Shadows

Do you ever get that feeling like everything in your life is falling apart and there's nothing you can do about it? Yeah? Well that's how I feel right about now. With grieving parents, overly concerned friends, and a pit in the bottom of my stomach that won't go away, my life isn't exactly peachy. The red and blue lights occasionally flash inside my window, illuminating the dark space. I watch as the light illuminates the photos on the wall one by one. My mom and I, my friend Maggie and I, a picture from homecoming, and lastly a picture of me and my sister Catherine.
I stare at the picture long after the light has passed. It still doesn't feel like she's gone. My brain knows she is but some part of me is still expecting her to burst through my bedroom door in tight jeans and makeup, heels in hand, asking to use my window to sneak out. It's so surreal to think that she will never walk through my door again, she will never yell at me for taking her clothes again.
"Anna," a shrill voice calls from downstairs. The sound bounced through the thin walls. "Officer Marks wants to talk to you again."
A sigh escapes my lips. Officer Marks always wanted to talk to me. He was always asking a billion questions that I don't have the answers to, hoping that one of these times I'll remember. Yet I never do.
I tumble down the stairs awkwardly until I'm face to face with Officer Marks. A thin man in his mid forties, his graying full head of hair and various wrinkles are the only sign of aging. His icy blue eyes bore into mine with a calculating expression.
"Hello Annalise," he says cooly. My mom puts her arm around me consolingly, but the thing is, I'm not crying. She is. The balled up tissues in her hand occasionally dab at her tear stained face. "We would like to ask you a few more questions," he says and glances at my mother uncertainly. "This time without your mother present."
"That's illegal," I point out.
"It's not illegal for me to simply chat with you, is it?" He threatens. I sigh deeply and follow him to the dining room.
He sits at the head of the table and motions to the seat to his left. I take the one to his right.
"So Annalise, tell me again what you were doing the night your sister went missing," he says and opens a cream colored file.
I sigh and begin the story I've told so many times, it's natural instinct when I tell it again. "I got home from school and went for a run, I got back at about 4:30. I took a shower and called my dad before locking myself in my room to do homework. I went downstairs at about 6:30 to get dinner, after that I went back into my room and didn't come out until the next morning."
"And you didn't find it suspicious that you didn't see your sister?" He asks suspiciously.
I've gone days without seeing my sister at a time. "No."
"Whys that?" He asks and leans across the table to me.
"Catherine was a busy person, I figured she was out with friends or something. She didn't have to check in with me," I explain and shrug, leaning away from the detective.
"I don't believe you," he hisses.
I cross my arms, "Well that's the truth so you probably should."
"Listen little girl," he whispers threateningly. "I know you've got this whole town fooled into thinking you're just the grieving baby sister, but I'm onto you. There's something you're not telling me, and I'm going to figure out what it is."
I shrug my shoulders again and stand up. "Suit yourself," I say before leaving the room. I walk into the living room again and see my mom talking to a female detective with curly red hair.
"We were out of town for our anniversary, the girls were old enough to take care of themselves. I've already told you all of this, why am I repeating myself?" My mom asks through her sobs.
"I'm sorry ma'am, it's protocol," the officer says soothingly. I turn on my heel and go back upstairs to my bedroom. I lock the door behind me and don't even bother turning on my lights. I'm about to change when movement catches my eye. I walk over to the window that faces my neighbors house. I peek through the curtains, trying not to be seen. The light in his room is on and i can see everything. He kisses the random girl deeply and rips off her shirts before throwing her on the bed. He glances in my direction and quickly let the curtain fall. I don't need to see this tonight. My sister was just found dead and he's having sex with some random girl. I wish I could say I'm surprised. My phone starts buzzing from my back pocket and my friend Maggie is calling me. I debate on whether or not to answer. On one hand, I could really use someone to talk to, on the other hand I don't think I can deal with her questions right now. I ignore the call and change into pajamas. I fall asleep to the flashing lights and sirens that I've become accustomed to.

Notes

Hi so I'm not sure if I'm even going to keep this story so let me know what you think