His phone was gone.

There was no note, no message, and nothing obvious to show that he had planned to leave.

Police took the information, checked the available leads, and continued searching.

Friends were questioned.

Flyers went up in windows and on boards.

I answered the same questions until I could predict the next one before it was asked.

What was he wearing?

Dark green coat.

Had there been an argument?

Yes.

Had he spoken about leaving?

Not in a way I had understood as a plan.

I learned how terrible it could feel to give a true answer when I could not say whether it mattered.

For months, I followed leads.