Gone

Prologue

I switch the tv off, anger pulsing through my veins. This is who I put my trust in to find my husband? I scoff. They don't care.

I dial the number of the man I've grown impossibly close with since Harry's disappearance. The phone rings twice before I hear the phone click. "They called off the search, Lou."

"I know, love." He sighs. "But there's nothing they can do. It's been a whole year since then."

"But they can't just give up! He's alive!"

"A series of nightmares is not going to convince the FBI to keep looking."

I hear car doors slamming in the distance, distracting me from what Louis was going on about. I peer out the window and see the paparazzi and news vans setting up their equipment on my front lawn. "Seriously?" I mutter.

"Do you need me to come over and get them to leave you alone?" He asks.

"No. It'll be alright. I'm just going to have a lazy day."

"That's what you don't need, Kensey. I'll be over in 20 to take you out for lunch." I open my mouth to protest but the line goes dead. He knew I would decline.

I get ready, slipping a pair of jeans and a jacket on. I toss my hair into a messy bun and push my sunglasses up my nose. Harry always loved these sunglasses on me. I close my eyes at the painful memory. My doorbell rings, knocking me out of my thoughts before I can dive deeper into our memories.

I open the door to see Louis. He gives me a sad smile and pulls me into his arms. At that moment, I feel like breaking. He leads me down the driveway, pushing past the reporters.

"Mrs. Styles, did you see the news this morning?" Yes.

"Do you believe Harry is still alive?" Yes.

A reporter blocks our path, shoving a microphone in my face as the cameras circle us. "Do you think he's left you for someone else?" My heart instantly shatters. How can they ask that?

"Eh, mate, that's enough." Louis warns, shoving past him. I hear the cameras snapping and some of the reporters shouting nonsense about Louis being my new boyfriend.

We finally reach his car. He opens the passenger door for me.

"Mrs. Styles, how do you feel about the police calling off the search?"

Finally, a legitimate question. I turn to face the short blonde-haired reporter with large framed glasses on her face. I look into the camera and grab her microphone. "The police claim to help people and do everything they can to keep the streets safe. My husband is out there somewhere. To them it's a search for another missing person. To me, it's my husband. To other victims, it's their families, friends. Nobody is safe if this is how our police handle these situations." I hand the microphone to her and slide in the car as Louis shuts it for me.

Before I know it, the reporters are fading into the background, their bodies getting smaller until they blend with the ground and I can no longer see them. I sigh and lean my head against the window. We drive in silence to our destination.

Louis pulls into our favorite cafe, cuts the engine and climbs out of the car. I follow him and we walk in.

The waitress comes to our table. "What can I get you?"

"I'll just have a coffee."

"Kensey." Louis warns.

I hold my hand up to silence him. "Lou, I'm really not hungry." Whenever I'm not hungry he automatically thinks I'm back in my depressed state when he had to force me to eat.

He sighs and orders a coffee as well.

"They can't do this, Lou." I speak when the waitress leaves.

"You're just going to have to get used to the fact that he's gone."

"He's not gone."

"Okay," he leans over the table and interlocks his fingers, "Suppose he's not...you know." He stops, neither of us feeling comfortable using that word. "How are we going to find him? He could be anywhere in the world. The FBI know what they're doing. If they can't find him, then he just can't be found."

I chew my nail anxiously. "Okay, but don't you think his body would've turned up by now if he was-was-"

"Kensey, if he really was kidnapped, who knows what they could've done with the body."

The waitress brings our coffee and I sit back in my chair and sigh. "Louis, I just can't give this up. Something is telling me to keep searching."

"Yeah, it's him pounding it into your head through your dreams."

"And what if God is using that to show me he's alive or something?"

"I was all for these dreams, at first, but it's been a whole year of searching. You need to just focus on moving on."

I look out the window and people watch. I scan every face, just hoping I'll see his. What I would give to see those emerald eyes and curly locks.

My eyes widen, for a moment I think I see him. I grip the table. Then he's gone. I sigh, knowing it's just my imagination. It's happened before.

"I think you need to see someone."

I turn my head slowly, my eyes narrowing. "Like a shrink? You think I'm crazy?"

"No, I just don't think these dreams are healthy. You need to move on with your life."

"How can you even say that? You were his best friend. How can you just give up on him?" My voice starts to raise. I stand up, having enough of him. "Some friend you are Louis."

I walk away from the table. "Mackensey!" He calls. I shove the door open and walk out into the busy streets. The wind blows furiously, knocking me backwards slightly. I hug my jacket around my body and put my head down, my hair whipping around me. Tears roll down my cheeks as I make my way home.

Harry, I won't give up on you. I promise.

------------------------------------------------------

What do you guys think? Comment and vote please! ❤️❤️

-Summer xx