A Silhouette and Maybe More

Unwanted Discoveries

From the very first day we met, that bond that Elise and I shared became stronger until we were inseparable, spending every day in each other's company. After enduring many months of me moaning about being unemployed she had generously sorted me out a job which had reasonably good well-paid hours, and the fact that I would be spending them with my best friend made it even better.

The first year after moving away from my little countryside house in the middle of nowhere I had gradually became adapted the lifestyle of a Londoner. I had also became adapted to the extreme and overly-exaggerated behaviour of my cousin. We got on well with each other, opening up our problems or keeping our business to ourselves when needed, we respected each other...mostly.

I woke up bright and early on a Friday morning, which for me, meant a day off. I never worked weekends. Every other day Elise would be filling in for me at the library. She worked hard there, books were 'her life' as she would usually put it. As I patiently waited for the kettle to boil I stared at the calendar realising that Elise's birthday was due to arrive some time soon, but there was something else, something about that week that jumped out to me.

Then, I remembered.

Next week would be exactly one year since my kidnapping. For so long, I'd kept Dan locked away in the back of my mind hoping that somehow I would eventually forget about him and move on, but that was impossible. I didn't understand how or why; he hadn't contacted me since he left so why was it hard for me to forget him?

"What's up?" Abigail interrupted.

"Nothing, I'm just thinking." I deadpanned.

"Abbooouuuttt?" She droned, she's so nosey sometimes.

"Dan. It will be a year next week."

"Oh." She whispered. She was the only one that knew and I intended to keep that way for a little while longer. I had no choice but to keep this as a secret from Elise, I will tell her eventually because I trust her and she trusts me, but not just now.

"Coffee?" Abigail asked changing the subject.

"Yes please."

As I took up the offer for my coffee to be made I sat staring into nothingness as I remembered everything about Dan, I wasn't so strict with myself like I was before. I hadn't entirely gotten over him, I never will and I accepted that. I always kept his existence as a memory and a reminder in my head. Just as Abigail sat my coffee on the table my phone buzzed, someone was calling me. It was Elise.

"Hey Elise, what's up?"

"Oh good, you picked up, I need you to work today. I'm sorry but you were my only option."

"Sure, what's wrong? Why can't you work?"

I could hear her breathing increase and her sobs came through as clear as day.

"M-my cousin died last week, he'd been missing for a long time and-"

Her sobs were getting louder as the call went on regretting that I asked.

"Oh no, I'm so sorry Elise, of course I'll work today, hope things get better for you."

"Thanks Amelia you're a saint." She sniffed before hanging up. I sighed knowing that I would have to go through the trouble of getting washed, changed, and travel to work, but it was for Elise and she would probably do the same for me.

"God, that sounds terrible." Abigail spoke up, shaking her head. I gave her a questioning look, only I could've known what went on during that phone call between Elise and I...

"Did you just listen in to that?"

"Yeah." She nodded. These were the things she was most likely to do. She didn't really understand that people need their own privacy and she also didn't comprehend the unusualness of it. Shrugging it off I walked away to get ready for work.

"It's a bit coincidental isn't it?" Her voice echoed through the hall behind me. Now what? I rolled my eyes as I turned to face her, barely interested in what she had to say.

"Elise's cousin: died after being missing for so long."

"What's your point?" I bitterly asked knowing which direction she was heading in. I thought it myself but never assumed it to be. She sighed, placing her hands on her hips.

"Elise Smith; has a missing, feared-dead cousin. Dan Smith; missing, feared-dead. You see?"

I couldn't prove her wrong, but I couldn't prove her right either. The only way to find out was to ask Elise, but if I was to be honest, I didn't want to know. I didn't want to know that Dan did have some relation to Elise and that he had died, I didn't want him to be dead.

"Highly doubt it Abigail." I sighed and sauntered into my room closing the door behind me.

I finally got some peace and quiet when I left the flat for work. I didn't mind working, the library's never busy anyway. Whenever I got a minute or two I would begin to write to myself. Writing somehow made things easier, it's like talking to someone who's always listening but never judging. During that minute I reached for my journal and began writing. My mind somehow cast itself back into the dangerous areas of my memories and once again discovered Dan. What Abigail said scared me. As much as I was annoyed and frustrated that Dan had left without a moments notice I still desperately wanted to see him, even just for a minute if it was possible, just as long as he wasn't dead.

Just after my lunch break I sat behind the librarians desk almost falling asleep at the peaceful quietness that - living with Abigail - was something so rare that I almost forgot existed. I was jolted back into consciousness when the front door swung open and entered Elise, her eyes panda-like as her makeup melted down her face.

"Elise? You're not supposed to be in work, what's wrong?"

"I couldn't do it Amelia, I couldn't stay at that funeral any longer."

Ah, the funeral.

"Elise, can I just ask, what was your cousin called?"

"Dan. Why?"