A World of Colors

Chapter 18

Homecoming seems to be just as popular as my walk. The signup sheets for the pollution walk are all filling up. I have actually had to replace them countless times. Now, I'm not sure if it's my sad story about my mom being lost at sea because of a stray fishing net or the pictures on the posters.

I am constantly getting questions about the walk. I see Mark almost every single day after school now, and he always sees this as a success.

The pollution on the beach is driving me crazy. The walk is only tomorrow, and I really hope it goes well. We have all of the accommodations ready. The walk, which starts at ten am tomorrow morning, is about three miles long, covering the majority of the beach.

As a 'good job' for all of my efforts, Mrs. Sparks is letting me have the period off to get ready for tomorrow.

I push mom to the back of my mind as I go through the lists one more time, counting and planning. The library was almost too noisy, so I walked to the beach for the hundredth time over the past couple of days. Normally I am with Mark, but he was still in class. I'd see him tomorrow. I've been seeing him a lot lately, and I don't know what to think of our moments. Sometimes I just needed a break.

However, as the people empty off of the beach while the sun dips below the colorful clouds, I regret not bringing Mark or Marlee with me. The colder air invites me to pull on a slightly heavier jacket, and I imagine what it would be like to have him-

I stop my thought before I go too far. This is high school. I scold my overactive imagination and tell myself that I am not ready for that yet. Although I still wonder...

I was in the middle of going through my beginning speech when I get a text that interrupts my line of thought. It's from dad. My hands are shaking as I open the message. Could they have possibly found her?

Don't freak out, but the coast guard found her this morning. I just got the call. They were off the coast a long way away. She is in a local hospital. They're not sure when she will have recovered enough to come home.

I thought I would die from shock. I had been ready to accept that I would never see her again. And she is alright.

I sprint home. The houses on either side of me no longer seem to loom in with dark shadows and misery. The gates in front of our home are inviting me inside. It isn't a prison anymore. She is found.

I throw open the front doors and sprint through the house, throwing open doors and searching tidy rooms. I find dad on the back porch, smiling in relief and staring into the evening glare. As he turns around to face me, I notice tears in his eyes. I feel droplets run down my face and realize that I am crying too. Everything will be alright now. She has been found.