Back To Where I've Never Been

Part 5

"We didn't know any of this until she was gone. She was at recess, playing on the swings. The monitor looked away for a second. One second, and she was taken from us." More eye dabbing. I've never seen someone cry so daintily before.

"When the police investigated, they found evidence of his visits, the letters. They eventually found his place of residence, where he has photos of our daughter. Two months. He had been following her. Until he found the right time, and was able to take her from us." I want to reach out to comfort the poor woman. How awful, to lose a child this way.

"Did you... did you find her?" I have to know. I've seen Law and Order SVU, I know how most of these cases end but still, I have to know. The gnawing in my stomach and the inklings I've pushed away are growing stronger, my hands feel tingly and I can feel my legs start to shake.

"No. We never did. Twenty-four years and we never found a single hair. Even with all of the resources we poured into the investigation and all of the powerful people we know, we never found our child."

"I'm so sorry." I whisper.

"Thank you." She says, before turning towards Collin.

"Maybe it's best you tell the next part, it has more to do with you, anyway." Collin gives her one of those rare genuine smiles I witnessed earlier and pats her hand, nodding

"Ok, Aunt Christine." He agrees before turning to me. His eyes are serious, none of the usual arrogance or playfulness.

"I was at the hospital on Monday to help set up an ER wing. I came around late at night because I wanted to see the night-shift before I handed over the check my mother gave me and helped set up some plans." My eyes widen, he's not even a Doctor at the hospital? Is he even a doctor? He must guess my thoughts because he laughs, his eyes lightening a bit.

"Yes, I am a doctor, and technically I am employed by the Hennepin County hospital until the ER plans are approved. It's all legal mumbo jumbo but it allowed me to donate the blood you needed." I nod, I'm not really one to dwell on petty shit like that, I'm just glad he was there to donate when he did.

"After I heard there was an urgent need for Oneg, I knew I had to volunteer. What I didn't know was that when I went to go meet the girl who I had donated to, I would get the shock of my life." He takes a deep breath, and I stop my own. I know, somehow, I know, that this is it. The big reveal.

"When I saw you, it was like seeing a ghost, one a barely remember. I was eight when my cousin was taken, but I remember enough of her to see how similar you are. At first, I thought it was just a freaky coincidence, but when I found out you were an emancipated minor, I was curious enough to know more. When you told me your mother's tale... I knew I had to check. Just to be sure." I can feel my head shaking wildly.

"No. No way." I say, adamant, I get up, turning to leave. But Camden holds on to my elbow again.

"Just let him finish." He says quietly. I swear the man must be a magician because the next thing I know I am sitting back down, listening to Collin rush to finish his story.

"Violet, I looked up your file. Your mother's name is Amalia, same as my cousin. Her age would have been the same as my cousin as well." My legs are shaking again, I feel like I've been run over by a truck. My heart has made the connections between Christine and Collin's tales but my brain refuses to believe them.

"It's just a coincidence. There has to be a lot of 32-year-old Amalia's out there. It's not a super common name but there must be a lot if you never found her." Collin nods his head