4: Goodbye
2189, April 6th 8:08 PM
"ITOU!"
A shrill voice rang from my cellphone receiver. The voice was female; mom. She was out of breath, desperate; completely without hope.
There wouldn't have been any other reason for her to call several hours after classes ended on my first day of college. Something had happened. Something I'd been reassured wouldn't happen.
Something I was promised wouldn't happen.
I panicked.
"What's wrong? What's wrong!"
"It's, it's Akemi. She said she'd be going to a friend's house after school, but she never came home. The police are everywhere, but they haven't found her . . AH! What happened to her Itou? WHAT HAPPENED?!"
"Calm down!" I snapped. "Do you know where she went?"
"Nobody does. I heard she was bullied by some girls at her school, they said she was worthless, ah, I don't know. Itou, you have to do something!"
"I will!" I slammed my fist against the table in my dorm room. My table vibrated like it was possessed. "Where've they looked?"
"Everywhere! The city park, businesses, people's houses . . . They have no idea where she went!"
Where's dad?"
"He's looking with everyone else. Itou, we nee—"
Click.
I tossed my coat over my back and left my snoring roommate in our room. The blackness of light was my only companion as I sped towards the city lights.
I shouldn't have left. I shouldn't have left. I shouldn't have left. What kind of a monster am I?!
I kicked my foot against the gas pedal, sending my car far above the speed limit. I steered around cars in the midst of the traffic. Out of wishful thinking, I scanned each alleyway for any sign of where she was.
This attracted attention fast. Police sirens blared from behind me.
I kept looking. I had to.
I gazed at everything. Something, anything to prove where she was.
They promised. Why is this happening? Where was I?
Those lights covered my entire car in red. I couldn't let them catch me; I had to find her.
Nothing was going to stop me.
I stopped. Cars lined up ahead of me up until the next traffic light. There was no room to move; I was stuck.
Rough tires scratched behind me. I jerked my head to the side. A burning sensation snuck up on the corners of my eyes they went so wide.
There was a wooden slab; a keepsake from an old playground we had at our old house. Scrawled on it with a Sharpee was a short, succinct message.
"You wiped away my tears . . . That's how I know you've always cared. Thank you for everything,"
I screeched. I threw both feet against the door, forcing it open.
I sprinted to the alleyway next to the sign. Amidst the dark lights, a body, surrounded by a pool of blood.
It was her. Her happy, eccentric face now stuck in a contortion of serenity.
I broke down. I fell to my knees.
And cried.
And cried.
And cried.
