A Good Life
I always thought my life was pretty ordinary. Growing up in a small suburban town, my days were filled with school, video games, and the occasional weekend soccer match. My mom ran a beauty salon that was the heart of our community and everyone knew her. She had a way of making people feel beautiful and in a small town like mine, her doing that made her a treasure and a public figure in the community.
However, at this point, I'd have never known that there was a world I had no idea existed, one that would shatter my perception of family and trust like never before.
Mom's Helper
It all started on a bright Saturday morning. I was lounging on the couch, my eyes glued to the TV screen, when my mom burst into the living room. “Tom, honey, I need your help at the salon today,” she said, her voice cheerful but tinged with an urgency I couldn’t quite place. I reluctantly agreed, thinking it was just another day of folding towels and sweeping floors. I didn't like hanging out at the salon because my friends made fun of me at school about always hanging out at the saloon.
After all, I was becoming a man and I needed to do something manlier to prove to my friends that l was more than just the saloon boy. Clouded by my thoughts, I didn’t know that this day would be the beginning of my descent into a dark reality and webs of lies.
Strangers
As I arrived at the salon, the familiar scent of shampoo and hairspray shadowed the room. My mom was busy with a client in no time, and she pointed out for me to get the broom and start working the floor as she had instructed me to do before coming here.
I noticed a few unfamiliar faces lingering around, women with exotic features and nervous smiles. They seemed out of place, their eyes darting around as though they were waiting for something. I shrugged it off as just a busy day, but a nagging feeling settled in my gut.
Investigations
Weeks passed, and the strange women continued to visit the salon. I overheard snippets of conversations where words like “travel” and “opportunity” floated through the air. My mum was always enthusiastic, promoting a new line of products and services so this was probably it. Somehow though, I couldn’t shake the feeling that there was something more to her excitement.
I began to do a little digging, asking my friends and our neighbors about these women. None of them knew anything, so I decided to let it go and move on from it.
Growing Up
Days became weeks, and weeks quickly became months, and soon enough, years went by. I moved out of my parent’s house and opened a gadget shop in a nearby neighborhood. This was much to my parent’s disdain as they wanted me to go to school and further my education while they could afford it.
I, however, wanted a different path for myself. I wanted to be a business owner, just like my mom and I was convinced that in due time, I would even surpass her success. My parents ended up just accepting it and everything seemed great for a while. Well, that's until the unexpected message from my father.
Affection?
One night I received a text from my father at 1:30 am. All it said was “I love you.” My heart sank. My family is not affectionate and doesn't say “I love you,” so I knew something was wrong. I called to see if he was okay. No answer.
I immediately tore off to my dad’s place. I found my dad talking to a police officer and my mum nowhere around. What I heard next had my head spinning around in circles.
Tough To Swallow
The police officer turned to me, his expression serious. “Tom, do you know where your mother is?” I shook my head, panic rising within me. “We’re investigating a case involving human trafficking, and your mother is a person of interest.” My world tilted on its axis.
I could hardly process what he was saying. My mom? The kind-hearted woman who made everyone feel beautiful? How could she be involved in something so horrific?
Confusion Galore
I demanded answers. The officer led me to a nearby bench where I could sit and gather my thoughts. My mind raced with questions. Had I been blind to the signs all along? Those women at the salon all those years back were not victims were they? And what about my father? Why was he involved in this mess?
As I sat there, I realized I needed to confront my mother. There had to be an explanation, a reason behind this madness, and I was determined to uncover it.
Emptiness
The next day, I returned to the salon, which now felt like a haunted house. The familiar sounds of hairdryers and laughter were replaced by an eerie silence. The chairs were empty, and the mirrors reflected my shocked expression. I don’t even know why I went there as though the room would answer all the questions that I had, but I still did because everything seemed unfathomable at that point.
Part of me hoped that I'd find my mother here and that she would clear everything up for everyone. All of this would have just been a mistake, and our lives would go back to normal.
Wanted
The weeks that followed our lives became even more hard as the police were in search of my mom yet there seemed to be no trace of her anywhere. All my calls, movements, and even mail were constantly being looked at by police officers. The neighborhood that was once a warm blanket became a strange city full of people who hated my family.
For months, the news stations kept broadcasting pictures of my mom, explaining how there were several rewards to someone who could provide information leading to her arrest, but there never was, and it ended up all just dying down. No one has ever seen my mother since, not even her very own husband.