Constant

Chapter 11

"Mom, I'm home," I called out when I walked through the door. The house was dark, and I wondered if she had already gone to sleep. It was only a little before eleven pm. I peered inside her room, but her bed was made just like this morning. I frowned. Had I passed her in the kitchen? I walked around our small place, but she was nowhere to be found. By now, she should have been home from spending her day in Baltimore. I grabbed my phone and called her, and I was surprised when I found it ringing from her bedroom. She hadn't brought her phone wherever she went. Did she go to Baltimore without her phone? Impossible. She was probably just out taking a walk—which also made little sense. Why would she take a walk this late?

I decided against going outside looking for her, instead I tried going to sleep—which turned out to be easier said than done. I tossed and turned, waiting to hear Mom come through the door, but she never did. It was almost six thirty before I succumbed to sleep. When I woke up, it was almost noon, and I scrambled out of bed, expecting to find Mom asleep in her room. But she wasn't there. Her bed was just as she left it, and her things were thrown all about like usual. I picked up her phone from her bedside table. She only had one missed call—from me.

I spent my Sunday wandering off and on in our house, picking up things, tidying up, and moved around all the boxes in the living room. I had to keep myself occupied, while waiting for any sign of Mom. Night rolled around once more, the streetlights turned on, making me anxious for real. It had been over twenty-four hours since I saw her last. I googled car accidents in the Baltimore area, and around Highstone, but none fitted the description of Mom or her car. I wanted to call the police – but I didn't dare. What if they took me away for child abandonment or something? I sat on the couch, shaking with anxiety and worry. What was I supposed to do? And why hadn't she brought her phone where she went? Another sleepless night, Monday morning rolled around, and I wanted to stay home and wait for her, but skipping school wasn't an option if I cared about my grades. Damn it. Where was she? I could talk to someone at school, asking what to do... but then again, would I get into trouble? I decided to stay quiet, hoping that Mom was just having the time of her life, and just happened to forget that she had a daughter.

I knew I was reaching, but I had to keep my mind positive because the worry would lead to disastrous thoughts, leaving me with the mental image of Mom being dead in a ditch. I used my phone during classes, continuing to look up news on car accidents or other freak accidents. Still, nothing turned up. At least that was something. I couldn't concentrate on my classes at all that day, and I was reprimanded for not paying attention in History. I apologized and put my phone away, glad that the teacher hadn't noticed it. One good thing with me being distracted was that I didn't even bother with a comeback when Ben cut in line in the cafeteria. He looked at me as if waiting for me to say something, but I looked right through him.

When I got home, the house was as empty as ever. I peeked into Mom's room, frowning as I noticed that the books, which she got from Lumenoil, on her bedside table were gone. As well as her phone. My eyes shot wide. I fumbled with my phone, calling her as quickly as I could. I didn't know whether to laugh or cry when there was no ringing in the room.

"Pauline, let the light be with you." she answered, her voice untroubled.

"Mom! Where are you? I've called you and you haven't been home and I-"

"Maya, sweetie, I'm fine," she said, cutting me off with a gentle tone. "I got back from Baltimore this morning, and now I'm at the community. I've learned so much, you wouldn't believe." I cleared my throat, feeling angry.

"You had me worried!" I snapped. "You could have called or left a note or something! You said you'd be home Saturday night, and you were gone all Sunday and didn't even bother to call and-"