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“ Police found a body in the southwest corner of Addison Park early this morning. It was discovered just off the south loop entrance of the walking trail by a couple out for their morning jog a little after six-thirty this morning. Police say that the body hasn’t been identified.

They’re not releasing any details at this time, and we’re unsure if it’s a male or female, age, description, or how the victim was dressed.

Authorities say the body has been deceased for a few days and may have been up on the hill that looks down on that section of the park. They believe the recent torrential rains shifted the earth, causing the body to slide down with the mud that washed down the hill ,” the reporter explains.

I click off the TV.

“It seems that every time I watch the news, there’s more bad news,” I mutter.

“Ms. Bayleigh, it’s going to be okay. They’ll find Riley soon, I’m sure,” Shana reassures me, smiling and patting my hand.

I close my eyes, grip the edge of the island, and squeeze it tightly.

“Come on, Shana, baby. Let’s go watch TV,” Zayn states, pulling Shana away from me.

I count to twenty before I open my eyes and release the edge of the counter.

“Ma, c’mon, give the kid a break. I don’t think she means any harm. She just says all the wrong stuff at the wrong time,” Zechariah inputs.

“She shouldn’t say shit at all. Nobody said anything about that missing person in the park in relation to Riley.”

“You didn’t have to, Ma. Everyone knows how on edge you’ve been since Aunt Riley left.”

“Is Aunt Riley gonna be okay, Mama?” Zaccai asks, looking up from his chicken strips and iPad.

“Yes, baby. Everything is going to be just fine.” I feel like I’m lying through my teeth.

Even if we find Riley and all is well with her, nothing will be just fine. My sister has ruined our bond, our relationship, and my trust in her. I will always love her, and in time, I might even come to forgive her, but trusting won’t come that easily. She damaged me as far as I’m concerned.

The house phone rings, and I quickly answer it, praying for some good news.

Riley has been missing for four days, and no one has heard from her.

My parents and brothers, like me, are going out of their minds with worry.

They were devastated when I told them what had happened and how she’d been lying about her pregnancy.

“Hello?”

“Hey, Bay. It’s me, Alicia.”

“Oh, hey, girl.”

“I was just checking in to see if you guys have heard anything.”

“No, honey. I wish that we had. I’m assuming you just saw the news too.”

“I’m sorry, girl. Yes, I did. I just got off the phone with Trina earlier before I saw the news, and she said that she still hasn’t heard anything. That’s not like Riley. She always calls Trina.”

“I know. I wish that I’d known that she was on that damn Inflogram Live that morning. I’d have called her and begged her to come back over here if I’d known just how distraught she was.”

“I know you would have. Hell, if Trina or I had seen it, we would have called you.”

“Have you seen the video?”

“Just the snippets they’ve been playing on the news since they’ve been looking for her. But someone at work said they’d seen the entire thing and said she was talking crazy about Essence Hamilton,” Alicia shares.

I press my lips together to keep mute on the subject.

“Well, you know I’m praying for you guys. I saw your daddy and mama yesterday.”

“She’s getting sick with worry, and I’m worrying about her, Licia.”

“I know you are. I just hugged her and told her to stay positive that Riley’s probably having one of her depressive moments where she shuts the world out,” Alicia states.

“Yeah, that’s the same thing I told her when I saw her yesterday afternoon. It’s not getting through to her, though. I don’t think anything will until she sets her eyes on her and sees for herself that Riley is okay.”

Zaire walks into the kitchen with a grim look in his eyes, a firm jaw, and his shoulders back. Damascus is walking into the kitchen behind him. I see the dread and the compassion in Damascus’ eyes and the pain etched on Zaire’s face.

“No . . . no. Noooo!” I scream, breaking down as the phone drops from my hands and clatters to the floor.

Zechariah is behind me, instantly lifting me as I fall. My sweet baby boy holds onto me as my world crumbles. His father pulls me from his embrace and lifts me into his arms, even as I continue screaming.

“Dad, please,” Zechariah says behind me as his voice breaks.

Zaire buries his face in my hair and shakes his head, and I keep screaming. He holds me tighter to him, and I hear Zaccai crying behind me.

“C’mon, little man, let’s go for a walk,” Damascus tells Zaccai.

“Nooooo,” I continue sobbing.

“What’s going on?” Zayn asks from somewhere behind his father.

“Ohmigosh! It’s Ms. Riley, isn’t it?” I hear Shana ask.

The rumbling of feet has me pulling from Zaire’s arms. I look over his shoulder to see my sweet, sometimes thickheaded middle boy running down the hallway with Shana on his heels.

“Oh, God. Zayn! Go see about him,” I tell Zaire.

“No. I’m not leaving you, baby.”

“I got him, OG,” Zechariah replies, clearing his throat.

Zaire’s arms wrap tighter around me, but no matter how tightly he squeezes, he can’t keep my world intact. There are too many empty spaces and too many broken pieces for him to keep me whole.

Maybe someday, but not today.