Emily Carter sat cross-legged on her bed, flipping through an old photo album. Each page was filled with memories of her and Ashley—birthdays, vacations, silly moments captured on camera. As she turned the pages, her heart ached with a bittersweet mixture of joy and sorrow. Ashley had always been more than just a little sister to her; she was her best friend.

There was a five-year age gap between them—Emily, now 21, had always been the protective older sister, while 16-year-old Ashley was the spirited and lively one. But that gap had never kept them apart. They were as close as sisters could be, sharing secrets, dreams, and endless laughter.

Emily’s eyes lingered on a picture from last summer: the two of them at the beach, Ashley’s arm wrapped around her waist, both of them grinning at the camera. It was hard to believe that just a few months later, everything had changed.

A soft knock on her door broke her reverie. She looked up to see her older brother, Jake, standing in the doorway. At 25, Jake had always been the rock of their family, dependable and protective, especially of his sisters. His expression was a mixture of concern and understanding as he stepped into the room.

“Hey, Em,” he said softly, sitting down next to her on the bed. “How are you holding up?”

Emily shrugged, closing the album and placing it on her lap. “I’m okay, I guess. It’s just… hard, you know?”

Jake nodded, his gaze drifting to the photo album. “I know. I miss her too. Every day.”

There was a long silence as they both stared at the pictures, lost in their own memories of Ashley. Despite the pain of her absence, there was comfort in knowing they shared the same grief, the same longing to have her back.

“Do you remember the time we tried to teach Ashley how to ride a bike?” Jake asked suddenly, a small smile tugging at the corner of his mouth.

Emily laughed, the memory brightening her mood. “Yeah, she kept crashing into the bushes because she refused to use the brakes. She was so determined to get it right.”

“She always was stubborn,” Jake added, his smile fading slightly. “But she never gave up. Just like you.”

Emily glanced at her brother, feeling the weight of his words. Jake had always seen that same determination in her, and it was something they had both admired in Ashley. It was that same stubbornness that had driven Emily to pursue journalism, to chase down stories with the same relentless energy Ashley had shown in everything she did.

“I just wish I could’ve protected her,” Emily said, her voice trembling. “She was so young, Jake. She didn’t deserve this.”

Jake placed a comforting hand on her shoulder. “None of this is your fault, Em. We both did everything we could to keep her safe. But sometimes, things happen that we can’t control.”

Emily nodded, though the guilt still gnawed at her. She had always been the one to look out for Ashley, to guide her through the challenges of growing up. But when Ashley had needed her the most, she hadn’t been there.

“I just wish I could’ve done more,” she whispered.

Jake squeezed her shoulder gently. “You did more than enough. Ashley knew how much you loved her. We both did. And now, we have to honor her memory by finding out what happened to her.”

Emily swallowed hard, feeling the familiar surge of determination that had been building inside her ever since Ashley went missing. She couldn’t let her sister’s disappearance be just another unsolved case, another tragedy lost to time. She had to do something.

“I’m going to find out what happened to her, Jake,” Emily said, her voice steady with resolve. “I don’t care what it takes—I’m going to make sure whoever did this pays.”

Jake looked at her, his expression a mix of pride and concern. “I know you will. Just promise me you’ll be careful, okay? I can’t lose you too.”

Emily nodded, a fierce determination in her eyes. “I promise.”

As they sat together in the quiet room, Emily felt a renewed sense of purpose. She wasn’t just doing this for herself—she was doing it for Ashley, for the sister who had been her best friend, her confidante, and her biggest supporter. And with Jake by her side, she knew she wouldn’t be alone in her quest for justice.