Lost and Found

Chapter 32 | No air to breathe

Mason's hand rests on Julia's leg as they drive through the street of her new home. The warmth of his hand sends shivers through her body. She fights back a giggle. A boy's hand lies on her leg. It isn't the first time, but this time it's Mason's hand. She must look like a dork right now with all the grinning.

Stopping the car, he turns to her. Are they going to kiss again? She likes kissing him. A blush reaches up her cheek. Mason scratches the back of his neck. "So... uh, Jake and I are training tomorrow, but maybe I can see you after?"

"Okay." Julia nods. She can't wait to see him again, and Mason isn't even gone yet.

His hand reaches up to her face, pulling her to him. Their lips meet, and butterflies flutter in her stomach.

"Is it stupid that I don't want to go inside? I don't want this moment to stop," Julia says. Everything is perfect right now. She isn't ready to go back to reality.

Mason smiles against her lips. "It isn't stupid, and this moment won't stop." His lips brush hers. "I'll be right here again tomorrow." Mason pulls away, and she already misses him. "Let me get your bag," Mason says, turning to the door.

"No, it's okay. You drive home safe." Julia pecks his lips. A blush spreads along her face as she grins. She kissed Mason—because they're boyfriend and girlfriend.

Standing in the driveway, Julia watches Mason drive a few houses down to the opposite of the street. This could be the perfect romance movie; The boy next door. Or the Stranger Danger next door—no wait, that sounds like a crime or horror show. The title doesn't matter. Mason is cleared from being a dangerous axe murderer from the forest. It's a romance movie, and this is her perfect, happy ending.

Ash and Ava don't matter. The gossiping ducks from her school don't matter. Julia has Mason, her friends, and the new home. It even feels like she has her mother.

If her therapist could see her now. There's no need to bring herself down anymore. Julia is going to work on herself with Jada. She'll be better. How can she not be with Mason and her friends supporting her?

They won't leave her, right? No, they won't. They've seen Julia at her worst and stuck with her. She isn't alone anymore.

Mason, who has arrived at his house, looks back over his shoulder at her. Julia makes a small skip and waves. Yep, definitely the perfect romance movie's ending. Mason shakes his head and laughs.

Okay, time to face the real world again. Her mother must be busy painting the walls. The house is going to be so pretty when it's done. Maybe even better than her home in the Netherlands.

Julia stops in her tracks. That's strange. Taped to the door is a brown envelope.

Julia.

The handwriting doesn't seem familiar. Julia takes the envelope as she opens the front door. It's too big for a 'new home' card. Is it from Mason? No, he would've given it to her just now.

Julia rips open the envelope. A police report? Is she in trouble? She has done nothing wrong–that she knows off–neither has she talked to the police. Wait, this couldn't be about her. The report is from years ago, when Julia was about six.

Lucile Mary Adams? It's a report filed by her mother. Julia scans over the document. Her body trembles as she holds her breath.

What. No. This is a lie. This can't be true.

Mother claims the father kidnapped her child.

But her dad didn't kidnap Julia—right? She wasn't! Their parents divorced, and they both thought it was better for Julia to grow up in the Netherlands.

Why is there a tear rolling down her face? And why do her hands keep trembling? This isn't true.

Julia reads the document over and over. Somewhere there must be a mistake. Or is this a sick joke? A tear drops on the paper. Her dad didn't take her from her mother. He wouldn't do that.

Julia gasps for air. Her lungs ache. "Mama," Julia says with a shaking voice.

She thought her mother had left her. That Julia wasn't good enough.

"Julia?" Her mother rushes to Julia. "What's going on? What happened?"

Julia can't get the words out. Shaking, she holds up the police report to her mother. "Is it true?" Julia pushes the words out.

Her mother pulls her brows together. Her face falls. "How did you get that?"

The air pushes out of Julia's lungs. She tries to take a deep breath, but it's like the surrounding air has disappeared.

It's true.

Julia gasps for air. Her vision becomes blurry as dark spots dance around her.

"Julia, honey, you need to breathe." Her mother's warm hand touches her cheek.

All this time, Julia blamed her mother for abandoning her. Julia was so angry at her, but her mother didn't leave her. Julia was taken. The salty taste of her tears fills Julia's mouth. Her legs give out, and her shaking body falls to the ground.

"Julia, sweetheart, it's okay. You're okay." Her mother's arm wraps around her.

"Waarom?"

"Julia?"

"Ik snap het niet. Is alles gelogen?" Her whole body trembles. Tears stain her face.

Her mother strokes her hair. "Julia, my Dutch isn't good enough–"

"Ik krijg geen lucht." She coughs, looking desperately at her mother. Pain shoots through her lungs, and she grabs her chest.

Her mother jumps up, running to the kitchen.

No, please don't leave me. The sobs won't stop. Ik wil niet meer alleen zijn. Julia curls up on the ground as she watches her trembling hands. Please, she doesn't want to die. Her heart pounds so hard, it feels like her heart is bursting out of her chest.

Her mother's warm hand touches her cheek as she holds a plastic bag in front of Julia's mouth. "Yes, 911, I need an ambulance at Hill street 7. My daughter is having a panic attack, and she can't breathe."

The hallway spins. Julia squeezes her eyes shut.

A panic attack? Why does it feel like she's dying?

---

Translation:

Mama = Mom

Waarom? = Why?

Ik snap het niet. Is alles gelogen? = I don't understand. Is everything a lie?

Ik krijg geen lucht = I can't breathe

Ik wil niet meer alleen zijn = I don't want to be alone again