Free The Way to Her Heart by Amy Reece

been no news? Have the police been back lately?” She fumed silently as he shook his head again, realizing the case was going nowhere.
    “They think she ran away. They said they’ve done everything they can.” He took another sip, and Bernie noticed his hand shook.
    “I can’t believe she ran away, Mr. Rodriguez.”
    “No. Me neither.” He reached for a napkin to wipe his eyes. “Sorry about that.”
    “It’s okay. Could I look in her room? I won’t take anything, I promise.”
    “Of course. Go ahead.”
    Bernie opened the bedroom door slowly, as if she didn’t want to disturb her friend. The room smelled stale, unused. She walked around the tiny space, touching the remnants of Gabby’s childhood: various perfume bottles, stuffed animals, and picture frames filled with photos of Gabby, Natalia, and Sofia. She found a lone photo of Gabby and herself at Bernie’s fourteenth birthday party. Those had definitely been happier, simpler times.
    She sat at Gabby’s desk and searched through the drawers, looking for anything that might give her some clue to Gabby’s location. A diary or journal of some sort would have been nice, but Gabby had never been much of a writer. She sighed and looked around the room. Where are you, Gabby? Give me some kind of sign. Please, Gabby. Her eyes fell on an item that made Bernie’s stomach drop in dread—her contact lens case and cleaning solution. Bernie had watched Gabby take out her contacts dozens of times before bedtime and she knew Gabby would never run away from home without taking something so basic. She realized it was possible, of course, that Gabby had taken a different case, but as she gazed around the bedroom, she recognized other things Gabby wouldn’t have left behind—her hairbrush, her makeup, and her favorite stuffed alligator.
    Wherever she was, whatever had happened to her, Gabby had not run away. This was proof her disappearance was not voluntary, and Bernie had a horrible feeling about it. She sniffed and wiped her eyes as she pushed to her feet, determined to return to the police station to force Detective Garcia to listen this time.
     
    ***
     
    Bernie let the nearly hot water wash over her, reveling in the warmth after an especially cold night. She knew she wouldn’t be able to keep this up much longer, but she didn’t see another viable option right now. She turned off the shower and sneezed. Great. All I need is a cold. She’d felt a kind of tickle in her nose and a vague ache in her throat since she woke up. She thought she heard voices in the locker room and hoped whoever it was left soon. She was not in the mood to make up excuses today. She was cold again and wrapped her towel tighter, eager to get to her locker and dress. Josh had sweetly refused to take back his hoodie, saying she needed it more than he did, but she was still hesitant to wear it at school in front of his girlfriend. Kayleigh was exceptionally nice to her, and Bernie wanted to keep it that way. She turned the corner into the aisle with her locker and nearly bumped into a couple locked in an intense embrace, kissing. She shrieked in alarm, grabbing for her towel. Jeez, who brings their boyfriend in the girl’s locker room? The couple sprang apart, and Bernie realized her mistake—it was definitely two girls. And one of them was Kayleigh.
    “Sorry!” Bernie said, ducked her head, and rushed past to her locker. Holy shit! Did I just see that? She threw her clothes on and finished getting ready, her head spinning. What do I do? Do I just pretend it didn’t happen? Yes, that’s what I should do. It’s really none of my business, after all. Live and let live. Then she remembered Josh. Oh God. Does he know? Of course not. Poor Josh!
    She wasn’t terribly surprised to find Kayleigh waiting for her outside the cafeteria before lunch.
    “Can I talk to you for a minute, Bernie? Please?”
    Bernie nodded and followed her into the nearby girls’ bathroom. Kayleigh checked every