I passed over the other side of the road and headed to a shop I got a man there and inquired if he had seen. "Hello, have you seen this person?" I asked he looked at the picture and then at me as if wondering what the? I was looking for a grown man. After staring at the photo again he said no and it broke me because for a moment there I thought he was going to say he had.
I tried calling him, staring at my phone hoping he would pick it up. With no luck, looking around for the last time it angered me that no one was even trying to approach me and ask what was going on. I had only one option, SCREAMING. And yes, I screamed.
People started walking towards where I stood screaming, others kept on walking as if seeing a woman screaming is a normal thing, others pointed openly at me.
This fueled me and I kept on screaming.
One man came in front of me and said, "Hi what is wrong?"
"My brother I can't find him."
"Come down where did you leave him?" He asked
"Here he went that way." I pointed in the direction then showed him the picture. He looked at it then at me and left while shaking his head and left. I am sure he was thinking I had lost my baby brother in his head.
I kept on screaming and texting my brother where he was but no reply, and by now the number of people surrounding me had grown and most of them were looking at me with pity.
I continued crying calling, "brother." And nothing.
Then as if all of them were possessed they started asking me questions, with that I lost it even more. I began throwing my hands around and caught the eye of one woman who was also looking at me. Then as if realizing something she yelled too and said, "Quite everyone she can't hear what all of you are saying."
They went silent all at once, and it went back to the staring again.
"I am Mary, what is your name?"
"Hi, I am Brenda. I can't find my brother; his name is Brandon."
Yes, I am Brenda Keys, have I mentioned I am Deaf? I speak perfectly and can hear a little bit with the help of a hearing aid. How do I know what people are telling me? Well, I lip-read. And with the help of the hearing aid and my excellent skills in lip-reading, I communicate perfectly well with others.
Besides speaking, I use sign language to communicate and sometimes write and read. I currently am even taking a Spanish class. It's fun.
The lady who had spoken came and stood in front of me. "Shh come down. Tell me what is happened?" the lady asked me slowly while staring at me.
I explained to her the whole thing.
Okay sorry, we will find him. Okay? Just give me your phone I call your parents then we can keep on looking for him. Okay?"
I only managed to nod and dial my dad's phone number. It rang and when he received it, I gave the lady.
"Hello, I am Mary. I am with your daughter and she is here screaming about her brother." She said while looking at me. She kept quiet and I knew my dad was talking back to her. "Okay we are near Sean Corner Centre; I will tell her."
With that, she ended the call and gave me my phone
"Your parents are coming let's sit over here and wait for them." She said and pointed at an empty bench. "They are coming don't worry." She reassured me.
"Yes, but I want my brother," she only looked at me worriedly and we headed to the bench.
My phone vibrated and my heart skipped, it was a text from my dad saying they were coming. received a text from dad saying they were coming. I kept on looking around really hoping he would come out if anywhere and then boom he will tell me the prank was over so we can go home.
I thought maybe some cameramen would come running and tell me, "Got you there this was all a prank by your brother." Then we will go home and I won't forgive him till he begged. But that also didn't happen.
From a distance, I saw my father's car and I stood. He drove slowly and then my mom didn't even wait for dad to open her door, she ran out and hugged me.
"I need him, mum. I was with him but now I don't know where he is."
She wiped my tears and said, "come down love tell me what happened."
I recapped the story again up to the point where the lady called them.
"Baby come down, okay? We will find him the police are on their way coming." My dad said while patting my shoulder adoringly.
The number of the people standing multiplied more and more, most of them looking at us while their mouths opened.
Why? Because we are the Keys, and my parents are the founders of The Keys Company, a multi-billion company. They are famous.
My dad is a renowned photographer and the C.E.O of our company, my mom is a well-known psychologist, she deals with celebrities and well-known people sometimes, she also has her TV show.
Why didn't they know who I am?
Simple. I and Brandon don't do media. My parents ensured that since we were young. And with that, the media didn't bother us since they don't know who we are. By the time we became adults we still avoided the media like plague, we attend events and always keep a low profile. We don't do interviews either.
The police arrived very fast, my mom told them what I had told her and they went on to look for my brother. It was easy for us to get scared; my parents were well-known and most importantly my brother has never, never left me.
My parents ' private investigators also arrived and they go around asking questions.
"Hang in there love, we will find him." My mom said she meant the shawl which was covering my face.
"No pictures please." My dad said while looking around but of course, not all people were taking pictures some were busy gaping at my parents not believing that they have seen the famous Keys by their own eyes and shared the same air.
My dad's phone rang and he answered. He only said yes and thanks then ended the call, he leans into my mom's ear and whisper then pecked her on the cheek.
"The media have been alerted some are on their way coming I will make sure nothing gets published, don't worry we will find him." He said lowly and reassuringly while tapping my shoulder with passion.
I only managed to nod. He took my hand and walked me to the passenger seat. He kissed me on the forehead and closed the car door after putting on my seat belt. With that, he waved at us and I could see him talking with the woman named Mary.
My mom started driving and left that place. I could feel the part of my heart that wasn't broken shattered into more tiny pieces. Leaning on the car window and looking at the side-view mirror, seeing the people getting smaller and smaller. I sigh knowing for sure things were not going to be the same
This was the beginning of something painful and heartbreaking