People, even more than things, have to be restored, renewed, revived, reclaimed, and redeemed. Never throw out anyone."–Audrey Hepburn
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Raymond arrived at the supermarket in less than five minutes and when Clara saw him she ran to his embrace letting all her tears out
"I can't find our Jessy Ray... I do t know what to do " Clara cried
"calm down dear we will find her but first let's check the CCTV camera.." Raymond said wiping the tears from the corner of her eyes
When the manager of the supermarket heard that an influential man was in their store he came down immediately to greet him
"Welcome Mr smith I'm the manager here, " the man said then he saw Raymond walking towards the control room
"It's great you're here... And you should pray that I find my daughter or else you can say goodbye to your store" Raymond declared coldly looking into the manager's eyes with a gaze which was enough to freeze his soul his eyes widened when he heard what Raymond said and his mind wandered to the complaint which he received an hour ago about a woman who was searching for her child he ignored it thinking that it was one of those poor women who was creating a scene so he asked the security to go back to work and ignore the the woman without knowing what he was getting himself into his eyes landed on Clara who was in Raymond's arms
"sir I don't know what you're talking about"the man lied making Raymond smirk coldly which immediately sent a chill running down the manager's spine
"do I look like I care.... your supermarket is going down not because my daughter isn't found yet but because you all ignored my crying wife that was a mistake you shouldn't have made" Raymond said
They went to the control room and asked them to play the CCTV footage
The footage showed when Clara left Jessy on the couch she sat there for a few minutes looking at her legs and when she turned her head to the right her eyes widened when she saw a golden blonde-haired man walking out of the supermarket
she said something as she got down from the couch and ran towards the man it seemed like she knew him...
The man walked like he didn't hear her calling and despite the lack of answer or response Jessy kept following the man until they were out of the market
Clara burst into tears again"It's all my fault Ray I shouldn't have left her alone there no I shouldn't have brought her to the mall I should have stayed at home and ordered what I wanted to but now Jessy is missing because of me..... How am I supposed to tell the children Ray I don't know what to do Ray they are gonna be so hurt and might even blame me..." Clara said with regret evident in her voice
"no dear it's not your fault," Raymond said trying to calm her down n
He brought her to sit down and after she had calmed down a little Raymond made a call
"yes boss," the voice said
"Solomon I need you to find someone. I'll send you her picture now and when you find her bring her back " Raymond said
"I just sent the picture " he added
"if you don't mind my asking...who is she, sir"Solomon asked
"she's my daughter now enough with the question search the whole of Newyork if you have to, "Raymond said through gritted teeth
"yes boss" Solomon said and hung up
Clara and Raymond went home together and at night the children came back happily just to see their mother crying in the arms of their father.... They became worried and rushed to the couple
"what's going on mum why are you crying"
when Clara heard the voice of her children she burst into tears it seemed like something heavy was placed on her chest ... She couldn't breathe and the words hung in her throat her breathing was haggard
"where is Jessy" Xavier asked noticing her absence and at the question Xavier asked their mom's cry seemed too intense... She cried to the point that Gift started crying... She was the most emotional among the siblings so seeing her mom cry she started crying
"Mum please don't cry... You're crying when you know that I'll cry too and I have to cry please" Gift said sitting beside her mom who was resting her head on her dad...
"yes Mum what's wrong, "Treasure asked
... They became so occupied with their mom's tears and didn't notice the lone tears which slid down Raymond's eyes
Alex quietly stood by the side with an observant gaze... He saw the tears which rolled down Raymond's eyes and sighed... He got what was going on
"Jessy is missing" Alex said and everyone turned to look at him
"how do you know that Alex... " gift said wiping her tears
Alex stood there for a while and walked towards his room he entered and slammed the door shut
"that was weird," Light said
"Alex is telling the truth " Raymond said and closed his eyes in pain
"huh... What do you mean missing" Xavier asked the same question Raymond asked hours ago
"Jessy is missing and it's all my fault" class cried they had never seen their mum cry so much before the time they saw her crying was when their grandma died three years ago
"This afternoon Jessy sat here alone drawing that dress on the table " Clara said pointing to the paper at the drawing table she sniffed and continued
"she seemed so lonely when I saw her there alone so I took her to the supermarket when I could have just ordered it I can still remember her smile when she asked me to get ice cream for you all on our way back home but we didn't make it back home together "class cried
Everyone looked at each other in shock... The shock was an understatement they were utterly stupified but they calmed themselves down when they saw the state of their mom... They calm her down assuring her that they would find her
The next few days were quiet... The children went to school... Came back... Eat...sleep was their routine ever since Jessy went missing they didn't even have the urge to do anything else and Light who can't stay a minute without television was in her room all along with the one friend and sister who she had fun talking to is no longer here and she felt lonely
Raymond hasn't gone to work since then... He stayed at home with his wife... Clara had been quiet and barely spoke a word
They had no idea until now how much Jessy meant to them... Her smile which always made them smile her cute caring attitude... After she went missing the house lost its loudness....
Alex was always in his room unless it was time to eat or go to school.
He remembered the blush which was on her cheeks when he saw her for the first time... Her gaze which was always on him... The way she followed him around screaming "Bwoda Awex" and right now... Although he might not show it he missed the little girl he sighed sadly...