The Forest

Picture Proof

I read the newspaper for information on Julie, fighting the uncharacteristic urge to spit as I read the bullshit articles. "A number of promising cases" my ass. Nobody knows a single god-damn about what's going on.

On the way to school, I see him again, standing in the shadows. . . Watching. Waiting. I snap another picture and continue on my way. Logan gives me a questioning look and follows my gaze, but I know tell he doesn't see anything because when I look, I don't either. Only through the camera can I actually see him. Either that or the other, more gacha-verse solution is that I'm the only one who can see him. Which is unlikely.

When we arrive, we see that the entire school has crammed itself into the Trinity courtyard. Most hold up candles and all lower their heads while people speak about how "Juliette is an angel who denied herself to walk amongst us mere mortals, lighting up our lives with the reflected glory of her perfection."

Our English Professor reads a poem and manages to lose her entire audience in about three seconds. Then Matthew Sanchez gets up. He looks as though he can barely stand, but his voice is as steady as it seems to be able to get. While he talks, there's complete silence. Nobody's looking at their phones, or whispering to each other about their dinner plans. . . Just staring at him. Listening.

"Ever since the night Juliette went missing, it's felt as though there's this big hole in the middle of my family. The only thing in the world that matters at this point is getting Juliette back home safely. Now, I know I haven't always been the best father. I spend too much time working, always away from my wife and daughters. I'm ashamed of myself, actually." He goes on to ask Julie to – if she can hear him – come home. Begs her.

When he's finished, most of the other parents surround him in acts of comfort as they whisper their reassurances. He nods, thanking them repeatedly, but you can just see that he's somewhere else. His eyes look more dead than alive.

Juliette's mom stays near the back of the crowd, her eyes are glazed over and Julie's sister holds tightly onto her arm while Matthew talks. It's like she's supporting her, but after what my mom said yesterday, I wonder whether she is actually, literally holding her up, as if Julie's mom will simply topple to the ground if she were to be let go.

When the detective speaks, it isn't for very long. I'm pretty sure that's because he had nothing new to say about the ongoing investigation. Just the regular "we have valuable leads. We've been given every available resource. There's still no reason to think the worst." Yadda Yadda bullshit. Telling lies to the vulnerable souls involved, bullshit.

While everyone listens politely, it's obvious that I'm not the only one thinking this. It isn't easy to spin "We don't know a damn thing" into good news, especially when speaking to a crowd of parents who are no doubt imagining what they'd do if this were happening to them.

A few comments are made, some of which loud enough for everyone to hear. Nothing all that angry, though, not yet. More frustrated, for now. Which I can understand. I mean, it might be true that no news is good news, but how long do people think that can possibly remain the case here?

At some point, and something tells me very soon, they're either going to find Juliette or have to admit they're never going to. If I'm being honest, it feels like the ladder is the most likely outcome. As I've said before, I don't think anyone has the slightest fucking idea where she is.

As everyone starts leaving, I look up to see Juliette's mom standing in front of me, no longer being supported by Julie's sister, but she's close by. She's kind of swaying, but managing to stay upright. . . Just about.