When Carla told her family and friends that she was going to get a pet, all of them guessed that she was referring to a cute little dog, a Pomeranian like the ones she always enjoyed watching on youtube.
None of them could have imagined that she act...
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Zoe returns home after her time at the TV station, feeling more discouraged than ever. Bawling her eyes out and embarrassing herself in front of all Cabe verde had done nothing. No one called with information about Abel's whereabouts. In fact, she felt like she just entertained people but they all forgot about her as soon as she was off screen.
She's certain that she saw the woman that interviewed laugh her behind her back. Zoe would have choked her to death if there were not so many people around.
And to top everything, she gets a call from her mother as soon as she steps inside her apartment complex. Her adoptive mother. Zoe curses under her breath. She never got to tell her about Abel disappearance until now...
« Hello ? »
« Zoe, is it true what I just heard you say on national TV ? » The woman asks on the other side of the line.
« Your brother disappears and you don't think of informing your father and I ? And it's been weeks, Zoe. Weeks ! »
« I just didn't see the point, Marta. It's not like he's your real son. Would you have cared ? Every single person around me failed to show up for Abel. I didn't think that you guys would be any different. »
« We're your parents, Zoe ! When will you understand that we love both of you like you're our own children ?! When did we ever show you that we didn't care about your well-being ? »
« You just adopted us to brag around with your rich friends. You don't love us. It's always been Abel and me alone against the world, Marta. »
« Do you even realise that because you failed to inform us sooner you might have ended your brother's life ? Your father could have used his contacts and get the police to start searching for him. If anything happens to Abel, I hope you know that there's no one else to blame but you ! »
Zoe opens her mouth to retort but soon realises that Marta's words aren't so far-fetched. Maybe she should have put her grudge aside for the sake of saving Abel's life.
« Are you still there ? »
For the second time, Zoe fails to give a response. She just reached her floor and there's someone standing in front of her door...The sight of him makes all the hair stand on her body stand.
« I'm gonna have to call you back. »
She ends the call with her mother and walks toward her apartment. The closer she gets, the more shocked she becomes.
Abel is standing there like it hasn't been several weeks since she last heard of him. Zoe's entire body is shaking and her brother fails to meet her eyes.
