The porch light was dim as I wandered aimlessly down my cobbled driveway. An envelope of stars, glittering like fireflies, enclosed the cold autumn air around me. The stars seemed to blind me with a warm, comforting glow.

I slotted my key into the door, draped my coat over the banister and gently pulled off my fluffy brown boots. Slipping a loose strand of chestnut brown hair behind my ear, I made my way to the kitchen. A pot of freshly poured hot coffee seemed to be calling my name already.

“Would you put a pot of coffee on for me, Mummy?” I called out, careful not to slip in my fuzzy socks.

As I reached the doorway, Mum stayed silent.

“Mum?!” I murmured, taking in the empty kitchen scene.

Every day Mum got home from work at exactly 6.24pm, after her daily dose of chocolate croissant from the bakery and quick small talk with the paper boy. There was no note on the fridge, no indication she had been home at all. I picked up my phone from the kitchen counter. There was no need to scroll and find her on my contacts, she was always top of the list.

The irritating melody of my ringtone made the wait feel effortlessly longer. I felt strangely nervous, although there was of course nothing wrong. Nothing worth worrying about ever happened in my little town.

But my mothers voice made my stomach drop as soon as the sound began to slither into my ears.

“Oh, baby… I’m so sorry!” Her voice was a whisper but even at that volume I could sense her despair.

“Mummy? What’s going on?”

A burst of shrieks echoed through the empty kitchen. My mothers cries.

“Eloise… Nora’s gone.”