Emily goes missing

It was early evening when Ross called Monica, sounding frantic.

I know this is a wild shot, but is Emily there?' he asked.

No, she's not,' Monica said, surprised, But she was here earlier, so it's not that wild a shot.'

She was? How did that happen?' Ross asked.

She just turned up on the doorstep, I was surprised,' Monica said. She wanted to talk about things, so we did.'

Was everything okay?' Ross asked anxiously. There weren't any problems?'

Yes everything was okay. We had a good talk. She's agreed not to stop you seeing Rachel,' Monica told him.

Oh,' Ross said, She really agreed?'

Was she okay with that? I mean really okay.'

I didn't have to beat her over the head to get her to agree if that's what you mean,' Monica said. She was quite willing.' Maybe that didn't quite cover it. She wasn't willing, but the pressure to change her mind had not come from Monica she was sure of that. All Rachel had done was to facilitate the change of mind. Her conscience was clear on that. She was pretty sure Emily agreed because she finally saw that the problem she feared no longer existed.

Wow, that's a big change,' Ross said. I just had no idea how to get her to change her mind, I've just felt so tense you know, not being able to bring it up. She reacted so badly even when I hinted it.'

Things are going to be better now,' Monica said. As Rachel said, there was the distance problem but that didn't seem so bad now that there was nothing Only if she comes home. Where did she say she was going after she left you?' Ross asked.

Shopping,' Monica said, But isn't she home yet? She left hours ago.'

No, she's not here, I can't find her anywhere,' Ross said beginning to sound panicked again. She hasn't been back, I can tell.'

Well maybe she's just been held up getting carried away with shopping,' Monica said, It happens.'

She can't get carried away with shopping,' Ross said, She's only got cash and I don't think she's got much. I haven't organised anything about her credit card yet.' And Monica remembered, Emily had said she was only shopping for food and there couldn't be much to get seeing as it was only the two of them.

There might have been a problem on the subway,' Monica said.

Oh no, do you think so?' Ross said, Oh my God! She must have been mugged!' Monica held the phone away from her ear.

I just mean a technical fault or something Ross,' Monica said. Although maybe he had a point. But if something bad like that had happened the police would have been in touch by now. She calmed her brother down and told him to be patient.

When she rang off, she turned on the television looking for the news.

What is it Mon?' Rachel asked. She could see that Monica was studying the bulletins carefully, switching from one news broadcast to another.

I just want to know if something's happened on the subway.'

Emily hasn't arrived home yet,' Monica said.

Oh,' Rachel said, and her expression was full of meaning.

I don't like that "Oh,"' Monica said.

I don't like that "Oh" either, but I can't help it,' Rachel said. What if she's –'

Run away? Again?' Monica finished. Oh no.'

She's done it once – twice actually. It could be that thing she does, you know, she doesn't like something, she runs away.'

Oh no,' Monica said again. I'm sure I didn't make her agree.'

It's not your fault Monica,' Rachel said. If she's run away she's decided to do it all by herself. We didn't make her do it. We've tried, both of us, to be nice enough, to explain things to her. If that isn't good enough for her then that's her problem.

It's Ross's problem,' Monica said. Rachel made a rude noise.

If this is going to be her tactic every time something happens that she doesn't like then he's going to be in big trouble,' Rachel said. She should just say straight out if she doesn't like something and then we all know where we stand. I mean why say you agree to something and then do this? It would be more honest for her to say she's not going to change her mind about me. I wouldn't like it but at least we'd all know what was gong on.'

We don't know that she's run away,' Monica pointed out.

True,' Rachel admitted. Seeing that Monica was worried, Rachel added, Emily probably got held up – I don't mean held up, I mean maybe she saw something in the shops. Or she went to the movies or something. Maybe she met someone she knew and got talking to them.' Neither of them felt it helpful at this point to comment on the fact that Emily knew hardly anyone in New York.