Never an Ever After

Somewhere

SONG FOR THIS CHAPTER:

SAY GOODBYE-KIM NA YOUNG

CHAPTER EIGHT

ELLORA

I was almost in a hurry for two days just after I was making Ronan’s missing posters, I did everything to speed it up because I was still doing other school works. I had a strong feeling that I would find him, I knew we would see him again.

So, on the weekends, even though I was just waking up, I hurried out of the house holding the missing posters I had made to post on every post or wall in the neighborhood. Even if I tour all over Nashville, I will.

I carefully pasted posters in every corner, I was very happy when I saw a few people passing by looking at the poster I made. There is a good chance that I will find Ronan when I do this, I will endure the cold weather if in return I can bring Ronan home to his family. I am sure my Papa will do the same if this happens to me.

“What are you doing?” someone asked me.

I am sure I am shivering because of the cold when I looked at James.

I smiled at him “I’m thinking of helping to find him with these.”

He looks at the pile of poster on my hands.

He smiled genuinely “Give me some, I’ll post it too.”

I nod and gave him some of the posters “Here.”

“This is a smart idea, Ronan will be thankful.” He said with a sadness laced in his voice.

“Thank you.”

We start sticking the poster all over the entire neighborhood.

Once were finished, James walk up beside me “Should we continue this to the entire town, there’s still too many posters.”

“I want to. But Papa will be home this afternoon.”

“Oh, I see. I'll just go with Cloud and Rob." Rob, it's James' older brother.

I nod “I am just to keep some of these to stick in our school.”

“Sure.”

“Thank you for helping.” I smiled at him. And he smile back, as I turn around he holds my shoulder to stop me from walking, I turn back to him. “What is it, James?”

“I don’t want to boost you hopes up.” He bow down “But my Dad said that it’s impossible for the Hawthorns to find Ronan again.”

“What did he mean by that?” I scrunch my face.

“He—He said that Mr. Hawthorne has a lot of enemies. It has been three weeks since he went missing, I heard him say that maybe Ronan’s already died.”

“What?!” I blurt out chuckling forcefully “That’s absurd.”

“That’s what I think too, but he said he’s just stating the reality.” He once again bow his head.

I shook my head “No, Ronan isn’t de—dead. He just can’t.”

He nods “We need to find him as soon as possible.”

I nod “I will.”

That night the snow is falling heavily, I am in my room as I am looking at Ronan’s bedroom window, surprisingly, Mrs. Hawthorne isn’t there.

I kept on thinking about him, I can’t even imagine what he’s doing tonight in the middle of the cold weather.

“Ellora, it’s time to eat.” Papa called out to me behind me.

"Papa, what do you think Ronan is doing now?" I asked him out of the blue.

I heard him took a deep breath behind me and look at the window with me “I don’t know, sweetheart. Nobody knows for sure.”

"The weather is so cold, maybe he's getting cold too. Can he eat right or drink water?" Never in three weeks did I cry over the loss of my friend. My secret friend, but this night I couldn't stop my tears from dripping. Maybe it's because of what James told me earlier.

Papa turn me around and a worried face is etched on his feature.

“I don’t want you getting involved with the Hawthornes, you heard me?”

I didn’t nod nor answered him, because last Sunday he just preached the we all should help the family, and now he’s telling me not to.

He sighed "I don't know who and how many enemies their family has. We don't know who will do such a thing to the Hawthorne boy. I know it's hard to understand, but maybe one day I'll lose you and I can't handle that. We don't have much power like them. I am all by myself, Ellora. " He said. And somehow I understood her concern.

So, I just nods while crying.

“Promise me, Ellora that you will stay out of it.”

“I promise, Papa.”

I answer him and he hugs me but all I can think about is Ronan.

How will we find him if Papa stopped me from helping?

Three weeks have passed.

For three weeks not a trace was seen, while his disappearance lasted longer and longer. We are also slowly losing hope of seeing him again. I just hope that he's still alive somewhere. But there's this odd feeling inside me that I know he still is.