The forest family society I hear my mother's soft cries coming from the room. I wouldn't blame her, I would cry too if I weren't making her lunch. You see, today is the 3-year anniversary disappearance of my brother. He and I were really close. It affected me a lot when he ran away, and mom cried her eyes out so much she could almost supply us with a years worth of water. "..And today marks the 3 year disappearance of Michael Malyn (May-lynn). If you or anyone else has heard anything from him, please be in contact with the police department.." I turn off the TV. How come nobody's heard from him? He has a phone. Why have a phone if he won't call us? Suddenly, the house phone rings. I furiously wipe tears from my eyes as I answer the phone. "Malyn phone, how can I call you?" I say. "I mean, help you?" "Milan? Is that you?" It's Quinn. She and I grew apart these 3 years, but she's my best friend. "Hi, Quinn." I wipe my nose. "Listen, I know you'd love to talk but I'm having lunch right now, and now is not a good time.." I'm about to hang up when suddenly she stops me. "Wait, Milan, stop!" She shouts. "I know this is the.. anniversary.. but I wanted to ask if you would like to go to the mall with me? Today?" -- I don't remember how she convinced me, but I find myself in front of the Mall. And surprisingly, I have two bags in my hands. “I can’t believe they had a sale! Gosh, I love barnaby’s bookstore. They not only have the best books, but they have excellent sales, too!” Quinn gushes over the books she got. So that’s where we went. I look down at my bags and see the books I’ve had on my wishlist for years. Bridge to Terabithia being one of them. “Thank you again for buying these for me.” I say, remembering I didn’t buy them. “And thank you for making me take my mind off of..” I look over at a poster handing on a tree. My brother, again. Suddenly my body freezes in time, and everything Quinn says drowns out. I’m being shaken when I finally unfreeze. My mother, shaking me as if there’s no tomorrow, asks me over and over, “are you okay? Where have you been? I was so worried. Never run off on me like that!” I managed to shake her off, but not long before a van passes by and a kid gets out. He looks at the poster, grabs it and crumbles it up. Then he gets back into the van. “Hey!” I shout. I walk over to the van, and thank goodness I did. I gasp as soon as I see him. He’s changed, but I still remember those brown bug-eyes. “Michael?”
