Never an Ever After

I can find him

SONG FOR THIS CHAPTER:

A THOUSAND YEARS-CHRISTINA PERRI

CHAPTER SEVEN

ELLORA

Seconds to Minutes, Minutes to Hour, an hour turns to days, and days turs to weeks. It has been a week since Ronan went missing.

At first, I was so confident that Ronan would go home, that maybe he just wandered around the forest and had fun in the beautiful Nashville forest. Or he may have found a new friend and had a lot of fun playing. But at that time, even at my young age of 10 years old, it was no longer normal for someone to get lost for a week. I can no longer think of positive thoughts about where Ronan can go.

Every morning, when I pass the Hawthorne’s house, I see his Mom waiting on their front porch. Waiting and stunned. Every night, I see his Mom in his bedroom, lying down and crying. Seems like mourning the loss of her son. Sometimes I also see Mr. Hawthorne with a lot of security, traces on his face the exhaustion and worriedness for his missing child. But when I see him, I also see how powerful he is. I am at ease because I know his Dad will not stop looking for him and the time will come when Ronan will be coming home with him as well.

I am thankful because this Sunday service, Papa did not criticize the management of Mr. Hawthorne but he sympathized with its family. Dad encouraged the townspeople to hopefully help the Hawthorns to find a trace of Ronan.

Ronan vanished without a single trace, it’s as if he’s not even existed.

The odd happens that day, How Ronan vanished and how our garden turns into trashed.

In a week, I tried my best as I could to get our damaged garden back to normal. You see, it’s hard to bloom a Black Dahlia. There must be proper handling and care in its planting. But I can't focus because of Ronan.

Maybe when he gets home, he can help me with these.

At school, Ronan friends became quiet and reserved. So, Demi and I prefer not to talk to them unless Ronan came back.

“Hi, James.” I approached James at the locker rooms.

He smiled at me but not the typical smile he always gives me. “Hi, Ellora.”

“Is—Is there any news from Ronan?” I asked.

He sighed and he shakes his head “My dad talked to Mr. Hawthorne last night, he said to my Dad that every lead turn into dead end.”

I clutch my chest, my heart hammers. “But—But where could he possibly be?”

He shakes his head and his shoulder slump in defeat “I really don’t have an idea.”

The bell rings.

He touched my shoulder “We better get going to class.”

I nod.

“Hey. He will get home. I am sure. He’s Ronan after all.” He flashed me his tender smile that made me warm and my stomach flutter.

I smiled at him too “He will.”

Three weeks.

Ronan is still missing.

It is in the middle of the night when I hear once again the wails and agony of Mrs. Hawthorne.

I looked at my window and see Mrs. Hawthorne lying down on Ronan’s bed while clutching his comforter. Crying in pain.

It's been a typical scene for me every night, but I'm not angry. This is her only way to be with Ronan again. And I will let her no matter how long she takes to do this. It is the least I can do for her.

No, I can still do something for them even at the young age, and I had this idea.

I edited a lay out and asked for James’ photo of Ronan and he emailed it to me right away.

I printed the missing child posters in a paper and I will stick this everywhere in the town of Nashville.

I can find him, I am sure I will find him.