CRUNCH! I looked down to see something golden and shiny poking out from beneath my black converse. I let go of my boyfriends hand an pick it up. I hold it up to the light.
"Chad what does this look like to you" I ask.
"It looks like a shell casing. Where did you find that?"
"I stepped on it. Where do you think it came from?"
"I don't know and I don't really care. C'mon I really wanna show you this place."
"I'm coming I'm coming." I roll my eyes and follow along.
We come to a clearing and Chad just stops and stares at the spot. It is full of garbage and very little grass. I walk up to a pile and see a crumpled, faded comic book and a discarded soap box. Chad just sits down on the grass head in his hands.
"Chad whats wrong?"
"This place used to be so beautiful. Flowers blooming and tall green grass. Look at it. Its disgusting."
"Chad its alright. Don't worry about it. Lets just go back and have some pizza. I don't mind really."
As we walk back Chad keeps looking at me.
"You know I love you right?"
"Yes, And you know I love you too right?"
"Yes." He looks as though he is about to cry.
The next day I call his cell phone to see where he is. Straight to voice mail. I don't even bother to leave one. I grab the keys and decide to go see what is going on. I knock on the door and wait. No answer. I decide that he is just out and forgot to turn his cell on. I go home and decide to fill my time painting.
The next day I try to call his cell again and it goes straight to voice mail. I call his house phone and I get a non-existing number message.
I walk in the door after school and look at the mail in my hand. I got a letter...from an address I've never seen before and no name.
"Elli,
I love you so much and I would have never left if I had any hope for the future. I know you can figure this out. It is too risky for me to tell you.
I love you so much
Chad"
I turn the envelope upside down and out falls the crushed shell casing. I feel my eyes tearing up. What is going on?
