The Sideline

The motorcycle's engine puttered to silence. His foot blindly found the kickstand as the other slid over the vehicle. A group of college girls watched the driver with interest; the face revealed under the riding goggles and helmet did not disappoint them. As he passed by he flashed them a charming smile. Some time later he was back, the casual cheeriness replaced with a troubled frown.

There was a phrase about a needle and a haystack he never understood until now. Time was running short and August was starting to panic. Just going back to where he left her was difficult. He sat on the curb for the better part of an hour before finally knocking on the door. But of course Emma wasn't there, nor did they know where the foster system placed her.

After that it was one dead end after another. In every place August checked he imagined Emma: those big trusting eyes, that sweet smile, the way she laughed when he made faces… His heart twisted into guilty knots. A guilt that grew worse when they asked him why he was so interested in this missing girl. There was only one answer he could give:

"She's my sister."

Admitting that felt like admitting everything: how he abandoned her, forgot her, ran from her, tried everything he could to avoid this moment. Even now while looking for her he felt reluctant. He didn't know what he would do when he finally found her.

And then one day he did. He knew her the instant he laid eyes on her. She was beautiful like her mother, with blonde hair pulled up in a ponytail and… glasses? He wasn't expecting that.

August knew he should approach her, but what could he say? He knew nothing about her life or what she was going through. No, it was better to watch her first. Observing before acting always served him well in this world.

It wasn't long before he realized he was too late: she was out of the system and into trouble. The path she was taking was all wrong, but who was he- a complete stranger- to tell her that? He couldn't, but he knew someone who could. In the end, maybe it would be best for the one who started her off her destiny to put her back on. August already wasted so much time running from this; he couldn't let Emma make the same mistakes.

But once he did this, it would be even harder for him to face her. He would need some other way to guide her to her destiny in case his bravery left him again. August thought it over for a long time before coming up with the answer.

He opened the box containing his precious typewriter, rolled in a piece of paper, and began to type: "Once upon a time…"