Walking upstairs with the tray and flower in my mouth, I came to Maranders room and used my elbow to open the door. Although it was sunny outside the curtains were closed and it was fairly dark but you could still see quite well.

Friday 17th

Chapter one

I read the letter from beginning to the end without stopping. I skimmed through the letter once more before the rage and fury started to rise within me. I couldn’t let her go only she knew and only she was able to ruin me. I slowly closed the letter and pulled out a key which hung from my necklace. I opened the top draw on my right-hand side and took out a box underneath all the papers and letters and opened it with the gold key. Following by putting the letter sent from Marander in the box. I slammed the box shut when the room was burst into by John. My brother.

“Wilkinson, she’s gone… GONE!” He shouted.

“WHAT!” I said trying to sound surprised but already knew anyway.

“She said something to Lucy, her goodbyes and that’s it, then took off just like that.” John was unaware of the letter and was only worried and scared for his niece as an uncle should be.

I sat at the dining table with John. It was quiet. If I said I didn’t want to talk about it then I wasn’t going to talk about it. It was as simple as that. Lucy had obviously finished her crying and weeping because she was serving once again. Roast lamb, gravy, carrots, potatoes, Yorkshire pudding and parsnips. All laid out beautifully. However I wasn’t hungry. I knew I couldn’t concentrate until she was here. I got up.

“John I’m sorry you have to have dinner on your own, I have to find my daughter.” I said.

“Thank God! Here I am not hungry, sorry Lucy. I’ll help you.” Replied John.

“NO!” I shouted then calmed myself. “I didn’t mean that, I want to be on my own that is all.” I then left the room.

What was I going to do? If she told anyone I would be in jail for life although I could hire the best lawyer. No, that wasn’t going to help. An eyewitness meant a lot. Lucy came in to see if I was ok.

“Sir I thought I would bring dinner to you. I know how you’re feeling, but you have to eat.” She always talked so calmly and so softly spoken. She put down the tray on my oak table and was about to leave when I stopped her.

“Lucy what did she say when she left?” I asked curiously.

“Marander you mean sir? She said nothing of importance just her goodbyes.

I-I–I tried to stop her but she left. Really I tried my-“I cut her off she was stuttering and rambling and I didn’t like it.

“What did she say? I will ask you one more time.” I started to get angry.

“Sir I have told you, NOTHING! Now eat your dinner and I will be back to clean up soon.” And she left before I could say anything more. Lucy was my maid since I was five and out of the many years I had known her she was never the type to keep something important hidden. I knew she would tell me what Lucy said.

Chapter two

The more I thought about what I had done that day the more this weird feeling kept building up inside me. Guilt. I couldn’t do anything for the next couple of days. Not eat, sleep properly, or even worry about my missing daughter even though I was the reason she left. The scene kept running through my mind over and over again, I rested my head.

* * *

This is a preview of the whole essay

* * *

It was morning of Friday 17th May 1986. I woke up that day with the sun beaming down on my face. It was a lovely summer’s day. Marander was asleep in her room still because I knew as soon as she wakes up from her bed she would have come into our bedroom to lie with us. I turned around to see Joanne’s peaceful face which I loved to see every morning. When I turned around she was not there. She must have gone to Marander’s room I thought. I got up that day I remember feeling so happy with the life I had. A child, a lovely wife who I thought loved me, and a wonderful home and friends. Little did I know this feeling would soon be disrupted. I walked downstairs to make Marander and Joanne some breakfast in bed.

Walking upstairs with the tray and flower in my mouth, I came to Marander’s room and used my elbow to open the door. Although it was sunny outside the curtains were closed and it was fairly dark but you could still see quite well. I put down the tray on the table and spun around with a smile which soon faded when I saw there was nobody there. The bed was done neatly. It was then I realised her favourite dolly was nowhere to be seen. I frantically opened the cupboard and slammed it shut when I saw it was empty. I then ran to our room and looked and realized that all her clothes were gone too. Suddenly all these questions started to rush into my head. What was going on? Had she left? Why? Everything was so perfect? Maybe that’s why; it was all a little too perfect.

