A Night To Remember

SALLY

I just ended an hour and forty-five seconds call with Dad and Morgan. I can't help but smile broadly as I recall her chatty voice.

Morgan is the result of the one-night wild party I attended thirteen years ago. I threw my phone into my bag as I got into my old convertible, a second-hand model.

I cranked the engine, and it gave one loud, smoky sound before finally gliding down the dusty path. My life in the past thirteen years has been nothing short of goodness. After Morgan's birth, I moved to the bustling city to get started in life.

My little earnings from my job as a clerical staff in one of the prestigious companies in New York have been able to make life comfortable for my father, Morgan, Leslie, and me as well.

A soft beep sound drew my gaze to the dashboard. I was running low on gas and if I don't get a refill, I'll be stuck.

"Shoot!!!" I exclaimed through my teeth when the car started acting up. Luckily, I caught sight of a gas station a few meters away. Sucking in a breath and praying inwardly that the car doesn't stop running, I pedal towards the station. The car breaks down just at the entrance of the station.

I released a soft exhale and lowered my head on the steering wheel. I took some money from my purse, picked a can from the back seat, and jogged down to get some gas.

All done.

My gas tank is filled and I'm ready to continue my journey. It's the weekend, and I always spend the weekend with Dad and Morgan. Leslie comes home only on Sundays.

I decided to pull over at a mall and get some chocolate bars for Morgan and also a bottle of liquor for Dad.

"Good evening," I flashed a smile at the pretty, dark woman sitting behind the counter. She flashes a sweet smile in return.

Her eyes skate through the items I've got, and then she names the bills.

"That would cost €30," She smiles and I nod while digging through my bag for money.

I paid up and I made my way out. My phone chimed in my back pockets, almost startling me. I reached out for it.

My brows furrowed in curiosity, seeing 'Papa', a name which I have used to save Dad's contact.

Why was he calling again?

I just ended a call with him an hour ago, what could be so urgent. I wondered as the ringtone died down and the call ended.

The phone rang again as soon as the first call ended. This time around, I flew out of my skin cos it startled me.

The phone almost slipped off my fingers. My heartbeat accelerated tremendously as I struggled to catch my breath. I stared at the caller ID, It was Dad again.

"Get your shit out of the road!!!" A mad driver hollered aggressively at me. I didn't realize that I had gone into the road without looking. I was all lost in thoughts as I needed to cross over to the other side to get to my car.

I quickly muttered an apology which the driver didn't hear.

"What's up, Dad?" I answer the phone in a panicked tone. First, I hear unsteady breaths from the other end as though he was struggling to get something off his chest.

"Dad, What is going on?" The silence from the other end confirmed my fears. Something is up.

"Morgan.... I can't find Morgan," He finally responded. His voice was thicker and heavier. Things spun quickly around me as the news hit.

I felt a nauseous wave course through my whole body as my hands trembled.

"H... How is that possible? Where is Morgan, Dad?" I almost half-yelled.

My Dad starts sobbing, "I can't find Morgan. She left the house to go catch butterflies. It's past nine PM and she isn't back."

My ears twitched. Morgan doesn't stay out late. She always returns before 7pm whenever she goes for a butterfly hunt. Morgan's passionate love for butterflies is so extreme. I tried hard to keep my breath steady as I gave a short reply, "I'll be right there, Dad."

I hung up. The engines revved up and I quickly sped off. I drove at the highest speed. I felt fear and panic coursing through me as I drove down to the outskirts where my father lived with Morgan.

Immediately, I turned off the engine. I ran all the way to the doorway.

"Dad!!" I shrieked in fear and trudged into the house. My Dad sat on the old cushion looking all drenched and shriveled.

My heart crashed.

He lifted his head slowly. Tears welled up in my eyes when I saw his sunken eyes. His face is tear-stained and drained.

"It is 9:54 Pm. Morgan isn't back," he spoke calmly but in a distressed tone. Lost for words, I drew him to an embrace as I let my own tears flow freely.

"We will find her, Dad."

"What if some wild beasts have..."

I couldn't let him complete his words. I placed my trembling hands over his mouth.

"Morgan is fine and safe, Dad," I spoke to him, reassuring him even when I was feeling unsure.

I was able to soothe my father and he was soon sleeping away. Although his face was still stained and pale. I pulled my phone out in an attempt to put a call across to the cops.

I hesitated at first because they would always insist that it lasted up to 24 hours before I could file a case. I let out a sigh as I paced about, allowing my gaze to stray off to the wall clock at times.

10: 15 pm. My chest rose heavily and I was soon losing my assurance.

I decided to step out and maybe call out to her. As soon as I stepped outside the house, a cool rushing wind slapped my skin hard. I shivered.

Morgan was out there in the cold without a hoodie or an overall.

Oh, the heavens keep her safe. I mumbled, placing my hands on my chest as I walked into the dark. I uttered silent prayers for her safety.

My lips had parted slightly, and I was about to yell out her name when I made out the figure of a tiny silhouette running towards me. Fear had its tight grip on me as I clutched my hands tightly.

I could hear loud pants as the image was only a few distance away from me. My feet stood still at a spot as my chest rose heavily.

The figure stopped running, bent over, and gasped unsteadily.

"M...M...Morgan?!" I stuttered. My eyes twitched as I tried to decipher the figure before me. Its features fit the features of Morgan.

Thin, long athletic legs, short brown hair, and quite a thin body frame. My heart leaped for joy. It was her.

"Sally!!" She says, maybe out of excitement, and ran into my arms, which were now flying and calling for her tiny form.

The thick scent of wood emanating from her hair hit my nostrils. Her thick cotton shirt had prickly twigs on it. Her hair looked disheveled with dry leaves on them.

"Oh, thank heavens!" I whispered as I caressed her hair making the leaves fall off bit by bit.

"Sally, there is a man in the woods!!" She said as soon as she caught her breath. Her eyes widened with terrifying fear.

"A man?"

"He is in a bad condition and could lose his breath.... We need to save him, Sally," She said, her gaze piercing into mine. She took my hands into hers. Her soft tiny hands held mine gently. Her gaze was so sincere and warm that I struggled to resist.

"Morgan....."

"Please, don't say no," She whined, throwing her hands around my neck.