Island of Secrets and Scars

Cameron’s gone.

The moment Ian stepped into the apartment, he felt the truth of that statement in his bones. Physically, nothing about the space appeared different from when he’d left that morning while Cameron slept in the bedroom. No longer their bedroom or their bed, just the bedroom and the bed. Though more accurately, they’d become Cameron’s since only she ever slept in them. Ian had spent every night of the last six months on the couch or in a chair either beside the bed watching Cameron sleep or in the nursery trying to figure out how to get his old life back. Actually, he wouldn’t go as far as to say he wanted his old life back. Losing their baby had forever altered that life and those dreams. He could survive losing that life, but he wouldn’t survive losing Cameron. Standing in the doorway to the empty bedroom, it appeared he might not have a choice.

He pulled his phone from his pocket. Maybe he was jumping to conclusions. Cameron could’ve gone to visit a friend. Though Cameron hadn’t met with anyone since they’d been back from Africa. No one except for her doctors and therapist. With hope in his heart, he pressed her number and listened as her phone rang from the front of the apartment. Ending the call, he jogged to the kitchen, calling Wes as he did.

“Do you know what time it is?” Wes answered without greeting.

“Have you seen Cameron?” Ian found her phone on the counter.

Wes sighed through the line. “You know I haven’t. Why?”

“She’s not here.” He thumbed through her phone. No incoming or outgoing texts. No emails that looked suspicious. No interesting internet searches.

“Not there? It’s . . . midnight.” Wes’s voice rose with worry.

Nodding even though his friend couldn’t see him, Ian rushed down the hall to the nursery. His gut told him Cameron wouldn’t be there, but he didn’t know where else to look. As soon as he opened the door, he knew searching for her would prove fruitless. Two days ago, Wes had given him a picture he’d taken of Cameron and Ian a week before her attack. Ian had brought the picture home and placed it here until he thought Cameron was ready to see it. Now the picture was gone, along with the woman he loved.