Unfound

5

I had been upset with Kara, I won't deny it. She had told me that she was going to go to the house of some other guy and spend some time with him, alone. As her boyfriend, she said I was welcome to join her, but I wanted her to know that I trusted her, and I did, I do, but I was suspicious and honestly a little bit jealous. I didn't even ask what his name was or his number or where the house was, but I should have. All of these thoughts were spinning in my head as I sat in the police station. I was leaning forward on my bouncing knees, waiting for someone to let me report that my girlfriend was missing.

She didn't come home that night like she was supposed to. She was going to text me when she got there so I knew where she was, but I got nothing. I thought she might have simply forgotten or it wouldn't be a surprise if she was going to cheat on me, but it has been a day and a half since that's happened and I still haven't heard from her. She always spends the nights with me and on the rare occasions that she doesn't she always stops by to say good night in person. None of her other friends have seen her and on Saturdays she always does yoga in the morning with her group. The only time she didn't go was when I physically had to hold her down when she was sick. She had tried to bite me in order for her to get up and me to let her go, but I held firm and eventually she gave up. I smiled thinking about that day. Plus, her classes were everything to her. She was at the school on scholarship and beat herself up if her grades dropped below an A-. I always teased her for being an overachiever, but that was just how her work ethic was.

"Liam Taylor." Someone called from the front desk. I jumped up and was facing him before I had even registered what was really going on. "How may I help you, Mr. Taylor?" The man's face was kind, and bored. He had probably gotten a million reports about stolen bicycles that he was never going to look for, but boy was I going to change that attitude.

"Hi, I called this morning to report my girlfriend missing, but they told me to come in because they have some questions which is understandable, but she's been missing for about a day and a half which I know hasn't been forty-eight hours, but if you make me come back tomorrow morning then we're really never going to find her and..."

He held out his hand to cut me off, "Her name is?"

"Kara. Kara Williams. And it's Kara with a 'k' not a 'c' though Starbucks gets it wrong all the time." I tapped my thumb against the back of my other hand, anxious for someone to listen and take me seriously. I missed Kara and I was scared for her. She always told me where she was going and would never stay somewhere overnight unless something drastic happened or if she was in real danger.

The cop took down some notes and waved me back to the waiting room, "Someone will be with you shortly to take your official statement."

I had been there for an hour and a half already, but I was just happy someone was actually going to listen. I thanked the guy, his name not apparent on any of this clothing that I could see, and went to sit back down in my chair.

I assumed my worried position and continued to think about anything that I possibly could about that day. The night before seemed normal, if a tad heated on my part. She came back from her dinner and told me about this weird guy she met and that he had invited her to his house the next day. Of course I got all upset and jealous, I asked her all these lame questions about him and in what way he seemed strange. She just told me that she got a weird vibe and thought he was into her, but he seemed sweet and in the need of a friend. I basically ignored the rest of her conversation about him because all I could register was that he seemed into her and I couldn't have him trying to steal my girl. She, the most understanding of all, came up to me and put her hand on my shoulder. She then told me that there was no one else for her but me and gave me a kiss.

God, her kisses were always so sweet. She was always gentle and reassuring. I don't know what I would do with myself if they couldn't find her.

That night she slept in my room, further reassurance she told me, but we've both grown accustomed and comfortable sleeping in the same bed. Our bodies fit together perfectly, and it made me smile waking up to her scent in the mornings. That day seemed normal. It was Saturday and we went out to our usual breakfast together after getting the chance to sleep in for a bit. She then went back to her room to do some homework before hanging out with the mystery man. I went down to her room before she left, making sure she didn't want me to walk her to their meeting spot, just so I could thoroughly check him out for myself. I should have insisted anyway and maybe she wouldn't have been trapped or taken or worse.

My head throbbed as it raced through the layout of the day multiple times. I stopped at all the things I could have done to see him or stop her. Even if I had his first name, something to give to the police. If I had walked her to the meeting spot I may even have his face to describe to the cops, but I had nothing. I didn't want to call her parents to worry them in case it was actually nothing and I had no where else to go besides the police station. I rested my head in my hands to try and block out the lights and sounds of the station. It was becoming overwhelming just sitting there. The room started spinning and I started seeing stars.

"Liam Taylor." Thank god. The stars cleared and the room slowed as I approached the man in the front desk again. This time he motioned to two other cops standing by the side door, one of whom smiled at me sadly, "They'll see you now."