Chapter 1:The Girl Who Vanished
People say your first love is unforgettable.
Mine became a mystery.
I was ten years old, a Grade Six pupil with a heart too young to understand what love really meant.
Every school day felt the same. I'd rush into the classroom, greet my classmates, and spend every break with the two people I cared about most—a cheerful girl named Lily and a boy named Ethan, whose smile always made my day brighter.
The three of us laughed together, played together, and shared stories as though nothing could ever separate us.
But I had a secret.
I had a crush on Ethan.
I never told anyone.
Not because I didn't trust them, but because I was afraid.
Afraid that if I said it out loud, everything would change.
One afternoon, while everyone else was outside playing, I gently pulled Lily toward the staircase.
"I want to ask you something," I said.
She folded her arms and smiled.
"What is it?"
"Who do you like?"
She laughed.
"I'm not telling you."
"Oh, come on. You can trust me."
She hesitated for a moment before lowering her voice.
"I like Ethan."
For a second, my heart stopped beating.
She liked the same boy I'd secretly been dreaming about for months.
I forced a smile.
"Oh..."
Then she looked at me.
"What about you? Who do you like?"
I looked away.
"No one."
It was the biggest lie I'd ever told.
Later that afternoon, I found Ethan sitting alone after class.
Trying to sound casual, I asked him the same question.
"So... who do you like?"
He smiled without hesitation.
"I like Lily."
Three words.
That was all it took.
I smiled, pretending I was happy for them.
But inside, my heart shattered in silence.
The next morning, I walked into class expecting to see Lily sitting in her usual seat.
Instead...
It was empty.
I frowned.
"Maybe she's sick," I whispered to myself.
The lessons continued as usual, but something felt different.
Teachers kept stepping outside the classroom.
Students whispered in corners.
Even Ethan seemed unusually quiet.
When the final bell rang, I thought about visiting Lily after school.
Then I remembered how hurt I still felt.
Maybe tomorrow, I told myself.
Tomorrow would be better.
I picked up my bag and walked home, never imagining that tomorrow would change my life forever.
