My bestfriend Kathy.

Found

I was riding my bike home today.

Mom couldn't drive me because she had to take care of Laya, my sister, because she was having trouble with her wheelchair. Well, I wouldn't call it 'trouble' but she's having problems fitting in at her school. The kids don't really accept her.

Anyways, I hate riding my bike home. It means I have to pass the spot where I last saw my best friend Kathy. She disappeared last year, one day when we were walking home. I remember it like it was yesterday.

Oh jeez, I'm already tearing up.

I stop to wipe my tears and nearly lose control of my bike.

That's how my sister ended up in a wheelchair. She was racing my neighbor, lost control of her bike and crashed into a tree. 8 months in a body cast and then she ended up in that chair.

I keep riding and jump off my bike when I get to my driveway. I put my bike in the garage and grab my bag out of the basket.

As I make my way up the walk, I wonder where Kathy is now.

I reach for the handle but the door swings open before I even touch it.

My mom stands in the door way. She's looking at me with her small grey eyes full of pity and dread.

"Mom, what's wrong?" I ask. "Is Laya okay?" I look over her shoulder for my sister.

"I'm fine." I hear from the living room.

I look back at my mom, "Taylor," she grabs me in a huge hug. "Taylor baby come sit." She leads me inside to where my sister sits.

I throw my bag on the floor and sit on the couch. My mom sits in front of me and holds my hands. A tear slips down her cheek.

"Mom? Are you alright?" I reach over but she pulls my hand back down.

"Mom?" I ask, a little scared now.

Finally she looks up. "Taylor, Taylor honey." she pats my hand. "They've found Kathy."

I stand up, my head is spinning so fast I have to hold onto the couch for balance.

"Whaa-aat? What? What did you say?" I ask.

"They found Kathy today, Taylor." my mom repeats.

Her words finally making sense in my head I start running to the door.

I feel a small hand grab my wrist. I turn. "Taylor," Laya says. "Kathy's dead."

I freeze.

"What? No she's not!" I rip my hand away from her. "Kathy's not dead! Mom! Tell me she's lying!"

My mom doesn't answer. Tears are falling down her cheeks one after the other.

I turn back to Laya trying to find something that might tell me she's joking. A smile, a laugh, anything. But she doesn't move from her position. She looks up at me with pity in her eyes.

I feel myself shaking. I shake my head. Trying to deny it to myself.

-She can't be dead. Kathy's too smart for that. -I think.- This is just one of her tricks yeah. -

I laugh to myself. My family is so gullible. All of them thinking Kathy's DEAD! For goodness sake!

"You guys are hilarious!" I laugh at them. "You both think Kathy is dead! DEAD! Do you hear yourselves!"

My mom and Laya sit there in shock. They clearly don't understand that this is all some trick Kathy's playing on us. She probably went to see her cousins in Florida.