The Number On My Hearth

Hi! My name is Akaido. When I was little, around eight or seven years old, I had my best friend named Ella. Ella was a young, pretty, and positive girl. She would always be by my side. Until one last day…

“Hi, Ella! Do you want to play catch?” I said. With tears falling down her cheek, Ella said, “I would love to, but, Akaido… I need to go.”

At that time, I didn’t understand anything. I was confused but waved her goodbye, thinking I would see her again. She walked up to me, gave me a book, and left. I was young, so I couldn’t read books that were either too long or had too many words without pictures. I went home and put the book on the upper shelf of my bookcase.

Did I know it was my last time seeing… Ella?

Years later, I, Akaido, am fourteen years old. Now, I don’t really like reading. I actually hate it. I only read a book if I’m doing a worksheet for school or if the book “has a special meaning to me.” Now, I’m sitting on my couch, thinking about what to do. My mother suddenly comes into my room and yells, “Ah, Akaido! Why won’t you do anything your teacher asks for? I just came back from the parents’ meeting, and even the P.E. coach is telling me you should read books! Just go and pick a book from your bookshelf. I better not catch you doing anything other than reading!”

I calmly waited for my mother to leave my room, and then I shut the door. I walk up to my shelf and start staring at the books. The lower ones are just from preschool; who would read them? Not me. And then it hit me! Ella! She gave me a book! Maybe there is something that can help me find Ella? I desperately began searching for the book. And there I found it!

When I opened the 120th page of the book, I saw a phone number that was handwritten.

Maybe I should call the number…?

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