When Sloan Casey was at her lowest point at 17, she met Alex Abrams. Though sheltered it was almost as if Alex brought her back to life through her struggles. But after falling for Alex, the last thing she expected was for him to ghost her.
But what...
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"Hello, my name is Sloan Casey and I'd like to file a missing persons report"
My hand shakes as the desk lady looks up at me. I hand over a picture of Lila, I knew I looked like some wreck.
"What's the ladies name and when was she last seen?" She collects the photo and opens up a file.
"Madeline Love, she's twenty one and attends New York University. She was last seen over a week ago by her parents who've contacted her. This is the third station I've been at for hope" the woman looks up at me, a solemn expression.
"Relation?"
"Best friend" I tremble with my words. I should've forced her to let me drive her, she needed me and now I've lost her.
"Please help me" she nods and stands taking the file placing it on some offers desk and then walks back over.
"Takes three to four days for us to investigate and if we hit any leads. We will call Miss Casey" she shut the shade at her desk and my stomach grew sour. Every time I was shut out when I just wanted to find her.
To know if she's okay and not on the side of the road somewhere. If she's safe.
I leave the station defeated once more. The rain comes pouring down on me and I let it. I let it absolutely soak me in misery, because the agonizing thought of losing Lila was terrifying.
So I don't think about it. I push it off to my best as I go back to our dorm, but when I get there. I stare at her abandoned stuffed bear and I clutch it for myself. I hated Halloween, I always did.
But the only person who made it just a bit better, was Madeline Love. So as it grew closer I was left sick to my stomach. But she lacked knowledge of big things, important things. Because as time grew on I didn't want to scare her off with the knowledge of my truth.
I've only mentioned issues with alcohol I once had and she respected that. I chose to drink when I thought was best for me. But I feel guilt that as a sister I never told her my darkest tales. But the burden of knowing my struggles was one she didn't deserve. With her heart and all, I felt it to be too weak to put the stress on that.
So I've mentioned Alex, loosely Avery and a time I took away from school for 'mental health'. But she doesn't know what I craved the most. So I feel like a fraud, I feel like a liar and if they never find my best friend. I would be.
I wanted to know if she was safe, had she been harmed. Was her car wrapped around a pole, should I be bracing for the worst.
Only time would tell. I felt sick to my stomach, my emotions in a wurl.
"Sloan!" My head whips around to see her smiling over at me, Mrs.Simmons. It's been four years and a relief is felt in my stomach.
Because I won. Against this woman's odds of my college chances, I won. I got the victory of NYU after she said my aspirations weren't valid.
