Page 135 of Take Me Away

Because why? Why would she ignore me?

Ignoring the mud that’s oozing around my toes, I head around the back towards the kitchen and cup my hands against the window, peering through the glass into Maggie’s old kitchen.

Empty.

I try the door, but I already know it’s going to be locked. My gut is ice cold, squeezing.

The cottage looks exactly like it did the day she arrived. Like no one’s been living there at all.

My heart starts to pound.

I head back down the lane, moving faster now. Check the harbour – maybe she went for a walk, needed to clear her head, wanted to watch the sunrise.

The harbour wall is empty. No figure standing against the grey morning light.

Just boats bobbing on their moorings and the Mary Jane sitting heavy in the water, waiting for me to decide if I can ever set foot on her again.

The café. Maybe she went to help Nina. Maybe⁠—

The café’s dark. Closed. I have no idea if it will open, or when.

I’m jogging now. Back to the cottage. Up the stairs. Into my room like maybe I missed something, maybe she’s there and I’m being an idiot, maybe⁠—

The bed’s still empty.

Her side of the duvet is thrown back, the sheet cool and smooth like she’s been gone for hours.

I check the bathroom. Her toothbrush⁠—

It’s not there.

The spot where she left it on the sink, next to mine. Empty.

I yank open the drawers. The spare clothes she’d put here only days ago after the accident, when she didn’t want to leave me alone – gone. The jumper she borrowed from me last week. The socks. The⁠—

All of it. Gone.

My breathing’s too fast. Too shallow.

I grab my phone from the nightstand, fumble it open, call her.

It rings once. Then goes straight to voicemail.

‘Isla. It’s me. Call me back. Please.’

I try again.

Straight to voicemail.

Again.

Voicemail.

She’s turned it off.

My phone buzzes in my hand. Notifications I haven’t checked yet. Messages.

A missed call from Jude half an hour ago.