But I Loved You For Real

Lost and found

Mia

I'll just not sit at home and pretend that everything is fine. I'll not accept that Melissa ran away.

I searched every nook and cranny for even a single hint of what happened that night.
My room was filled with the investigation I did. I tried to trace her phone but it was useless. I went to the club I studied how they worked, everything seemed normal but I knew it was far from normal. I asked many workers there, the guards, the bartenders, the cleaning staff, people who seemed like regular customers whether they saw Melissa and her friends but no one uttered a single syllable let alone a word. One bartender had a horror return all over his face when I showed him Melissa's photo. I know he knew something.

"I... I don't know who's that. You need to leave. SECURITY!" He hollered.

"Do not touch me." I glared at the guards.

"I know you know something. Say it."

"I told you I know nothing. Now leave."

"Tell that boss of yours Mia is not scared of anything I will find my sister and he can't stop me." I glared at him and left.

The frustration was killing me day by day but I wasn't going to lose hope. Melissa's life was depending on my efforts.

My parents did lose hope.

The statement of closing of Melissa's case was announced the minute I left the precinct. Everyone seemed to believe it. Jane's and Christina's parents were still grieving. The captain said Jane and Christina were murdered by a mugger when they refused to cooperate as the only thing missing from them was their wallets.

I didn't believe that.

The most shocking thing was that my parents believed that Melissa ran away. I can't believe them.

"Mom, Dad, why would she run away when she had everything here? She had her dreams, plans, and life here, and what about her friends??"

"Mia, why are you getting involved in this? The police gave a statement it was a robbery. The girls didn't cooperate so the mugger killed them. We are leaving, gotta catch a flight and for God's sake get your act together." My dad shouted at me.

"Sweetiepie, Melissa brought shame to our family. We now only have you. Don't go spiraling into the rabbit hole." My mom said trying to cool the environment in my living room.

Brought shame? What is this 15th century?

"Melissa wasn't like that. You don't know that. Why? Because you both a busy making money while we both grew up together with nannies. We both had each other while you were busy failing as our parents. You failed her the moment you thought that she could run away."

That earned me a tight slap on my face. I looked at my dad with angry tears in my eye. He had never hit us. Actually, they weren't here when they were supposed to be.

"Honey, we are going to be late. Let's go. She'll come around."

With that, they left.

Were they serious right now? They didn't know their own daughter? Ridiculous! 

***

After 4 long weeks, after a whole month, I saw her. In a dark alley, near the garbage bins, covered in angry bruises and a dirty hospital gown which was torn in many places and barely covered her dignity. Even that filthy gown was covered with dry blood at some parts.

My vision was blurred with tears as I approached her. I could recognize her even with my eyes closed.

"Melissa, sweetie it's you!"

She was unconscious. I removed my bottle and made her drink some water after waking her up. She was barely recognizing me let alone the surroundings. She looked pale, white like a sheet. She seemed to have lost weight. She had one black eye, someone punched her. She had dark circles under her eyes like she hadn't slept in a long time. Her eyes were red like she had been crying. She seemed like sand, slipping away. She looked so so weak. She didn't seem like my Melissa. I can never remove that picture from my mind.

"Melissa, can you stand up for me?"

She didn't respond. I shrugged my jacket and covered her.

"I'll get the car, I'm taking you to the hospital."

"No hospital." She murmured.

That was the first thing she said. She looked so frightened. She shook her head continuously, I was afraid it would make her dizzy.

"Please Mia, no hospital. Please."

"Okay, no hospital."

I brought her to our home. Inside her room and made her sit on the bed. I dashed to get the first aid kit in her bathroom.

When I came back she was shivering with fear. She had her eyes set on the window as if someone would break in any second. I reached her slowly, raising my hands to show she was safe. I hated the look in her eyes.

"Sweetie, I'm gonna patch you up, not going to hurt you okay? Can come closer?"

She looked at me for a minute then nodded.

I cleaned all the wounds, all the cuts she had all over her body, I was very worried about the possibility of her having any internal injuries. She looked like she had been through hell. She had fingermarks all over her hips, throat, legs, and arms. It looked like someone had beaten the life out of her.

She showed no emotions except fear. She didn't even flinch I applied an antiseptic to her wounds like she couldn't feel anything. I changed her clothes and she didn't even make an attempt to cover herself. She just laid there staring at the ceiling.

Before I was done she had drifted off to sleep. I still didn't know what happened.

I thought about calling our parents. They need to know she wasn't a quitter. I called both of them but the call went straight to voicemail. I hung up.
Calling cops was totally out of question. The way she said no hospital, made me think that she was trying to hide. Like she didn't want anyone to find her.

But she wasn't in her right mind what if I was putting her in more danger? What if someone was following us? Someone was responsible for Melissa's condition and that person deserved a punishment. It was already midnight, I had to protect her till morning and I'll figure something out till then. Fleeing in the daylight was comparatively safe then fleeing in the dark.

I had to stay hidden and pretend everything was normal. What if someone was outside the house?