circling the drain, and I couldn’t bring myself to care. Not anymore. Not since six months ago. I clutched the straps of my backpack, tempted to throw it in a dumpster and be done with it. Beside me, Mia chatted away, her voice a fragile attempt to lift my spirits.
“Hey, did you hear about Mrs. Nelson’s cat?” she asked, her tone bright but forced. “Apparently, it climbed the neighbor’s tree and refused to come down for hours.”
I managed a half-hearted grunt. “Great. Even cats have more sense than me.”
Mia sighed, the cheer in her voice wavering. “Lily, you’ve got to stop beating yourself up like this.”
“What’s the point, Mia?” I snapped, my frustration boiling over. “I’m just a homeless kid with dead parents who OD’d in a crappy motel room. Who cares if I fail a few classes?”
Mia’s eyes softened with that all-too-familiar pity. The “poor, tragic Lily” look. I hated it. “Let’s not talk about school,” she said gently. “What about the shelter? Have you heard anything about those people who went missing?”
My stomach twisted. The shelter had been my refuge since everything went to hell. The only place that felt remotely like home. I shrugged, trying to seem indifferent. “Yeah, a few. Jimmy, the old guy who always hung out by the soup kitchen, disappeared last week. And I haven’t seen Carla in days.”
Mia frowned, genuine concern etching lines across her forehead. “It’s so weird. Do you think someone’s taking them?”
I glanced at her, my anger momentarily replaced by worry. “I don’t know. Maybe. People disappear all the time, but this feels different. More people are going missing, and it’s freaking everyone out.”
“Why don’t you stay with us permanently?” Mia asked, her voice softening. “Mom and Dad would totally let you, you know that.”
I shook my head, my fingers tightening around the backpack straps. “I can’t, Mia. Your family’s been great, but I can’t keep living with you. I need to… I don’t know, figure things out on my own. Besides, the shelter needs me. It’s the only thing I have left.”
Mia sighed again but didn’t push it. We walked in silence for a few minutes, the sounds of the city around us. The distant hum of traffic, the chatter of passersby, all of it felt muted against the gray sky. The clouds hung heavy and ominous, threatening rain that matched my mood perfectly.
We turned a corner, passing by a group of rowdy teenagers from school. One of them, Jake, sneered at me. “Hey, Lily! Heard you flunked the math test. Again.”
I ignored him, but Mia glared back. “Leave her alone, Jake.”
Jake laughed, his friends joining in. “Whatever, Mia. Just saying the truth.”
We walked faster, the encounter leaving a bitter taste in my mouth. Mia tried to lighten the mood. “Hey, remember when we used to play in that park?” She pointed to a run-down playground across the street. “We’d spend hours on the swings, pretending we could fly.”
I forced a smile, the memory tinged with sadness. “Yeah, those were good times.”
Mia looked at me, her eyes searching for any sign of the old Lily. “You’ll get through this, you know. You’re stronger than you think.”
I didn’t respond, my mind drifting back to the shelter and the people who had gone missing. “Do you really think someone’s taking them?” I asked, my voice barely above a whisper.
Mia hesitated, then nodded. “I don’t know, Lily. But it’s scary. Maybe we should talk to someone, like the police.”
“The police don’t care about homeless people,” I said bitterly. “We’re just statistics to them.”
“Not to everyone,” Mia insisted. “There are good people out there. We just have to find them.”
We continued walking, the silence heavy with unspoken fears. As we neared Mia’s house, I glanced up at the sky. Dark clouds were rolling in, threatening rain.
“Do you ever think about them?” Mia asked softly. “Your parents, I mean.”
A lump formed in my throat, and I swallowed hard. “Every damn day. And I hate them for what they did. They left me alone in this mess. They chose drugs over me.”
Mia didn’t say anything. She knew better than to try to defend them. Instead, she slipped her arm around my shoulders, giving me a comforting squeeze. I leaned into her, grateful for her warmth even though it couldn’t fill the void inside me.
As we walked, we passed a homeless man sitting against a building, his sign asking for help. I felt a pang of empathy and guilt. “I used to know what it felt like to have a home,” I murmured.
Mia nodded, her eyes following mine. “It’s not your fault, Lily. You didn’t choose this.”
As we continued, we passed by a row of shops that had been part of our regular hangouts. The bookstore where we used to spend hours reading comics, the cafe where we shared countless milkshakes. The memories of happier times felt like a distant dream, almost unreal now.
“Do you remember when we used to hang out at the bookstore?” Mia asked, as if reading my thoughts. “We’d sit there for hours, reading comics and talking about our favorite characters.”
“Yeah,” I said, my voice tinged with nostalgia. “I miss those days.”
“We could still do that, you know,” Mia suggested. “It doesn’t have to be the same, but we could make new memories.”
I wanted to believe her, but the weight of my current reality was crushing. “Maybe,” I said, not wanting to dampen her spirits but unable to muster any real enthusiasm.
We walked past the cafe, the smell of coffee and baked goods wafting through the air. My stomach growled, reminding me that I hadn’t eaten since breakfast. “Want to grab something to eat?” Mia asked, noticing my expression.
“I don’t have any money,” I admitted, feeling a fresh wave of embarrassment.
“My treat,” Mia said quickly. “Come on, it’ll be fun. Just like old times.”
I hesitated but eventually nodded. We entered the cafe, the warmth and familiar smells enveloping us like a comforting hug. Mia ordered two sandwiches and hot chocolates, and we found a seat by the window.
As we waited for our food, Mia’s phone buzzed. She glanced at it and frowned. “It’s my mom. She wants to know if you’re coming over for dinner.”
I sighed. “I don’t want to impose.”
“You’re not imposing, Lily. Mom and Dad love having you over. They worry about you.”
“I know,” I said, feeling a mix of gratitude and guilt. “I just don’t want to be a burden.”
“You’re not,” Mia insisted. “You’re family. Please come over.”
I nodded, giving in. “Okay. I’ll come.”
Our food arrived, and we ate in comfortable silence, savoring the moment of normalcy. For a brief time, I allowed myself to forget my troubles and just enjoy being with my best friend.
After we finished, we headed out, the sky now darkening with the promise of rain. As we walked, we talked about everything and nothing, just like we used to. It felt good to lose myself in the conversation, to pretend that everything was okay.
“Do you really think the shelter is safe?” Mia asked suddenly, bringing us back to reality. “With all the people going missing?”
I shrugged, the familiar worry settling back in. “I don’t know. It’s the only place I have left.”
Mia looked at me, her eyes filled with determination. “We’ll figure this out, Lily. Together. We’ll make sure you’re safe.”
I nodded, wanting to believe her. But a part of me couldn’t shake the feeling that something bad was coming.
As we neared Mia’s house, the first drops of rain began to fall. We quickened our pace, not wanting to get soaked. The streetlights flickered on, casting a warm glow on the wet pavement.
Just then, a black van screeched to a halt beside us, its tires squealing on the wet pavement. The doors flew open, and before I could react, two men in dark clothing jumped out, grabbing me with iron grips. I screamed, thrashing and kicking, my heart pounding in my chest.
“Lily!” Mia shouted, lunging at them to pull me away.
One of the men yanked me into the van, his grip like a vise. I struggled, kicking and flailing, but he was too strong. The door slammed shut behind me, plunging us into darkness as the engine roared to life, drowning out Mia’s desperate cries.
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