I barely slept or ate and focused on making calls. Every time my phone rang, my heart jumped so hard it hurt.
Flyers went up around town by the second day.
By the fourth day, I was frazzled because I spent most nights pacing instead of sleeping.
The police got involved, but they seemed to be dragging their feet, while Ryan stayed close throughout.
Part of me appreciated it. Another part kept wondering if trusting anyone again had been a mistake.
For seven days, my whole life became my daughter’s empty bedroom.
I barely slept or ate.
***
Ava’s bedroom felt unbearable.
Her hoodie still hung over the desk chair, and her math notebook sat open on the bed where she’d left it that morning before school.
I was sitting on her bed, contemplating what to do, when my phone rang.
“Mrs. Carter?”
It was Principal Matthews from my daughter’s school.
“We found something in Ava’s locker. It has your name on it.”
I was in my car less than a minute later and arrived at her school in 12 minutes.
“It has your name on it.”
***
Principal Matthews met me outside the front office, looking uncomfortable.
“One of the custodians found it hidden behind some textbooks,” he explained while leading me down the hallway. “We thought you should see it immediately.”
My chest was pounding so hard I could barely hear him.
When he opened Ava’s locker, I immediately saw an old cell phone sitting beside a folded note.
I recognized the phone instantly.
I thought Ava had lost it months earlier.
Written across the front of the note in my daughter’s handwriting were five words.
“Give this to my mom.”
“We thought you should see it immediately.”
My hands shook as I opened it.
“Mom, if I’m gone, check the garage video on my old phone. I saved it before he could delete it.”
I stared at the note.
Before he could delete it.
A cold feeling spread through my stomach. Slowly, Ryan’s face flashed through my mind.
I grabbed the phone and discovered it had no passcode.
I opened the gallery app and found one video.
Garage Camera – Thursday 11:48 PM.
My fingers trembled as I pressed play.
My hands shook as I opened it.
***
Ryan’s SUV appeared parked beneath the garage’s overhead light.
For several seconds, nothing happened.
Then Ava walked into frame barefoot, wearing oversized pajama pants and a hoodie.
She looked nervous.
A second later, Ryan followed her into the garage.
I felt my breath catch.
My boyfriend stood a few feet away from her, talking calmly while Ava kept her arms folded tightly.
Then Ryan walked to the back of his car and opened the trunk.
My stomach tightened.
She looked nervous.
My boyfriend pulled out a cardboard box.
Ava immediately stepped backward.
Ryan opened the box and showed her something inside.
Even without sound, I could tell she was upset.
Ryan kept talking.
Ava shook her head hard.
Then she turned and ran back into the house.
The video ended.
I stared at the screen, confused more than anything.
I could tell she was upset.
There was no obvious danger, no screaming, and nothing violent.
But Ava had clearly been shaken badly enough to save the footage before, according to her note, Ryan tried to delete it.
“What’s in that box?” I whispered to myself.
I thanked the principal, and as I made my way out of the school, I called Ryan.
He answered on the second ring.
“Claire?”
