"What did he say?" Like a earthquake Alis takes the book I was reading off my hands and asks me with curious eyes.
"He walked away, I haven't seen him since." I simply say impassive. It's been 12h since my dad left the house last night and I'm still processing what happened.
"What? Please tell me that you are joking, like he really just left the house like that?" Alis isn't the quiet type, she casually raises her voice in the middle of school in light of the things that I just told her.
"I know just as much as you. I wish he didn't, but he did and I have no idea of where he could be. Certainly not at work because he left his work phone and only took his personal one with him."
"This is strange, it would have been so much easier if your mum would have just told you everything in the letter to begin with, like your brothers name and your biological father's details..."
I nod, voicing her thoughts in my head. I have thought about the same thing before but deep down I believe there might be a specific reason why my mother chose to omit these details. It might be because she doesn't want me to know or she wants my dad to tell me perhaps, still giving me the opportunity to find then. Or maybe...
"My mum was a succer for a good mystery, she probably didn't tell me because she wants me to solve the mystery as she did quite enjoy being enigmatic and letting me figure things out myself."
"Let's meet in the library second break." She concludes nodding knowingly. Short after the bell rings.
°°°
"How are you feeling?" Alis whispers as she seats down next to me. The library in very quiet although there are many people in here, so quiet that her voice resounds between the book-filled shelfs.
I take the letter out of my bag and desplay it on the table.
"Good. I've highlighted the bits that talk about my brother in yellow and my father in green. The pink bits are the dates." I explain.
Alis doesn't know me and my family that well so she can't help much but I appreciate the thought. She wants to be there for me and I'm glad I'm not going through all of this alone. By the end of break we leave with a few hypothesis drawn out of the letter alone. The main thing came from the way she signed the letter. Although her last name is Smith she signed the letter as Eduards, which might be my biological father's last name which could be her way to hint at his name or something.
Also the ages helped me with the dates. She says that they left the city when I was four and then she saw them six years later leads up to the year she died. And finally she said that me and my brother attended school together, meaning that we have about the same age, therefore we have a small age gap between us. Left the library I notice Josh waiting by my locker.
"Shouldn't you be in class?" I ask annoyed.
"Technically yes. But I couldn't help but eavesdrop in the library your conversation with Alis." Right now he looks detached, like there's something he wants to tell me.
"And?" Honestly I feel terrible treating him this way, but for once I'm justified.
"I know what it feels like... I'm here if you need me okay." He gives me I quick smile and pat on my shoulder before leaving.
Confused, I watch him leave, and if it wasn't for Alis I would have stayed there staring at the almost deserted hallways. By the end of the day my head is killing me with an headache that won't go away. Therefore, needing answers I walk up to Josh who's packing his bag in an empty science class. He looks up, but doesn't say a thing.
"What's your deal?" I feel agitated although my tone is calm. He gives me a confused look so I explain further. "Why are talking to me all of a sudden? What did you mean by 'I know what it feels like' earlier?" He puts his backpack on and walks out inviting me to follow him.
"I'm orphan." He says as I walk beside him. "My mother died while giving birth to me and my father committed suicide because he couldn't cope with the pain. My uncles raised me for most of my childhood...I know what is like to not have a parent and wander who they are."
"I'm so sorry" I wishper staring at my feet not quite knowing what else to say. When he told he never met his parents a few days ago I never imagined this.
"It's fine. I'm not a creep if that's what you are thinking. I just wanted us to be friends... I see you always on your own. Quiet. I wanted to get to know you better." He laughs silently. "The library thing was a total coincidence. You see, I was there to drop off some books and I heard you talking about a letter. I was curious and I eavesdropped. Sorry."
"Your forgiven I guess." The moment I look up I realize that we are still walking. Although I have been looking at my feet this whole time I haven't realized that we left the school grounds long ago. "Wait... Where are we going?" I give him a terrified look while he just shakes his head.
"I know where we are, don't panic," he says with a smirk. He looks so relaxed, even when he was talking about his parents. I wish I could too. I wish could at least pretend to stay calm. Seems like nothing can undermine him.
"How do you do it?"
"Do what?" He questions puzzled.
"How do you look so calm even when talking about your parents?"
There it is. I'm doing it again. But this time it's different because this time I feel like I can use it to my advantage. Although, I still don't fully trust him.