We All Remembered Her Smile

o n e

My name is Natalie; Natalie Mills. I was fifteen when my best friend, Harmony Grey, was claimed missing on July 6, 2007. She appeared on the news, in news papers, on the media, she was one of those kids they'd hang up for a few weeks on the supermarket walls, then later taken down and forgotten, like other missing kids. Except she wouldn't be as easily forgotten. She had green eyes, and mousy brown hair, she was average in height. The thing is, I know what happened. I know where she went, and I know where she lies. I found her, along with her secrets. I wish I couldn't say this, but I saw her unsent texts. I saw all the failed messages. I know who did it. And I know who was next.

It was July 5, the day before she went missing. Harmony ran down the hill and gestured for me to join her. I smiled, and she smiled back. Her smile was beautiful, everyone remembered her from her warm smile. As she walked passed you in the street she'd greet you with the biggest, sweetest smile. Everyone knew and adored her for it. I looked at the beautiful lime like grass. I spread open my arms, fell back, and took a deep breath of earths fresh air. I looked back at Harmony and she just laughed a bit.

         "Come here," she said with her hand extended, "I want to show you something," She helped me get up then began to walk towards the woods.
"What is it?"
"You're going to have to find out," she aaid slyly. "Just come on!" She yelled as she ran through the woods, moving just out of reach of the branches. I — on the other hand
— was hit in the face by pretty much every branch in the path, that i even found untouchable managed to whack me. They left some red marks, but nothing serious, thankfully. I finally caught up with her when she stopped. "Whatcha doin' Harmony?" I asked as looked around confused, "I'm remembering which way it was," she said as we slowly made our way. That left me uneasy but I laughed it off, "you better not get us lost Har!"
     "Hey," she yelled back, "trust the process!"

         Leaves were crackling under each of our steps. I loved nature, but not as much as Harmony did. She'd come out here almost every day, feed birds, run with squirrels; probably hug a tree every now and then as well. She loved the physicality of nature. It made her feel more alive than she did just in her room. I, on the other hand, loved the breeze, the smell of the planets fresh air, the wind in my hair, the beautiful trees and leaves. We both loved the life of nature, but in different forms.

         "Here it is," she smiled as we stopped.
         "I don't see anything."
         "Look harder Nat, it shouldn't be too hard to spot".

        I was trying to be more observant. I looked around for a few seconds, that felt like minutes,  before realizing there was a ladder, "What's this?" I asked. She smiled and started climbing without explanation; I just shrugged and followed her.

         I saw her smile again, her gorgeous smile that everyone was jealous of, "Here!" she yelled. I looked around. It was a treehouse, a beautiful, breathtaking treehouse. There was a sign hanging just from the entrance, "Welcome to Fort Callia" I questioned the name of the fort and she shrugged and claimed her brother thought of it. The walls were made out of sturdy vines, some nailed, some just strong enough, with some wood support. The floor was made of long blocks of wood, and the ceiling, vines. She had multiple things in here: a shelf full of card and board games, a fluorescent lamp, a small table, books, paper and pencils. A shelf with easels and paint stood out the most to me. I was impressed.

         "Harmony! This is awesome!"
         She smiled softly and seemed a bit shy, "Really?" she asked, she seemed embarrassed, "I've spent the last few years making this like a safe haven for myself, somewhere to relax and enjoy the world a little more, yknow?" I smiled and nodded, "I don't know how you always manage to do these things. But you do; it amazes me every time." She smiled more confidently. I felt safe, in that very moment, it was just us, as if the whole world just paused. Every time she smiled I was overwhelmed with warmth and comfort. I loved it, and so did everyone else in Mali, our home town. Everyone loved Harmony, everyone knew who she was, even if they didn't know her name it was oh the girl with that nice smile, the girl that smiled at me in the store. Except one person. The one who stole her smile. The one who stole her life. Him.

         "Harmony! Natalie!" we heard a familiar voice yell. Harmony looked out, "Hey Jacob," she shouted from what looked like a window, "what's up?" He started climbing up, "Mom wants you home when you guys are done," he stopped a few steps from the top, "i'm not completely sure why," he added. She nodded and backed off the window slightly, "We'll be down in a bit,"
    "Alright, don't be too long."
We looked at each other and smiled, knowing we'd be here for another half hour talking about nonsense.

         After twenty minutes of talking I asked why she made this place, she just looked at me a bit trying to find a reason, "Like i said," she responded, "a safe haven, somewhere to just let myself go. I've wanted a treehouse for myself for years," she ran her fingers across the books binding, "and I can come here to escape." I thought it was just her feelings and the world she was escaping one, until I saw the look on here face. She was anxious, she was scared, she was on edge. I was concerned, "Escape? Escape what?" She shrugged, and hesitated, "Uh- my family, when they're fighting, when I'm having a rough day or negative thoughts. I can come here and relax." I smiled a bit, "Aww Harmony," I hugged her, "well I think it was an amazing idea," i felt my voice get softer and more comforting, "I'm definitely jealous." She laughed, with her gorgeous smile and beaming eyes, she said, "Hey, you know you can borrow it whenever you'd like," I gasped and gripped her shoulders slightly shaking her with excitement, "You're serious?" She laughed, and nodded.

         She pulled out her phone and her smile quickly vanished. "What is it?" I walked over to see what was on her phone, what robbed her of her smile. She quickly shut off her phone and put it back in her pocket, quite nervously, and smiled. But this time the smile wasn't as beautiful as before, it wasn't as enlightening, it wasn't real. It was dull, it was staged. "Oh, nothing, just shocked by the time," she kept smiling and laughed a bit, anxiously, "The time," she repeated as if she thought I zoned out, "We've been up here for almost half an hour, we gotta go," she started climbing down, losing her smile again. I believed her, I believed her smile was real, just off. I believed she was just shocked of the time. God, I wish I hadn't believed her. Now, it's too late.