My heart raced as I gazed at the empty bed in my daughter’s room. Amber, my beautiful thirteen-year-old girl, had disappeared a week ago. With her blonde hair and freckles, she was my world. The pain of her absence was unbearable, each moment without her stretching into eternity. I clung to hope, waiting for her to come back with every phone call or knock on the door.
Amber never ran away. Every parent says that, but it’s the truth. I had a deep connection and close bond with Amber. She was a joyful, obedient child who always made me proud. It was inconceivable that she would just disappear without a word. My concern grew stronger, eating away at my heart as each day passed with no trace of her. I was certain that she had experienced something awful.
The Sack
Even though it seemed like the police weren’t getting anywhere, they still tried to help. Even though they said they were doing all they could, their sad shrugs and sympathetic looks didn’t really make me feel any better. I felt so lost, so lonely, and so hopeless.
One night, I was sobbing outside feeling really upset when I noticed a homeless lady rummaging through a trash can nearby. I was shocked when I saw what she had tossed aside. It was Amber’s backpack! I recognized the unicorn patch she had stitched on it and knew it belonged to her.
