August's End

Two Harbors— a sleepy little tourist town just a half an hour shoreline drive from Duluth, Minnesota, on the Vermillion Iron Range. Famous for their little restaurant, or their pies to be more specific. The big chicken statue you see once you hit town has been stolen by college kids more times than the township would like to admit. The history of the town is riddled with old railroad stories and a proud title of being the state's first iron ore port.

Here is where Lou grew up with her family. After senior year, Lou left the quiet harbors for the city. She could feel the quiet resentment from her mother throughout freshman year at University of Minnesota Duluth. Her mother wanted Lou to live at home— save a bit of money. But Lou left anyways and at the end of the school year endured an awkward summer with her family.

Despite this, Lou was in no rush to get back to the school. Freshman year hit her hard, and she resented most of her professors. But August crept around and Lou could feel her anxiety rise as the temperature dropped. She had forgotten about her summer project for her journalism class, the first class she thought she'd enjoy.

Lou woke up early in the morning in time to catch her mother making breakfast for her father. "Mom,"

"Louise, good morning... did you sleep alright? You're up so early!" her mother doted as she pulled Lou's lengthy brown sugared hair back into a ponytail.

"I slept fine," Lou ran her fingers through her hair, shaking it back down. "Mom, I have to go back to school soon. I forgot about this summer project for my class and it's due first day of school... I hope you understand. To be honest, I don't wanna go back early. But I gotta get this done, mama."

Lou's mother, Helen, leaned against the kitchen counter and massaged her sternum as she looked over her daughter with brows drawn together. "Sweetheart, why did you wait until the last minute? I don't even remember you talking to me about this summer project. Why don't you live at home this year? Your sister wouldn't be so bored, and we could use the help around the house."

"Helen," Lou's father came into the dining room and made a beeline for the coffee machine. "She needs to grow up sometime. Let her be. She needs to start acting like a grown woman."

"Dad..."

"She's not even 21 years old yet, Louis. It scares me to think of her living downtown with all of that underaged drinking. Girls going missing every year."

"Mom. I'm fine. I know what to do if I ever find myself in a rough situation. Besides, I never go anywhere by myself." At this, Lou left the table to go change for work. Lou remembered that she hadn't texted her roommates for weeks. She sent a text, a simple "heyyy" to each of them before going about her day.

After a week passed, Lou was set to go back to Duluth. She had told her roommate, Sammy, that she was going to the apartment early. Sammy had vowed to try to be there around the same time as her. Though Lou found it strange that she never heard back from Claudia. No matter what Lou messaged her on, Claudia hadn't even read any of her messages.

"have you heard from Claudia?" Lou texted Sammy.

"Nah last time we spoke was last month tbh" Sammy replied.

"she hasn't even read anything I sent her... can you try texting her?"

"Yea" Sammy said. "she's prolly just getting in the hot summer parties before transitioning into the school parties lol" followed by a few risque emojis.

Lou laughed, and figured Sammy was most likely correct on her assumption. Claudia was always looking for harmless trouble.

Lou made the drive along Lake Superior's shore regularly, yet the sun seemed to gleam onto the water a bit more today. The trees seemed more green, the air smelled sweeter. She was excited to get back to the big city where she could be her own person with no restraints.

As enchanting as Lake Superior looked, Lou was always fearful of its appearance. The lake appeared to be higher than the land itself, and if the earth would ever quake (though Lou knew earthquakes aren't a reality in Minnesota,) the massive lake would spill into the land and envelop the forested hills of the Duluth area.

As she came into the Duluth neighborhoods nestled in the hills, Lou decided she would call Sammy to let her know of her arrival. "Hey, Sammy," She swerved around an older couple, obviously tourists, as they pulled to the curb to argue. "I just hit Duluth, I'll be at the apartment in about 15 minutes."

"Yoooo, Lou! I've literally been here for a day waiting for you, you bitch! Hurry up, I miss your scrawny ass." Sammy cried.

Lou was a bit surprised. Surprised at Sammy's street talk, and surprised that she almost forgotten that Sammy was an amazingly confident black woman. Sammy was definitely the head of the household, and Lou instantly remembered why. "I miss you too, boo! I'm definitely speeding, so I'm blaming you if I get lit up and walk in with a ticket."

Sammy and Lou laughed for a moment until a creeping anxiety compressed her lungs. "So, Sammy..."

"Wassup?"

"You..." Lou inhaled deeply. "You haven't heard from Claudia at all, have you?"

A pause.

"No, I texted, messaged, and snapped her. She hasn't even opened any of 'em... I'm sure she's alright though. All those nights out caught up to her, if ya know what I'm sayin'."

Lou didn't laugh with her this time. She felt uneasy about Claudia's absence. But she tried to rationalize it— explain it away. "Okay, Sammy. Well, thanks for trying. I'll be there soon."