Chapter three

The thunder suddenly awoke me. It was raining outside. I walked down the corridor passing Marander's room on the left and walking further Johns room on the right. I walked slowly down the stairs thinking. If only I could find out where Marander went.

“Lucy I need to talk to you.” I said

“Yes sir of course” she replied

Her brown hair with few greys plaited so perfectly she tucked her spiral curly strand of hair behind her ears and looked up at me with her blue eyes. She still had the beauty she carried with her years ago.

“Come upstairs when you’re ready.” She looked at me suspiciously and agreed she would be up shortly.

I was sitting in my chair, the curtains drawn and the tray of uneaten food still remained on the chair Lucy left it. I waited several minutes for her to come and I was getting angry. Just at that moment she walked in and sat down. Throughout the time I was speaking all Lucy seemed to be doing was nodding her head and it annoyed me. It annoyed me a lot. She knew what happened, I knew it. Marander had told her.

“Are you listening to me?” I shouted.

“She is at Miss Henderson’s” She said calmly and got up giving me the most awful look. She was about to leave when she saw the tray.

“Too guilty to eat sir?” She said sarcastically. She then left and shut the door.

I was time to pay a visit to my sister, where Marander was. I told Jeffery to get ready to drive me up to Susan’s. It was a long journey. I got into the car and before I knew it my eyes filled with blackness.

* * *

I pulled up outside from where Joanne’s car was parked. It had been two weeks since I had seen her and Marander. When I got that phone call from Frank saying he saw the car remembering the number plate.

I looked at the house, I knew it from somewhere, I had been here once or twice but I couldn’t remember when or who it belonged to. Again the car parked in the drive was a common car I had seen day after day. It was a bright day and it was a Sunday so if Joanne was in Marander would most probably be here too because there was no school. I looked down so disappointed. What were they doing here? Maybe there was a reason for all this. I was thinking positively. It could be sorted out I thought. I sighed and undone my seat belt, when the front door opened. I looked suspiciously when my eyes widened and my heart fell so deep. It all made sense. Michael. My boss and my wife kissing goodbye.

I had goose bumps. I blinked as tear ran down my eye.

Chapter four

I woke up to the sound of Jeffery waking me up. I was here. I got out of the car and looked around at the countryside. The house enormous and looming over me, I walked up the drive and got to the front door. I raised my hand to knock on the door when suddenly it opened.

“Wilkinson… what are you doing here?” Susan shouted. My sister was always so polite.

“Nice to see you too, where is she? I know she is here and I’m not going until I see her!” I pushed her out the way and walked inside. I ran upstairs ignoring Susan cursing and screaming her head off. I opened the door. Empty. Then I tried another. I stopped so suddenly when I saw her slouched near the corner of the bed staring straight at me. I looked around then back at her.

“Marander listen… I am so sorry… I want you to come back… please.” I said. She smiled. “Want me to come back daddy? You must be kidding me?” She got up and looked at me. She raised her hand and slapped me across the face. The pain shot down through my neck and lasted for several minutes.

“You had better come round here to tell me your going away to pay for what you done!” She shouted at me and I just stood there. She looked so feeble and tired. I felt guiltier than ever for what I had put her trough. She couldn’t even look at me without giving a hideous look. I knew from then on I knew I had to pay.

She didn’t feel like talking anymore but I wasn’t going anywhere without her, so I slept over that night. It was very awkward because Susan and I hadn’t spoken in a long time and I and Marander had problems so I was in a place where I wasn’t wanted. Although this was all going on Susan was after all my sister and she let me stay the night. I sat in the spare room thinking about that day.

* * *

I couldn’t believe what I saw. My heart filled with rage and anger but most of all hatred. I punched the steering wheel as hard as I could, but nothing would make this feeling go away. I waited till Michael had gone, as I watched Joanne waved goodbye. However Marander was nowhere to be seen. I got out the car and put the keys into my pocket. I began to walk to the house. It felt hours getting there, thinking about what I was going to say. I rang the door bell and waited. Joanne opened the door smiling but that soon tuned washed away

“Wilkinson? What …I mean I’m so sorry I didn’t… plea-“Suddenly she tried to shut the door with all her strength but I had my foot there and I pushed on the other side straight away. She fell back as the door bust open. She looked up at me horrified.

