Missing

This can't be happening. Think, dammit, think. Where was the last place I saw it? The desk? Maybe my bookbag? God, this can't... I glanced at the clock. Only five minutes until I had to catch my ride to school. Dammit! Why hadn't I made sure it was here last night? Wait, hadn't I? It should have been right here, right? Right on the desk?

I leaned down and peered between the desk and the wall for the third time, sneezing at the accumulated dust. It was too dark back there and the desk was way too heavy to move on my own. Was there enough space there for the whole report?It looked to thin for the whole stack but if it had fallen just right...

Dammit. Four minutes. Way too short to print the whole thing again. Mr. Kendall was not forgiving about this sort of thing. It didn't matter what my excuse was. Could I print it at school? I could put it on USB and... no, wait. The library printer had been broken for a week. All the teachers had been complaining about it.

Three minutes. I could call in sick, last minute, maybe. Mr. Kendall couldn't dock points if I wasn't there that day, right? Even if he did, it would be better than taking a zero if I didn't have it. I went through my head for excused. Way too early in the month for cramps. Stomach virus? Those could come on fast, right?

“Layla!” Mom called from downstairs. “You're ride's here!”

Early, for once! Today of all days. Of course. I practiced my stumbling walk as I moped my way downstairs, ready for my performance.

“Layla! Layla!” Sasha, my kid sister, called as I approached the stairs. “Look what I did!”

She was holding out a stack of papers. It took me a second to register what it was. Gasping, I ran to her and snatched it out of her hand.

“Why did you take this, you brat?” I shouted. “I've been looking all over for it!” I immediately regretted my harsh words as Sasha's eyes widened and reddened.

“I-I just... thought since it was on flowers... you'd just like it to be pretty,” Sasha said, pointing to the cover.

Right next to the title was a bright pink sticker of a rose, no doubt taken from Sasha's prized collection. I chuckled and attempted a smile.

“It's alright, kiddo,” I said. “It's beautiful.”