The Missing Girl

It was somewhat cold and rainy outside Mrs. Denning’s classroom window as she was in the process of telling her class what the holiday project would be. Mary, along with her classmates, was dozing off every word Mrs. Denning spoke. The end of school bell was about to ring, which would signal the start of the two month break.

“So, you will be making a poster about what you will do, or have done, on your two month break.” announced Mrs. Denning, “ but remember, this is extra credit, so if you finish it before the beginning of the next semester, it’s extra points in my book.”.

The bell rang.

“ Have a great break!” Mrs. Denning called out over the shuffling of papers and happy exclaims over her classroom. ”Mary, can you come here for a second please, oh, and you’re coming home with me today, your mother called.”.

Mary turned away from the door and dropped her bag at her aunt’s desk.

“Is Caitlin coming home with us?” asked Mary.

“Yes, of course!” replied Mary’s aunt

Caitlin has been the only true friend Mary has had since she moved to Michigan. It was also a plus that Caitlin lived only a few blocks away. Mary moved at the beginning of October of last year. Now that it is December, Mary has noticed that she moved to a place with a lot of snow. For whatever reason, this year was much colder than last.

It is a lot colder outside than what it was back in London, thought Mary, especially here.

Mary walked towards her backpack, pulled out her hoodie and slipped it on. As she walked towards her aunt, she could hear the distant yells of joy and laughter. A couple minutes later, Caitlin walked in huffing and puffing, acting like she had just gotten hunted down by a sleuth of bears.

“The hallways are sooo crowded right now,” said Caitlin, panting, “I could barely make it from Mr. Lavine’s class.”.

“Yeah, we got a lot of transfer students in the past month or so, it’s weird. I think it has something to do with the school shootings. Which is causing all of the private schools, like us, to fill up quickly.” replied Mrs Denning

“Yeah,” replied Mary, “ We must have gotten a lot of students considering that Caitlin barely had made it from the class right beside yours.”

“It is weird, how adults are going around in schools deciding to shoot innocent children who haven't done anything. It just doesn’t make sense to me.“ said Caitlin

“Oh, Mary, I have got something for you,” rushed Mrs. Denning, trying to change the subject, “It’s a locket. It was in some fancy box. At first I thought someone got it for me but once I opened it, there was a specific note that was laying in it that told me to not look at it and give it to you. I’m pretty sure it's supposed to be one of those anonymous gifts. Which also makes sense because Christmas is coming up in like a week or so. But, yeah, here.”

“What all did the note say,” asked Caitlin, walking towards Mary, to her side, “ I mean, we know that part that told you not to look at it, but you said that it was specific.”

“Oh, it was nothing, just a bunch of jibber-jabbish about how if i didn’t give it to her, it would ruin some type of big surprise and a whole bunch of other stuff,” replied Mary’s aunt, “Plus, it doesn’t matter now, I already threw the note away, and the custodians came during my lunch break.”

Mary retrieved the box, opening it to find a beautifully floral engraved locket. It was the size of a nickel, and shaped as a heart. Beautifully handcrafted, and must have taken ages to get to perfect. Plus, it looked like real 24k gold. As Mary opened the locket, her aunt and Caitlin surrounded her to get a look too. Inside it was empty. No photo. Instead she found a note to replace the photo folded inside the locket. Mary took it out and read it.

You should really be careful about hiding your identity. I know who you are and why you moved here from London. Don’t bother trying to figure out who I am. It’s no use.

- L.

Mary lost no time in folding the note up and shoving it in her pocket before her aunt or Caitlin could get a look at what it had said. Although Mary loved her beloved aunt and her best friend, neither of them knew the real reason why she had moved from London to the United States, and she didn’t plan on telling them why.

“Mary, what’s going on? What are you trying to hide?” asked Caitlin

“Yeah, what Caitlin said!” said Mrs. Denning

“It’s nothing, really. It was a super sweet note. The guy that gave me this was saying how much he cared about me and how I am a perfect match for him and all of this other lovey dovey nonsense,” Mary lied “He said that it was embarr- assing so he didn’t want me to show anybody else.”

“Alright,” said Mrs. Denning suspiciously, ”I’ll let you by with this one. But next time he gives you a note, I’m reading it.”

“Yeah, of course” Mary replied anxiously

Mary could tell by the way that Caitlin was looking at her that she could tell something was wrong. Mary and Caitlin had that sort of twin friendship. Where they would think the same thing or would have the same song stuck in their heads at the same time, so Caitlin always knew when something was wrong with Mary, as well as how Mary could tell when something was wrong with Caitlin.

Mary and Caitlin rode in the back of the car as Mary’s aunt drove them back home, instead of taking the bus.

Mary insisted on keeping the reason why she actually moved to the U.S to herself, as nobody really knew why. Even Mary’s parents didn’t know the true reason why. All that Mary had told them was that she needed to be closer to her friends now that she was older and told them that because she was already planning to live there, they might as well come with her. They bought the story though, and that was all that mattered to Mary.

Mary just told Caitlin that she wasn’t lying and hoped that Caitlin believed it.