“What do you want?” she cried, she watched me as I walked around and found myself in the front room. I sat down.

“So my boss eh? How could you do this to me? We had everything going for us, what did getting married mean to you?” I said desperately wanting an answer.

“It wasn’t like that-“She replied, not what I hoped for so I cut her off.

“What do you mean it wasn’t like that? How long has it been going on? Joanne…you ran away from me…and you took Marander with you!” I shouted, I got up and walked around brushing my hair back with my hand.

“look, I know it was wrong to do that but I didn’t think you would understand and I thought you would take her away from me, and I only found out he was your boss later on then I knew I could not tell you because I knew how angry and upset you would be.”

“Oh thank you! Thank you very much, so you thought dragging me along would be better, If you had any heart you would have told me instead of lying for god knows how long!” The more I looked at her face and heard her talking like nothing was wrong cheating on someone the more I hated her and wanted revenge.

As Joanne was talking I could here noises upstairs but I chose to ignore them as I was too busy yelling at her. Then I saw her. Marander stood there still and quiet. She just stared at me. I missed her so much.

Joanna looked at me and told Marander to go upstairs.

“NO!” I shouted, how dare she say that as I was sum sort of stranger. She had just crossed the line. I walked up to Marander when I was pulled back. I spun round.

“Leave her alone…don’t you dare touch her, do you here me!”

I was furious. First she cheats on me with my boss then she runs away with my daughter now she won’t even let me talk my own Marander. How dare she!

I pushed her away as I tried a second time to talk.

“Get off me!” I screamed, but she got up.

“Get out of my house NOW!!!” She realized what she had said.

“Your house is it now huh?” I was so disappointed. “She is coming with me.” I grabbed Marander’s hand and walked outside when I felt such a sharp pain on my head going through my neck and reaching my spine. I let go of Marander and rubbed my head screaming OW. I then fell to the floor but was still conscious. She smashes a glass over my head. Joanne tried to escape but I pulled her by the ankle and pulled as hard as I could.

She fell and hit her head. She looked at me. She then tuned her head as something else had her attention. I looked over. Oh no, my keys they fell out of my pocket. She grabbed them but I tried to beat her to it but failed. She lifted her hand trying to cut me but I had a grip on her hand and twisted it so it was facing her.

“Please, I beg you don’t Marander is there take her I don’t care, just please don’t!” She cried for mercy as I let her hand go. We got up. I turned around to dust myself off and went over to get Marander, when she called me back. She went in the house and returned a few minutes later.

“Please let me say goodbye and hug her…please!” she said. I stupidly agreed. She called over Marander and hugged her when she looked at me. She pulled Marander behind her and ran up to the car. I clenched my fists and chased her. Now I was really angry she fooled me once again. I pushed her against the car door putting my arm around her neck. Marander called my name when I lost concentration I loosened my grip and she bit my arm. Unexpectedly she pulled out a knife, her face as scared as I was. She aggressively cut my face with her key. This certainly was a side I had never seen before out of the years we had been married. I backed away feeling for blood. I felt dizzy. I looked at her. Form then on I completely lost control I grabbed the knife from her hand and stabbed her with it. I looked, disgusted with what I had done. She looked up at me and her hand shaking she fell to the ground, this time her whole body shaking. I began to cry out loud, I dropped to my knees. Marander just looked at me. I always remembered that look.

Chapter six

As I lay down on my bed I started to realize that even though I was in the wrong I still felt sorry for myself. How could a child see their mother being murdered by their father at the age of five? I made her life a misery. She had lost a big part of her life. A mum. And if I didn’t do the right thing I was going to lose the biggest part of my life. My daughter. If I didn’t do my duty this dark shadow would haunt me forever.

* * *

Now I sit here writing this story. The grey walls surrounding me, the dreadful meals I get, awful sleep and regular beatings from others doing time. I had so much regret in me. If this is what it takes to have my daughter back, I was going to do it. All for the day of Friday 17th.

The end