Have You Seen Her?

The sounds of the carnival music blaring, the parade of characters marching and dancing in the streets, and the caravan of floats driving by with people waving and throwing flowers gladened the heart of Beebee. The smells of all the carnival food brought euphoria to her palette; the different array of delicious fare all led to a stimulating experience. However delightful this all was, Beebee would soon regret her decision to come to the carnival.

"Lucille! How amazing is this?!?" Beebee, still bopping to the rhythm of the music and eyes ahead of her, didn't get a response, "Lucille?" "LUCILLE!" she shouted once more. Beebee spun all around her, looking, it seemed, in every direction at once; and just that quick, everything had turned to terror. She began frantically running through the large crowd of gatherers, pushing and throning her way through the tightly knit mob of people. Her anxiety spiked, cold sweats came over her body, her shoulders slumped in hopelessness, she spoke to herself, "I knew it... I knew I shouldn't have brought her along with me tonight!" Thinking of the magnitude of her dilemma, the reality of the situation struck in her mind. "Oh my God! She could be anywhere! There are so many people. Oh no! NO! Not that! Please God!" a desperate thought entered her mind, "someone could have taken her! Oh God! What am I going to do!?" She felt so alone with no will to move forward. 

She envisioned in her mind thinking how this was supposed to be a joyous, festive day for Beebee & Lucille. Now, she stood defeated in a crowd of strangers in complete panic. Beebee, replaying the moments leading up to Lucille's disappearance, tried to figure out how Lucille could have gotten away from her? And what's worse, she could be anywhere by now, far, far away.

 She mustered up all her strength and will and became determined to find her! She had to; Beebee could not stand to think of living through life without Lucille. 

She dumped the contents of her purse haphazardly, remembering the picture she had of Lucille in her wallet! Taking the picture in her hand, she ran from one person to the next, begging them if they had seen this girl, 'Her name is Lucille, have you seen her?!?" "Please! Help me!"

One after another, people shook their heads to her question, "No, I'm so sorry, I haven't seen her," was the word on everyone's lips. The desperation grew to an unbearable level. Just then, Beebee set her eyes on a police officer amongst the crowd and beelined her way, keeping the officer in her sights. 'Oh, thank goodness! Officer, please! Please, can you help me?! I'm terrified that something awful may have happened to my girl!" Beebee was clutching and showing Lucille's picture to the policewoman. "OK! Now slow down," said the policewoman in a comforting tone. "What's going on? Tell me everything as calmly as you can, and I will help you; I promise." Beebee retold the kind officer the whole story leaving no clue to question; about how she had come to the festival with her friend Lucille who had vanished somehow and was now missing; disappeared!

Beebee took the policewoman where she and Lucille stood watching the carnival; the moment she realized that Lucille was no longer by her side. From there, they retraced her steps showing the officer what route was taken, shouting out Lucille's name looking for her. The officer told Beebee to take a moment to calm down as she called in for more officers to come and perform a proper search for Lucille. 

Beebee had finally gotten the story off her chest. There were now many police officers' eyes on the job searching for her dear Lucille; still, it did very little to subdue her anxiety and fear of never seeing her beloved Lucille ever again. 

It was as time has stopped and yet, also gone by in a blink all at once. The lights and the music of the festival still setting the backdrop far in the distance impeded by the loudness of Beebee's inner thoughts. What would happen now? What would life look like without dear Lucille to brighten Beebee's days? The idea shuddered pain through her heart, and Beebee had gone into a more profound depression in an instant. That's just how quickly life had changed for her. Unable to utter a word, too weak to stand, she leaned against the building, slid down to the ground, put her head in between her hands, and let out a most egregious moan.

Memories of a lifetime continuously ran through her mind, from the moment Lucille and Beebee had met; became best friends, and all the life events in between. Right up to this very moment. 

"We're doing our best to find her, Mrs.," the words shook her from her daydream. "I know. I'm sure you are. Thank you all," is as much Beebee could bear to say. She started to realize that it was all over. Lucille was gone. Someone saw her, and they took her, and she's far off now, never to return. Again with those words in her mind, she broke down sobbing uncontrollably. "I am terribly sorry, Mrs.; I just need to ask you a few more questions, then I think it best for you to go home and get some rest. We've got our whole unit out on the look for your girl, and we are doing everything we can and using every resource." Beebee nodded in agreeance without speaking a word. She gathered herself and made her way back to her car, so very far away from where her night ended. What an unlikely ending to the day. She could have never imagined it, the worst nightmare that could ever have happened to her. 

The party, still in full-step, did very little to uplift Beebee and her somber mood. On the contrary, the dancing, music, food; it was all so ever-present. The floats were driving by with the characters onboard, making lively the night reminded Beebee of what could have been. 

