By: Sameen Salahuddin
“Any luck, detective?”
The detective under question looked up, Feeling the heavy gaze of his boss settle down on him, He sighed. For a moment, he hesitated- He did not lie, but often the truth had to be pushed 6ft deep into the ground.
He could see the conflict raging in the eyes of the aforementioned man. The man took the file sitting atop his desk, “I assume this is the case file?”
He nodded and watched as his boss threw it in the dump. “Consider it closed. A wild goose chase, we are not wasting any more resources. Tell the family they’re daughter is not coming back, spin a story, I don’t care.”
...Well, that certainly made things easier.
--
Life, as Ethan would call it, was a series of mysteries slowly unraveling themselves in an attempt to be found. Life was filled with a multitude of secrets waiting to be found and shared. It was why he chose to become a detective. He could not unveil the secrets of the world, but he could unveil the mysteries of the humans walking down the streets, of the humans suddenly lost to the world- All gone, All lost, All chased away- or perhaps, All who ran away.
It was why he joined the Missing person units, No tragedy linked behind his motives, just a simple desire to help, to find- to discover.
The recent case was of a girl, Around 19 of age, fresh out of college. Someone who had a promising future waiting for her. Both her parents withdrawn yet tearful, refusing to believe they’re child was taken away from them. He had gently clasped the older lady’s hand and promised her- he would find her, he would bring her back.
(He thinks he only managed to fulfill one).
---
As it is, following through leads often leads to ending up with nothing and then ending up with too many things. He wanted to give up. None of her friends had any clue as to where she could be. No one she could run away with. No one who would want to take her away (“At least that’s what we think”).
Despite all odds, however, he found her.
--
He found her, Not because of his skills, (He felt his pride hurt a little bit), rather she showed up on her own.
--
Down by the cafe he usually visited, a tiny little shop nestled between the flower shop and a tattoo parlor (Cliche much?), over-seeing the river, he was drowning his cup of coffee before he headed back to work when he caught a glimpse of her.
He felt himself choke, then, before he could run after her (which would be a creepy move on his part and even scare the young girl), He thought and called out her name.
The girl tensed and looked around, Her eyes wildly searching the crowd. Above them, the clouds drifted along, trying to find a partner to hold them together.
He slowly approached her.
--
They found themselves at the beach. He found that she had rented one of the cabins close-by. The girl-Isabelle- was quiet, he had prodded her with questions until he gave up, perhaps She would speak on her own terms. (He hoped).
‘“I know-I know that people miss me. I know they care about me- that they love me.” The cold onshore breeze blew right through them.
He nodded, thinking that he was a detective, not a therapist. His eyes scanned the ocean, each wave lacy with foam and shining with the subtle green hues.
“But...they make me feel wrong in their presence. That I’m doing something wrong, that I should know better, that I’m wrong for feeling how I feel…”
“...And you wanted an escape from that?”
“I’ll go back, Of course, I’ll go back, I don’t want to hurt the people I care about, but I want to do it on my own pace.” The cool water lapped at their feet, The waves roaring and crashing down on the shore with a hiss, filling in the silence between them.
The sun began to sink, touching the surface of the water as the night waits for it’s time to rise again. Slowly he stood, Isabell’s eyes searching him- a hint of fear in them.
“I’ll make sure you can return to them when your heart desires.”
---
People, as Ethan discovered, were quite mystifying, sometimes they go missing for their own sake, While he thought people would critique young Isabell... He understood. The desire to be yourself, away from the wandering eyes of people, who, despite their love and care can bring a great deal of pain and hurt into your life.
He hopes she will find it in herself to return home soon. Or find a new home.
(Photo from Urdu Tehzeb)
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