I really didn't know where to post this. There didn't seem to be a right spot so I picked here because it was most recently updated. It's kind of going to be stream of consciousness, just updating everyone on what has been going on in my Heather bubble. I know I went MIA, that was on purpose. A lot of things were being said on here and off here that I couldn't deal with without getting into some kind of trouble, so I just removed myself. Of course, aside from that nothing has changed here. There may be a few less fliers, a few less searches, a few less news stories... but otherwise everything is stagnant. No one knows where Heather is, no one is talking. The gag order has made it frustrating to try and follow the case because there is just NOTHING. Her banners are still posted, in fact if you Google for River City Cafe in Socastee on the map and go street view, you'll see one. She is still missing and missed. People still talk about her case, but we're all just stuck waiting for either someone to crack and tell where she is, or for this trial to start. It's so frustrating, I've seen trials for other public murders be conducted, in short months, and here this one is going to be around a year's timeline? I can only hope that means that the state is getting their ducks in a row so that this trial sticks good.
But in the meantime, the community is stuck. I don't know if anyone's posted here but TK has closed. PTL has a beautiful garden in Heather's memory. Her family is being so strong I can't even fathom how they are doing it. There have been many vigils. She has been prayed for worlds over. I see her face on stickers on the back of cars driving down 31. I wear a "Find Heather Elvis" bracelet on my wrist. I dream about her, a lot. I hate it because they make me sad, but also because I always get woken up RIGHT when I'm about to find out where she is. I know that many have given up hope, that the Ms are charged with murder, but she hasn't been found. There is no body, and I don't know what evidence the state has. So until I know, I have hope. Except I also don't. Heather is Schrodinger's Cat. She has been put in a box, labelled missing, or better yet, on the side of a milk carton. and until we open it, until we find her and see her, she's neither dead, nor alive, she's both.
It's hard, my dad knew her. He had her number in his cell phone, and I guess this weird thing happens with smart phones, at least on AT&T... where if you haven't talked to a phone number in a certain number of days the phone will ring with that number to remind you to call it or delete it. This setting is turned on automatically and you have to go physically turn it off. I think it was in July... my dad's phone rang and the display said it was Heather. It freaked him out so bad. He answered of course because what else would you do? but it was just dead air. That's how we found out about that stupid weird setting. Because he went to the carrier and asked them what the heck?
Thursday is the 1 year anniversary, and the vigil. I'm going, of course. How could I not? But why do I have this weird feeling in my stomach like something will happen. Because it's been a year? Because if something doesn't happen soon the community might explode? It feels like a powder keg. There are rumors, of course, but not as many as there had been. I've been thinking of her a lot lately. More than usual I mean. Actively thinking. Maybe it's mostly because of the anniversary but also, the case of Jessica Chambers? For some reason, something about that resonates the same note inside of me. Except it turns bitter. Because I'm sorry for her and her family, I really am. But at least they have her body. At least they know. For sure. The not knowing, that's the hardest part. How it hasn't killed the Elvis' spirits I will never in a million years know. Is it weird to say that I admire them for that? For their strength and poise and faith in the face of this never ending tragedy? I do. Well. I've said enough, but I will come back after the vigil. Especially if something does in fact happen.[/QUOTE
Thank you for the heartfelt update, CarolinaAsh. So tragic that the Elvis family still has no idea where Heather is. Pure torture for them and it is beyond evil that they must endure such cruelty for over a year now. I hope in some way our support will help lessen their pain a little bit.
How chilling for your Dad to receive a call from Heather's phone number. Poor guy; that would have done a number on me.
And Tilted Kilt being closed is somehow fitting. I wish Heather never worked there and met you know who. It still haunts me to envision Heather innocently waiting in the dark at PTL for Sidney Moorer. It is difficult to hang in there until trial to find out what is known to have happened that fateful night. And still, we are left with no answers as to where Heather is. Justice can't come soon enough.
Your admiration for Heather's family is for good reason, and I have to respect how they keep forging on under the most horrendous of circumstances. They have courage.