Though the parade festivities were winding down now, there would be a long night in the bars and the after-party's throughout the town. The crowds dispersed, and you could see the sidewalk littered with flowers and ticker-tape from the carnival. The lamposts of the quiet streets light the way back to where Beebee parked. Beebee was utterly heartbroken at the idea of leaving without Lucille by her side. The pain tore through her soul. Beebee started her car and slowly and dazedly drove home.

"Ooohh, burr! It got cold out," Beebee uttered to herself. She had left all the car windows open, and the convertible top was down too. Rolling up all the windows and putting the top up, she continued on her way. 

No one can know the pain of losing someone until it has happened to you. It leaves an open hole in your life, not only your heart; life never remains the same. And thinking of it over and over again would end up driving Beebee into a deep depression she had never known. 

It wouldn't be long now; she was almost home, one more turn to her street. Beebee couldn't stop thinking of all those little things in life she would miss the most! The small stuff; that's what you take away mostly when left with the memory of someone; just being able to help each other, support each other, and love each other! Love; Beebee learned to love by feeling the love Lucille had for her, and it was like nothing else in the world. And now, they would never be together again—such a grievous thought.

Beebee had pulled into her garage by this time, the automatic garage door closing behind her. She was forlorn, and there was no meaning anymore to live because it didn't include her best girl, Lucille. 

She undid her belt, opened her door, stepped out of the driver's seat, and closed the door. She just stood for a moment, looked upward, and breathed a sigh. It was dead quiet now, another reality she would have to face. Through that door, her home would take on a new meaning. Alone, that is what her life will consist of from now on; life without Lucille. 

Just as she began to push the door open, she heard a muffled boom. It sounded like something hit the floor inside, or was it outside? She couldn't tell if her wearied senses were failing her after the emotionally draining day that she bore. Beebee's heart was now racing! She built up the courage to open the door. She braced herself, quickly pushed forward, and jumped through the entry expecting to see something, but nothing was there. Taking a deep breath, feeling the tension ease, she closed the door behind her, and simultaneously with the closing of the door, a loud thump from inside the garage! There was no doubting it now! She didn't know what was making those sounds, but it was real. Her heart quickened pace again. Scratching? Heavy breathing? Muffled beastly sounds? 

She carefully made entrance back into the garage, looking all around, scanning her surroundings. She moved further in now, and she was right up against the car. She hesitantly got on her knees to check under the car. She opened the flashlight on her cell phone, expecting that whatever was making that noise was looming nearby. Summoning all her courage, Beebee lay her head to the ground and illuminated the undercarriage of her car and the garage floor. She was frightened by what she might encounter but did what she needed to do. The light shone to the other side of the garage and all under the car but revealed nothing.

Relieved, Beebee turned off her flashlight, got up off her knees, and thump! She jumped back away from the vehicle! That noise was right near her head this time! She was right back where she started; heart beating, heavy breathing, and facing the unknown. 

She unwillingly turned her flashlight back on, afraid of what the light might uncover in the darkness. She made her way toward the driver-side door, starting from the opposite side; she kept her distance lest something grab at her from under the car. As Beebee went around, she felt the stress and anxiety building. Something was definitely in Beebee's garage; she heard movement in her peripheral senses. Too exhausted for the fight from the day, Beebee had no choice but to figure out what it was. As soon as she rounded the rear of the car leading to the driver's side, THUMP! This time the movement shook the car with it! She flew back up against the garage wall, "Alright! That is enough! I have had a very long day and I am getting pissed now!" It was IN THE CAR! 

This was it. This was the moment. Beebee had to face the fear. She rushed toward the driver's door, ready for the battle, whatever may come, one hand on the door handle ready to open and the other hand fisted and raised up in the air. "Wooh, she took a deep breath." She flung the door open! Ready to strike, just then at the same time, whatever it was jumped from the passenger side towards her; Beebee cocked her arm back further!! "Don't come any closer, Beebee yelled! Her eyes closed, tight-fisted Beebee went in for the kill! 

"Whoa-Oh my God! Lucille!!! What are you doing in here??!!?? How did you?..." 

It didn't matter how Lucille was there! Right-back in her arms now, Beebee dropped to her knees, and the water fell from her eyes as she took hold of Lucille and held her tightly as she hugged and kissed her furry cute little face. Beebee couldn't let go of her beloved little Pug, Lucille. Lucile was back!-Well, she never really left! When Lucille lost Beebee, Lucille found her way back to the car, and since all the windows and the convertible top were down, Lucille was able to get in easily. She slept, assuming Beebee would see her when she got back to the car, but it so dark by then, and Lucille was in a deep sleep. And that's where Lucille stayed, waiting for Beebee to return. Beebee crying for joy, held onto Lucille so tightly she might've taken the air out of her little body! Lucille wagging, jumping, and kissing Beebee in a frenzy couldn't stop either. "Come on. You have got to be starved by now! I know I am-lets get some food!" Beebee was so relieved; it was a miracle. They were back together now, even more in love and stronger than before. And that's the way it stayed for the rest of their natural lives. They never had to part ever again. -The End.