Thomas

The day was bright and sunny. I pulled up to a little blue house on North street. Thomas was supposed to meet me outside so we could go pick out some new dead bolts for my house door. He lived in his grandparents house. He inherited it when they both passed a year ago in an accident. I have always loved this place. The decor was so old, almost like an antique shop. The floor boards creaked when you walked on them, and the wall paper had to have been on the walls well over 20 years. There was just something about it that made it feel so welcoming. Thomas popped around the corner of my car. "Boo!" He startled me. "Don't do that Thomas! You scared me." He looked at me with a goofy grin as he climbed into the passenger seat and kissed my forehead. His blonde hair glistening in the sun. "You were staring off... I had to. It was too easy." His blue eyes danced as he looked at me. I couldn't stay mad at him. "Where to?" He had made plans to spend time with me today, but wouldn't tell me what we were doing. "Drive downtown, and park on 9th." Vague. I just rolled my eyes and kicked the car into gear.

We parked in front of a small park, where there where children swinging and laughing. Mothers stood around watching them as they slid down the old, tall slide. I envied having my mother again. "Shall we?" Thomas asked. We got out, and he grabbed my hand as we walked. We passed by an old lady sitting on the bench feeding birds and came to an old oak tree. There was a small child sitting on a blanket with a picnic basket. "Hey Bruce. Here's 5." He handed him money, and the child smiled and ran off. "What's this?" I asked with a grin on my face. "A picnic."

Thomas and I had been friends since we were in kindergarten. Here we are at twenty, and I had never expressed to him the feelings I had for him. "You're so sweet to me." My cell began to ring. S**t. I opened my bag and pulled it out. "Kent Police Department" showed on the caller ID. Instantly nervous, I answered the call. "Rosie Burns?" My voice became almost nonexistent. "Is this Ms. Burns?" the voice on the other end of the line asked again. I finally choked up a "yes." Listening to the other end of the voice, I said "OK. See you soon." And hung up the phone. Thomas looked at me with a puzzled face. His eyebrows arched. "Everything ok?" I smiled, and told him that I had to run. "I'm sorry, Thomas. Something's come up, and I have to meet a friend at the coffee shop. I'll make it up to you, promise." He nodded. I hate lying to him. But if he knew what happened that night, what I had experienced... He would be disgusted. There was no way I was going to tell him right now, if at all. I waved goodbye, and ran to my car. I hope this is it. Please god, give me good news.

I pulled up to the Kent police department and parked in a "visitor" space. I could feel my hands becoming clammy. Small beads of sweat started to trickle my face. What are you doing Rosie? Get the f**k out. I rolled my eyes at myself as I clenched the steering wheel. Deep breaths. My hand reached for the keys and turned off the ignition while my mind raced with what was going to happen next.

The outside of the building was very well kept. Bushes were freshly trimmed, and the lawn freshly cut. Walking inside, I immediately noticed a woman sitting in the far right of the waiting room. Her hands were trembling. She had long brown hair, with a tiny part towards the front. She looked at me and suddenly I felt a sense of fright; of hurt. "Can I help you?" Said the lady at the front desk. "Yes, my name is Rosie Burns." She smiled and told me to be patient, that the detective would be right with me.