The next day at work was spent watching the clock, wanting to head home to see the next entry in the journal. Racing home, I found the house empty but didn’t question where my parents had gone. Heading up the stairs, I tore off the necktie and threw down the sport coat that I’d been wearing. Heading for the closet, I pulled the journal down from the shelf and proceeded to the next entry.

“August 23 – All is quiet, and we cannot help but wonder why our father has not approached us again about our choice of husbands for marriage. We have not heard from our young man either...