After we got to my house I went straight to my sister's room. I sat in the middle of everything and looked around me. On her dresser there was a picture of her holding me a few days after I was born. She was looking down at me and I was looking up at her. There was a connection between us that was so intense in that photo. I'll never be able to describe it but there was love shining from her and all that love filled me. I picked up the frame and sadly smiled, reminiscing about the times with my sister.

When she had fought with the boys who were bullying me at school. When her and her boyfriend snuck me out of the house at midnight to buy ice cream. When she sang me to sleep or made up stories. She was the reason I was writing. She was the reason I was singing.

There was a slight bump at the back so I opened the frame and found a neatly folded piece of paper.

Whose woods these are I think I know.

His house is in the village though;

He will not see me stopping here

To watch his woods fill up with snow.

I knew these words. I'd heard them somewhere before. I also knew there was more than just this. The ink on the paper looked new... almost too new. Sure it had been in the frame but it was like if I ran my fingers over the paper the ink would smudge.

Then I looked over to the dresser, bending so that I was eye level with the surface of it. Everything in my sister's room was covered with a veil of dust since nothing had been moved since she disappeared. But this picture was moved. And recently enough that when it's original position was, wasn't able to cover up with dust.

I searched the room for more clues. There wasn't just this one piece of paper. My sister had left pieces of the poem and she wanted someone to find them.

Her bed. There was a never that teddy bear there. I was probably overthinking and I couldn't have remembered all my sister's toys. But this wasn't one she would own. It looked like Coraline and just the button eyes set me on edge. Except it was dressed in an outfit that looked suited for hiking in the cold. Woods. Snow. The words from the poem. I grabbed the doll and ripped its head off without thinking. The stuffing fell down around me along with a piece of paper.

My little horse must think it queer

To stop without a farmhouse near

Between the woods and frozen lake

The darkest evening of the year.

Little Horse. I sprinted to my room ignoring the conversation that I could barely hear coming from downstairs. I traced the pictures that scattered my wall. I found the one I was looking for and pulled it off the wall. Nothing happened so I took a deep breath and stepped back to look at the whole wall at once. My eyes flicked between each picture, the colors blurring as my frustration increased. Right at the bottom of the wall, in the corner was the exact same picture but up close you can tell it had been edited. There was also a slight bulge behind it which lead me to believe I'd found the right place.

He gives his harness bells a shake

To ask if there is some mistake.

The only other sound's the sweep

Of easy wind and downy flake.

I couldn't think of anything that would lead me further. All I knew was that my sister had been kidnapped the winter of that year. The snow was an repeated throughout the poem. There was a clear link.

"Emilia?" My mom called.

I didn't answer but went downstairs. My mom called me again before realizing I was behind her.

"Emilia? Are you okay?" My mom was extremely concerned. I didn't know how I looked but I'm must have looked frazzled.

"Mom..." I whispered

"Emilia. What's going on with you?" Her sharp tone snapped me out of my haze. I shook my head to clear my thoughts.

"Nothing. I - I'm fine."

My mom sighed deeply, "Okay. There's something I need to tell you..." I saw Hunter nod reassuringly and then she started again, "The morgue called. They want us to identify her body. They need to know if the girl they found was definitely Jaimie." I stared at her so she continued, "Do you think you'll be able to? You don't have to - "

"I'll do it. I just need to check for something in my car. The box. The one you gave to me from her before I left. I haven't opened it yet. I just want to see what's in it before we leave." My sentences were short since I felt like if I spoke anymore I might not be able to stop.

My mom nodded, "I'll wait for you. Come on Hunter, let me find you something to drink and eat while we're gone. We shouldn't be too long."

Her voice faded as I left the house. I found the box that I had left in my car, too scared to see what was inside but now needing too. But instead of the box I found a red Christmas hat. The bell on the end jingling as as I picked it up.

Bells. The poem. And on cue, out fell a piece of paper.

The woods are lovely, dark and deep,

But I have promises to keep,

And miles to go before I sleep,

And miles to go before I sleep.

I sat in my car staring at the words until there was a knock. I jerked my head to the side to find Hunter staring at me. I took a deep breath, put the hat back and the paper in my pocket then got out.

"You okay, sweetheart?" My only answer was a shrug. My mom came out a few seconds later ready to leave. "I'll be here when you get back, okay? I promise."

-

"It's her." My mom whispered as the pulled the sheet off to reveal her face.

Her sun kissed skin was now pale and almost transparent. Except there was also a blue tinge to her skin as if she had been covered in bruises. There was also a cut by her eye. Her lifeless eyes were staring up at the ceiling, that was the most haunting.

According to the autopsy she had been killed yesterday morning. Her cause of death was multiple stab wounds.

"I'm sorry. Yesterday? You're telling me my daughter was alive all these years and now she's dead because you couldn't do your job." She jabbed a finger at the investigator. "You're telling me for ten years you couldn't do your job! My daughter could have come home to me! But because you stopped looking she's dead!"

"Mom..." I tried to calm her down.

"No Emilia. Your sister is dead. Gone forever because these men are as useless as I was. Except THIS IS THEIR JOB!"

"Ma'am you're going to have to leave." Another policewoman interrupted.

"Do you have daughters?" She turned to her accusingly.

"Yes ma'am." The lady looked down when she answered.

"So then show some sympathy." My mom spat.

"I'm sorry for your loss ma'am but - "

"Bullshit!" My mother accused.

"I'm sorry ma'am but you're going to have to leave." The police officer saw that she shouldn't try steer my mom or there would be more trouble than necessary; so she didn't.

"Just know that that's my daughter on that metal table whose life you could have saved." And with then she left.

"Do you perhaps umm...?" I turned to the man who performed the autopsy, "I don't know... Did my sister have anything in her pockets of her clothes?"

"Ah, yes. Thanks for reminding me dear."

I forced a smile while he turned to the desk next to him.

"Emilia Anderson?" He asked and I nodded.

"This belongs to you then." He handed me a red envelope.

"Thanks." I said holding up the envelope, "Could I ask? Could I please just have a minute alone with her."

He left the room without another word and as soon as the door shut I ripped open the envelope. Inside was a small piece of paper that read:

Stopping by Woods on a Snowy Evening

BY ROBERT FROST

Along with an airplane ticket to New York City with my name on it. And when I flipped it over, there was another note attached and in the same writing it was written:

I travelled miles before I slept. I promised I'd take you to New York but since I can't, promise me you'll go yourself. You still have miles to go before you sleep. Love Jams

I smiled at the nickname and then looked down at my sister's lifeless body.

I kissed the two middle fingers of my right hand and gently closed her eyes.

"I have miles to go before I sleep. I promise."

•

I'm not crying... my eyes are just sweating... This was so hard to write because it was incredibly sad for me.

I slipped in one of my favorite poems! I absolutely love Robert Frost!!! These final lines of this poem especially. And remember this poem because it is very important. Especially if you consider Jaimie's body was basically found on the edge of a forest.

I'll leave you to think about that until next time. Remember to vote, comment, follow. Oh and also please tell friends or whoever about this book if you're enjoying it (even if you're not... But I really hope you are).I'd really appreciate it :)