Linda told herself it was normal. Teenagers pull away. That was all.
Then one morning she woke up and they were gone.
No note. No explanation. Just gone.
She searched schools, streets, community centers, friends’ homes. She filed a missing persons report. The police treated it like another ordinary teenage runaway case.
But they did not come back after a few days.
Or a week.
Or a month.
Linda unraveled.
The one person she confided in was her best friend, Diane Foster, a nurse who had been by her side through years of struggle. Diane had helped with school supplies, rides to the doctor, little acts of kindness. Linda trusted her completely. She begged Diane not to tell anyone that the children had run away because she was ashamed and terrified people would blame her.
Diane promised.
Then she told everyone.