Last Thursday, a girl called Rebecca Watts went missing. To all intents and purposes, it's just another story of another missing person- albeit a teenager, but still just another missing person. It happens all the time. However, for myself and countless other people that I know, this is different. Rebecca Watts lives in Bristol. Not just in Bristol; very close to where I live. Though I don't know her, I know people who do. Chances are that I've walked past her at some point in the last few years. Of course, we are all hoping that she is found safe and well soon, but with recent happenings in our area (there have been several worrying and
suspicious followings and the like), it's all too easy to take a
negative view, to believe that the worst may have happened. I cannot imagine what Becky's family must be going through, nor what could be going on for her. She's been gone a week, and the only thing her family can do is search, hope and wait.
Geographically, this is incredibly close to home- and it hurts. This isn't some story we can brush off because it doesn't affect us. This is searches going on in our area, this is one of the places I call safety being featured in the news. It's terrifying, and I can't stop thinking about it. It makes me want to hold everyone I love, and to pull them as close as possible. Becky, and your family, my thoughts are so with you at the moment. I hope you know that there is a whole community behind you, hoping and praying for you.
