The morning light filtered through the thin curtains of the modest kitchen in their small home. Alex's mother, Olivia, stood by the stove, absently stirring a pot of oatmeal. Her mind was elsewhere, preoccupied with the thought that Alex had not come down for breakfast yet. It wasn't entirely unusual for him to be late, especially given his recent struggles, but today felt different.
"Sarah, can you go check on your brother?" she called out, trying to mask the worry in her voice.
Sarah, Alex's younger sister, was already halfway out the door, her backpack slung over one shoulder. "Sure, Mom. But if he's still asleep, it's not my fault if he's late."
Olivia forced a smile, appreciating Sarah's attempt at humor. As the door closed behind Sarah, Olivia's worry deepened. She glanced at the clock. It was almost time for school, and Alex had never missed a day without letting her know.
Minutes turned into an hour, and soon, Olivia's unease turned into panic. She tried calling Alex's phone, but it went straight to voicemail. A sinking feeling settled in her stomach. She called the school, hoping he had simply gone ahead without breakfast, but they confirmed her worst fears: Alex had not shown up.
By midday, the panic had spread. Olivia had called everyone she could think of: neighbors, friends, even distant relatives. No one had seen Alex. She called the police, her hands trembling as she explained the situation.
"We'll send an officer over, ma'am," the dispatcher assured her. "Please stay calm and stay where you are."
Olivia couldn't stay calm. She paced the living room, wringing her hands, her mind racing through every worst-case scenario. When the police arrived, they took her statement and began their search, but their calm, methodical approach did little to soothe her nerves.
Sarah returned from school, her usual teenage nonchalance replaced by a look of fear. She found her mother in the living room, talking to a police officer.
"Mom, what's happening?" Sarah asked, her voice small and scared.
Olivia pulled her daughter into a tight embrace. "We're going to find him, honey. The police are looking, and we'll do everything we can."
Days passed with no sign of Alex. The initial surge of community support was heartwarming; neighbors brought over food, and friends helped with the search. Posters with Alex's face were plastered around town, and search parties combed the nearby fields and parks. But as days turned into a week, the support began to wane, replaced by an undercurrent of hopelessness.
Olivia refused to give up. She barely slept, spending her nights scouring local news and social media for any clues or signs of where her son might be. Every phone call made her heart race with the hope that it was news about Alex, only to be crushed each time it was just another well-wisher offering empty words of encouragement.
Sarah struggled in her own way. She tried to maintain a semblance of normalcy, going to school and doing her homework, but the weight of Alex's absence hung over her like a dark cloud. She couldn't stop replaying their last conversation, the harsh words she had thrown at him in anger. The guilt gnawed at her, making it hard to focus on anything else.
At school, whispers followed her down the hallways. Friends approached with hesitant sympathy, while others kept their distance, unsure of what to say. Sarah felt more isolated than ever, her emotions swinging between anger and despair.
One evening, after another fruitless day of searching, Olivia sat down with Sarah. The two of them huddled on the couch, the television playing in the background, a news report they weren't really watching.
"Mom, do you think Alex is okay?" Sarah's voice was barely above a whisper.
Olivia looked at her daughter, seeing the fear and guilt etched on her young face. She wanted to promise her that everything would be fine, that Alex would come home soon, but she couldn't bring herself to lie. Instead, she took Sarah's hand and squeezed it gently.
"I don't know, sweetie. But we have to believe that he is. We have to hold onto hope, for Alex's sake."
Sarah nodded, tears streaming down her face. "I miss him so much."
"I know," Olivia said softly, pulling Sarah into a hug. "I miss him too. We'll keep looking. We won't give up."
As they sat there, clinging to each other, the weight of Alex's absence pressed down on them. The house felt emptier, quieter, a stark contrast to the life they once knew. The days ahead seemed uncertain, but they knew they had to face them together, holding onto the hope that one day, Alex would return.
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Author's note
Should I make chapters longer
Yes/No
I am planning on continue updating 2 chapters a day
But with the current support the book was getting I don't think this will continue for much longer
Don't worry I have no plans of dropping this book for now
If you are liking my work please add it in your library and give it your daily power stones
Your support is my motivation
Sayonara