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Because a mother knows. A mother feels. And I felt that something was not right.<\/p>\n
I drove down the interstate with my heart squeezed tight. Traffic was heavy as usual, but I barely noticed it. I only thought about those unanswered messages, those calls she never picked up.<\/p>\n
I arrived at their neighborhood around eleven in the morning. A quiet area full of trees, with nice houses and white fences. Sarah and Michael had lived there for two years.<\/p>\n
I parked in front of their house. The gate was closed. I rang the doorbell.<\/p>\n
I waited.<\/p>\n
I rang again.<\/p>\n
Then I heard footsteps.<\/p>\n
The door opened, and there he was.<\/p>\n
Michael, my son\u2011in\u2011law, smiling.<\/p>\n
\u201cEmily, what a surprise! Is everything okay?\u201d he asked.<\/p>\n
\u201cI came to see Sarah,\u201d I said. \u201cShe hasn\u2019t answered me all week.\u201d<\/p>\n
He stayed silent for a second. Just a second. But I saw it. Something passed through his gaze\u2014like a shadow crossing the sun.<\/p>\n
\u201cOh, she\u2019s traveling,\u201d he said finally, with that same smile. \u201cShe went with some friends to California. You know how she is\u2014suddenly she gets an idea and she goes. She told me she\u2019d let you know.\u201d<\/p>\n