The Target

She's missing!

I called Adam. "Hey! Um... is there any chance Grace is at your place?" I asked. It was quite clear that I was panicking. "Sorry babe, I am at the office right now. I'll ask Harry. What happened?" He replied. Well, it's clear she isn't home, dumb-ass. "She isn't home. I am really very worried. She is new here and doesn't know where to go or what to do-" "Babe, calm down. We'll find her. I'll call Harry. You call Lewis." He interrupted.

"Lewis, is Grace with you?" I asked. My hands were sweaty and I could feel the phone slipping out of my hands. "Uh, no. I am at a friend's place." He said. "Ok, thanks. Listen, if you get any news, will you please call me?" "Sure, honey. Don't worry."

I called all my friends who were there at the party. My phone beeped-

Grace is not at our apartment.-Adam

Well, then where could she be?- Amy

Hey, calm down. I am coming over right now. We'll go look for her together.- Adam

Yeah ok. Come fast.- Amy

I threw my phone on the bed and flopped on it myself. My hair was a mess. I still haven't changed out of my clothes. I kept checking my phone for any message. Be it from Adam or Grace.

Soon my doorbell rang. I practically bumped into the door to open it. Adam grabbed hold of my wrist and we ran down to the car. I continued ringing Grace's phone as we drove through Manhattan. We stopped at every bar or pub we could find. I had a picture of Grace on my phone. I hoped that someone would have seen her. But it was no use. "When did you see her last?" the cop asked. "At my house this morning. Around 9.15." I replied. "Anything else?" "She was wearing a light grey t-shirt and dark blue jeans," I said until I realized that I saw her jeans in the laundry basket, earlier. "No, wait! I saw her jeans at home. So, I am not sure what she was wearing but- here, I have a picture. Take a look." I said, struggling to unlock my phone. Adam took it from my hand and showed it to the cop. I was crying the hell out of me. I felt partially responsible for her actions. I shouldn't have left her alone. She was so hungover. How can I even think about leaving her in that state? Now she's missing and it's all my fault. I thought.

Adam took me home. My trauma increased so much, that I fainted on my way to the apartment. Adam carried me inside, gave me a glass of water. He put me to bed. He turned around to go, but I grabbed his arm, pulled him on my bed. He laid down beside me, arm under my head. I cried as I nuzzled into his neck.

It has been a few hours since we came back from the police station. I was still traumatized. Adam was at my place, screaming on the phone. He threw his phone in anger and sat on the table, head buried in his palms. Grace became good friends with Adam and he was as worried for her as he was for me.

I suffered from depression before Adam. I was a failure in life. I couldn't get a job, I couldn't get a decent apartment. But when I met Adam, my luck sparked. He helped me find an apartment, got me a dozen interviews that matched my profile. I had scars all over my wrist. I hadn't cut in five months I have been with him. But now all the trauma was causing me after-effects of the pills and therapy I have been taking.

Adam was genuinely worried for me. He knew about my cutting, he knew that I would blame myself, and I do.

Not soon after my phone buzzed. Adam picked it up."Hello?" He asked on the phone. I looked at him with hope. He was just nodding and humming in response to whatever the person was saying on the other end. But somehow, his expression indicated that he was hiding something from me.

"Who was it?" I asked.

"The police," Adam said, handing me the phone.

I furrowed my eyes, "So?"

"There is something that I have to tell you and you might wanna sit down." He said motioning me to sit. I grabbed the chair near me as Adam made himself comfortable on his knees.

"They found a body. Under the Brooklyn Bridge." He said. My eyes widen. It was getting harder to breathe. "They can't confirm if it's Grace on the phone, so they have asked us to go down to the station and confirm." He was rubbing his hand in circles on my back. My eyes were fixed on him. I slowly opened my mouth, probably to let out a gasp, but instead, I ran to the bathroom and threw up. I was in the bathroom for quite some time.

Adam was at the door. He came inside to help. I was letting small gasps escape as I threw my head into my hands and started crying. Grace was here for me. I didn't take care of her.

And now, she's dead.