Local Woman Missing
Today’s post is based on a writing prompt I shared in a previous Daily Drafts & Dialogues post: Missing Woman. Keep reading to see what I wrote, and to access more writing prompts.
What I wrote below is based on the following writing prompt: Write an informative piece regarding a woman who has gone missing, either real or imagined.
Local Woman Missing
Today, residents of the secluded Willow Creek suburb are feeling uneasy after the mysterious disappearance of Fiona Simmons, a longtime Parent-Teacher Association leader and valued member of the community, who was last seen earlier this week.
Simmons, 47, was reported missing Tuesday evening after failing to return home from her usual afternoon jog on the wooded trail that runs behind her property and outlines the northwest portion of Willow Creek. According to authorities, she left her house shortly after 4:00 PM, dressed in running clothes, and has not been seen since.
Concern first arose when a neighbor, who wants to remain anonymous, noticed what they described as “unusual activity” at the Simmons residence later that evening. According to several reports, the neighbor contacted Fiona’s husband, Derek Simmons, who was out of state on a business trip at the time. Alarmed by the call and unable to reach his wife, Derek contacted local law enforcement, prompting a welfare check and the eventual missing persons report.
Police have not disclosed specific details about what the neighbor observed, only confirming that it was “strange and disturbing enough” to raise concern. Investigators spent several hours at the Simmons home Tuesday night and have since expanded their search to include the surrounding wooded areas and jogging paths nearby.
“This is an active and ongoing investigation,” said a spokesperson for the local police department early on Wednesday morning. “We are following every single lead that comes our way and urge anyone who may have seen or interacted with Ms. Simmons in the last forty-eight to seventy-two hours to come forward. We are also urging those who could have seen anything, or anyone, unusual in the area over the past two to three weeks to come forward.”
Neighbors describe Fiona Simmons as an outgoing, conscientious, and deeply involved mother of three who recently became an empty nester after her youngest left for college earlier this year. As of late, Simmons was often seen walking her tan labradoodle, Rick, and chatting with neighbors about their lawns and gardens, and frequenting the local farmer’s market on weekends. She also started co-hosting the neighborhood’s well-known If it Bleeds, We Read book club.
“She just lights up every room,” said one neighbor, Liza Smith. “You always knew when Fiona was around because things felt a little brighter, and a hell of a lot more organized.”
“Our book club became so much more interesting after she started co-leading it, that’s for sure,” another neighbor, Katie West said.
Several of Simmons’s close friends, many of whom met through local school events and Willow Creek activities, echoed similar sentiments. However, some also noted subtle changes in her demeanor in recent weeks.
“She seemed a little off lately,” one friend, Carol Reeves, shared. “Not dramatically different, just… I don’t know, distracted, maybe. More reserved than usual. I remember asking if everything was okay, but she just brushed me off.”
Another friend, who wants to remain anonymous, recalled Fiona canceling a planned celebratory brunch at her own home the morning of her disappearance, something they said was completely out of character for her. “Fiona said she had to cancel because she forgot to buy the eggs for the brunch. The eggs! She didn’t even sound sorry. Then she said she needed some time to herself, which is so not like her. She may not always be the life of the party, not exactly, but she is typically the one organizing it, down to every last detail, you know? We were really counting on her.”
Authorities have yet to indicate whether any of the observations are connected to Simmons’s disappearance but have confirmed they are still speaking with friends, family, and neighbors to build a clearer picture of Fiona’s recent activities and state of mind.
Search teams, which include volunteers from the community, have been combing the trail system outlining Willow Creek, concentrating their search in its wooded areas, since Wednesday morning. So far, no missing personal belongings or signs of struggle have been publicly reported, but neither have any signs indicating that Fiona Simmons left the area willingly or had planned to do so at any point.
Derek Simmons returned home late Tuesday night and has been cooperating with investigators. In a brief statement released through the police department, he urged anyone with information to come forward.
“Our family is desperate for answers,” the statement read. “Fiona is a loving wife and mother, and we just want her home safely.”
As the search continues, an air of tension lingers over Willow Creek. Porch lights are being left on overnight, neighbors are checking in on one another more frequently, and this week’s PTA and If it Bleeds, We Read book club meetings have been canceled, as all hands are on deck in the search for Fiona Simmons.
For now, the trail behind the Simmons home, once a familiar and peaceful place for Fiona and other members of Willow Creek to frequent, has become central to a growing mystery that is winding its way through and around a community that is hoping for the best yet beginning to fear the unknown.
If you have any helpful information regarding Fiona Simmons’s disappearance, please call 1-800-FIND-HER as soon as possible.
COMMUNITY COMMENTS
BeckyD125: This is so tragic! Her kids went to school with my niece. Praying she’s found safe 🙏
Carol_Anne: Email willowcreeksearchfiona@gmail to join NEW search at Willow Creek trailhead tmrw
anon93658: So NO ONE knows AN-Y-THING? Really?! F-in liars 👹
CaalaamityJaane: I’m pretty sure I’ve seen her at the market on Main a bunch of times. It’s scary how something like this can happen so close to home.
K1llerCreeker: thoughts n prayers thoughts n prayers blah blah blah no one ever really cared but me
ItsTinaBaez: My coworker said her friend’s husband’s best friend knows the family and that something has been off with all of them lately… obviously just hearsay but I hope the police are looking into everything, but like for real this time
SimbaYTimon: its always the husband! no need for a search. waste of tax payer dollars if you ask me
DramaQueenAF: Why is everyone saying this kind of thing never happens here?! First it’s one person last year. Remember Amber? Then there was Heather. And now Fiona! This town is not as safe as people keep pretending it is, especially for women. Wake up people! Believe women! Protect women!
K1llerCreeker: i did what i did to save her
WilderOatsFarmer: Give it a few days and the truth will come out. There’s always more to these stories than ‘loving mom mysteriously disappears’ Happens every. Damn. Time.
TheChadObrien: @DramaQueenAF maybe if you stfu and stop being so hysterical people would believe what you say more often 😂 go make me a sandwich
PeaceLoveAndLight: Why is there still no clear information yet? In a town this size, someone had to see something specific. Feels like we’re not getting the full picture 🤨
K1llerCreeker: dont worry shes in a better place now no more suffering
DramaQueenAF: @TheChadObrien Sure, I’ll go make you a sandwich. So you can go choke on it and die!
DianaDeanFlowers: RIP Fiona. We love and miss you. 💐
I might revise, edit, or add to this draft in the future. Stay tuned.
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And be sure to see today’s writing prompt below if you’re interested in completing a creative writing exercise like this one.
© This work is not available for artificial intelligence (AI) training. All Rights Reserved by K.E. Creighton; Creighton’s Compositions LLC. The above work is a piece of fiction. While, as in all fiction, the literary perceptions and insights are based on experience, all names, characters, places, and incidents either are products of the author’s imagination or are used fictitiously.
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Today’s Writing Prompt
Writing Prompt: Fake News
Write a piece of flash fiction that is centered around a piece of fake news. Or free write about whatever comes to mind when you hear or read the phrase ‘fake news’.
Writing Tip
Scroll through your news feed to get some ideas or conduct a search for ‘fake news’ in your preferred search engine and see what comes up.
