We put the posters up everywhere.

Missing: Sarah Lee

Have you seen this girl? If so please contact… blah blah blah.

You’ve seen them before.

That was about 5 days ago and she’s still not back. At first I told mum that she’d just run off like teens do sometimes and maybe she’s staying at a friends house. We contacted every friend of hers we knew.

Every. Single. One. None of them had seen her. She didn’t have a boyfriend, I knew that. She would’ve told me otherwise.

On the 3rd day the police searched our house for any clues. Mum was so paranoid I swear she could’ve exploded.

They found nothing.

Nothing.

On the 4th day mum started drinking more. I think she was more worried than anything else. I kept checking my phone and trying to text Sarah but there was never a reply.

Until…

‘Who is this?’

I pause. She answered!

•it’s me, Libby. Your sister. Where are you?

‘Sister?’

‘I don’t have a sister.’

•don’t joke. Mums worried sick. Sarah please come home.

‘I don’t know where home is.’

‘I can’t remember who you are.’

•what? Okay, just describe where you are.

‘A forest. There’s a tree swing that I remember going on with a girl and I fell and broke my arm. She got me chocolate every day until I got better.’

•that was me! Libby.

•I’m coming to get you.

‘Okay.’

I run downstairs to mum and tell her about the texts before sprinting out the door faster than ever before. I didn’t even know I could run this fast. I make it to the forest and run through it shouting Sarah’s name. I make it to the swing we put up with our dad years ago and she’s there swinging on it.

She turns to face me and she’s covered in scratches most likely from the trees. She recognises me, I can tell. I take her home and mum hugs her tightly while crying uncontrollably. I call an ambulance to check she’s okay.

Turns out she’s got dementia. I thought they were lying. She’s only 30, how could she possibly have dementia now? Me and mum visit as regularly as possible to make sure we don’t slip out of her memory again. I feel awful every time I see her like it’s my fault she can’t remember things properly anymore.

Sarah puts her hand on my cheek and smiles.

“Thank you for being my big sister even if I sometimes forget you.”