Starfall

Epilogue 3: Reappear

Rafael and Angie Diaz missed their son. Marco had disappeared on a trip to Oregon.

The young man who bought his motorcycle claimed that he didn't know where their son went, but he did say that Marco made him promise to sell the motorcycle back when he returned.

The man's great uncle had an extensive record. Names had to be invented for some of the crimes he had committed. The last people seen with Marco were him and his family. The Diazes were certain they were hiding something.

But the investigation stalled. The police said that they were not sure that any crime had been committed at all, and that sometimes people simply run away from their problems. Marco had been having many problems.

The police said that they would keep searching, but the town was remote and surrounded by wilderness. If someone wanted to, they would have little trouble disappearing.

With no leads, they advised the Diazes to go home. There was nothing they could do but wait and hope.

Marco's parents just wanted to know that their son was alright. But it's been months since anyone has seen or heard from him.

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Rafael often looked at the pictures of his son on the wall. He had been doing this much more often ever since his son vanished. He had looked at them so often that he was surprised to find something new in one.

"Angie? Who is this girl with Marco in this photograph?"

Angie looked at the photo in question. It was a photo of their son with a blond girl who was hugging him from behind and resting her chin on his shoulder.

She looked up towards the picture of Marco and Emily and compared the blonde girls in the two pictures. It wasn't her. That was impossible anyway. Emily had to leave before Marco was even a teenager. In the picture with the unknown girl, Marco was practically a man.

She didn't recognize the girl, but there was something about her that she couldn't quite put her finger on. She had a pink heart on each cheek. Face paint? Was this picture taken at a carnival?

"I don't know. I feel like I should know her. But I just don't know."

"I feel the same way. ¿Quién es ella? Is she the girl Marco said was his novia?"

"I don't think so. All he had to do was point at this picture to prove that she wasn't imaginary."

"You know, I look at these pictures all the time. But this is the first time I ever notice this girl."

Their conversation was interrupted by the sound of a motorcycle pulling into the driveway.

Marco entered the front door to see his parents.

"Hi Mom. Hi Dad. I'm back."

"Marco! You're home!" his parents cried as the rushed to embrace their son. "Where have you been?! We've been worried sick! We thought something terrible had happened to you!" Everyone was crying.

"I'm sorry. I'm sorry I left without saying anything. But I had to. I'm alright now. Everything's better now. I promise." Marco said over his tears.

"Marco. Why did you disappear like that?" His father asked.

"I promise to explain everything. But first I need you to meet someone."

A blonde woman entered the front door.

Marco began to speak. "Mom, Dad, this is..."

"...Star." his parents finished.

"Do you remember me?"