More Than A Captive

Debra could not sit and wait for the police to find Melanie. Debra could not stand still while her daughter got farther and farther away. But all the same, Debra was trapped, every lead turning up nothing. There was nothing to do but sit and home and wait. So she tore the house apart, searching for anything the kidnapper might have dropped, left behind with her. She even started rummaging through Melanie’s room. And that was when she found it.

It was locked up in a box. Sitting on top of the green folder, a large “A+” written in red at the top. The interview had been conducted by a gifted student taking a media elective. And on that sheet, reading one word at a time, Debra could hear her daughter’s voice again.

Q: If you had a free day with no responsibilities and your only mission was to enjoy yourself, what would you do?

Melanie: I would go somewhere amazing and take pictures. The park, the city, or maybe travel somewhere new. I’d love to go to other countries and start a photo album.

Q: What impression do you make on people when they first meet you? How about after they've known you for a while?

Melanie: Um, I don’t know. I mean, I hope they like me. I tend to be a little shy I guess. After knowing me awhile I think they’ll tolerate me.

Q: What's your idea of a good marriage? Do you think that'll happen in your life?

Melanie: I think my parents have a good marriage. They love each other and even when they’re mad at each other they’re still supportive. They’re a strong unit. I don’t know. Haven’t thought that far ahead.

Q: What are you most proud of about your life?

Melanie: Not sure.

Q: What are you most ashamed of in your life?

Melanie: I guess anytime I’ve been awful to my family or a friend. Sometimes my grades suck too.

Q: If you could spend the day with someone you admire (living or dead or imaginary), who would you pick?

Melanie: That’s easy. Timothy Hogan.

Q: Do you think you've turned out the way your parents expected?

Melanie: Probably. My dad likes to say I’m like my Mom, but “scarier.”

Q: Is there anything you've always wanted to do but haven't done? What would happen if you did it?

Melanie: Go on an adventure. Somewhere I’ve never been before. I think if I did I would probably learn a lot and maybe get a step closer to figuring out what I want to do with my life.

Q: What's the worst thing that's happened in your life? What did you learn from it?

Melanie: I got in a fight in school one time. Years ago. It wasn’t bad. We didn’t really hurt each other but… we just don’t do that in my family. I was in so much trouble. Oh, and I learned not to fight.

Q: What do you like best about yourself? Least?

Melanie: I like that I’m kind. I’ve figured out how to be nice to people, for the most part. I think that’s an important skill. My mom always says, it’s important to be smart, more important to be kind. My least favorite thing about myself is that I’m timid and sometimes I can still be a bitch. I try not to be.

Debra dropped the paper. The last three questions repeated in her mind like an alarm clock, and she turned the paper over. She thought about shredding it, but she had to keep it for Melanie.

Go on an adventure. I was in so much trouble. I can be a bitch. I try not to be.

Melanie wasn’t ready. She wasn’t ready for the world, and she certainly wasn’t ready for this. No one was, least of all her baby. Debra couldn’t believe she had ever scared her child—Couldn’t believe she ever yelled at her. She wasn’t scary; she was Mom. And how could Melanie ever say such a terrible thing about herself? Melanie wasn’t a bitch, and she did not deserve what was happening to her now.

Debra needed to bring Melanie back. Melanie had to come back to her yearning for adventure and her childish fears. Debra would trade anything to bring her daughter home and wipe her memory—Even her own life.