pte

'S

HIE'

phoned to inquire about her whereabouts. Jade's attempt to matchmake me with a man was not her first instan

u doing today? The school instr

ed as I was intrigued about the purpose for the call. I had lied to the school that Selene f

t see her at school today and were wondering why,

g." I shouted at the school instructor as I hung up the phone. I left

ays, so I decided to invite a few

grown. She was everything I ever wanted, and I was glad I decided ag

ondered who it would be at this tim

tarily perplexed as I was not expecting any visitors at th

made my way to the door, my mind racing as I tried

ion inscrutable. I muttered to myself underneath my breath, taking care to ens

her irritation palpable. "I've repeatedly warned her not to play in my garden

mounting. "She hasn't yet returned from school." I lied in an at

f in a piercing shriek. "I knew you would side with her! You always d

h Lois. So I apologized to Lois and ignored her ra

he school, she was not present in class, and nothing had shown up during any of the searches conducted on the school property. Ja

ade was on the bus with them and that they arrived at sc

er as tears flowed freely from my eyes. My only kid went

re that there would be nothing to write about this schoo

s tears streamed down my face. I contacted 911 immediately and informed them about

aded home not sure about what to do. My mind flooded with thought of were my

is drama. After she called for a while I decide

ruptly. Joyed with the message I had just received and worried about who the stranger would be I rushed back home and

him. Despite my cautions, Selene had previously returned home with someone I did

ondered how she met the stranger who was with her

amiliar as I got closer. I wondered who the stran

harp cheekbones and authoritative nose sliced down into a flinty jaw, while his eyebrows, shaped like a crescent

g smile. His gap year attire made him look younger than he was. Memories of long ago flooded my

hed as realization hit me. It was

, I felt a flash of rage inside of me, al

leaped into my arms, relinquishing his gri