Lost & Found

I, I, I Fall Back

Lisa’s POV

    I took my position at the register as I waited for more customers. It didn’t look like that was happening any time soon though. It was almost noon and every business person has already gotten their morning coffee and pastries. Soon after that thought, I was startled by the soft chiming of the bells from the door. I looked up and saw a teenager wander through. Her hands were stuffed into her pockets and a curtain of dark brown hair obscured her face from view.

    My brows furrowed in confusion. She should be in school right now, shouldn't she? I straightened up and watched her go towards a table in the corner. She rested her elbows on the table and hunched over it, gazing intently at her hands. Thinking about what I would do if it were one of my own siblings, I went over and sat across from her. She didn't even acknowledge me.

    "What are you doing here?" I asked, softly.

    "I don't know,” the girl replied, almost inaudibly.

    "Do you want to talk about it?” I suggested hesitantly. Her voice sounded familiar. Tilting my head a little to see better, I tried to confirm my thought. “Lauren?”

   She looked up a tiny bit, hair shifting slightly so I could see her eyes. “Do I know you?”

    “Uh, yeah,” I answered, hoping what I said next wouldn't sound creepy. “We, uh, met last night. In the woods? I'm Lisa.”

    Lauren cocked her head to the side, becoming slightly less wary of me. Once she seemed to recognize me, she returned her attention to her hands, rhythmically tapping her fingertips on the table.

    “Why aren't you in school?” I asked abruptly. The soft tapping came to a stop.

    Taking a deep breath, she looked me in the eye and replied, "I don't know. I'm a senior, and I'm on track to graduate by the end of this year. I still have absolutely no idea what I want to do or where I want to go. Every day at school just feels like another step towards an empty future."

   I tilted my head. "Don't you have anything at school that you like?”

   “Well, I guess I liked photography, and English too. But neither of those feels right.”

    “Oh, yeah? Well, what feels right then?” I pressed.

    “I don't know yet,” Lauren answered, taking a moment to consider. “I just always felt like I was destined to become something or someone that could make a difference. A big difference.”

    “What kind of difference?” I continued, getting more curious.

    "I don’t know yet," she repeated, staring back down at her hands. Moving her hair out of her face, she continued in wonderment, “Haven't you ever just felt like you were meant for something bigger?”

   Surprised by the question, I told her, “I guess I never really thought about it.”

    She smiled a little and stood up. Confused, I asked, "Where are you going?"

     Lauren put her hands back into her pockets as she turned to me. "I don’t know yet. And I don't think you do either."

    She grinned again to herself and left. I got up from the booth and looked around the little café. My eyes landed on the window and I saw a girl peering through it. Her eyes seemed glued to me. As soon as Lauren left, the girl averted her gaze and hurried to follow Lauren.

   That was strange, I thought, returning to the register.

   I thought back to what Lauren had said. I don't know if I've ever thought about what I was meant for or what I wanted to do. I mean, I know I wasn't going to work at Starbucks for the rest of my life. Then again, though, I don't recall ever thinking about what I'd do afterwards.

   I brushed it off and tried to refocus on work. My wandering eyes landed on that girl, Christina, and her boyfriend. I think it’s her boyfriend. If he is, I feel really bad for her. Making her pay, leaving her alone. Looking at him now, slouching and looking through his phone, completely uninterested while his girlfriend talks about something, tops it all off. I don’t know what she’s saying and I doubt he does either.

    My thoughts were interrupted by my boss telling me that I could finally go home. I thanked him and headed out. I caught Christina’s eye and gave her a subtle wave. She smiled stiffly in return, watching me go out the door. I stepped outside and felt the fresh, warm air rush over me. I stood there, savoring the moment, before getting in my car.

    I started the car and turned on the radio for the ride home. Right as I got onto the road, I heard the broadcaster’s voice say something that took me by surprise.

    "In remembrance of the Cimorelli sisters, here is ‘Believe It’ by Cimorelli."

    I almost froze. Cimorelli… why does that name sound familiar?

    When the song ended, the broadcaster said, "It’s such a shame about the girls of this band. All kidnapped, one of them was only fourteen."

    "Yeah, it sure is," another man replies. "But there have been many supposed sightings of the girls. For instance, someone claims to have seen Lisa at a local Starbucks."

    I accidentally jerked the wheel too far as I turned. They couldn’t mean me, could they?

    "There have been some supposed sightings. How do we know if it’s true or just a bunch of baloney?"

    "Well, let’s see what some of the listeners have to say." There was a pause for a few seconds before the man finally said, "Hey, this is Kelly. Kelly, what do you think of the Cimorelli sightings?"

   "I believe them one hundred percent," a woman says. "In fact, I could swear that Lisa gave me coffee a couple hours ago!"

    I thought back to the day. I actually do remember a Kelly coming in today. I shook my head at my nonsensical thinking. Kelly is a popular name. Surely, this couldn't be the same one.

    Another caller’s voice soon filled my car. "I don’t know if I believe in these sightings, but I do go to school with a Dani Cimorelli. And there’s another girl who looks just like Lauren."

    After a couple more calls, all claiming to have seen a Cimorelli member, the broadcaster says, "I guess everyone’s seen a Cimorelli somewhere. Now to the traffic report with-."

    I had tuned out the radio by my own thoughts. Everyone says that they’ve seen 'Lisa Cimorelli' at Starbucks. The same Starbucks I work at. But I’m the only Lisa there and I’m pretty sure I’d know if my last name was Cimorelli. I pull over and take out my phone to search ‘Cimorelli’. I found a couple dozen group pictures. I see someone who looks like me, I see someone who looks like that girl Christina, and I see someone who looks like a younger version of Lauren.

    I also see the short, blue-eyed girl from my visions. And the girl who looks like Lauren looks exactly like the girl I saw in my vision this morning.

    All of a sudden, I'm overcome with a flood of old memories.

    I was in a band. I had five sisters: Christina, Katherine, Amy, Lauren, and Dani. Christina was the strong personality, the leader. Katherine, the poetic soul and jokester. Amy with the heart of a cowgirl and her sweet, loving personality. Quiet Lauren, usually hanging in the background. And Dani, the youngest and the energy.

    How did I forget all this? Do the others remember?

    What do I do now?