The disappearance of Amy Hillyard, the beloved owner of an Oakland coffee shop, continues to haunt the Bay Area as her husband, Chris Hillyard, has come forward with new details about the day she vanished.

According to Chris, Amy was working through significant mental health challenges — depression and anxiety — when she disappeared last month. Despite the agonizing uncertainty, he says he remains hopeful. "We won't stop searching for Amy until we have answers," he told reporters. "We believe she is still alive."

It's the kind of story that hits close to home in a region where small business owners pour everything they have — financially, physically, emotionally — into their work. Running a coffee shop in the Bay Area isn't exactly a low-stress endeavor. Between sky-high rents, razor-thin margins, and the daily grind (pun intended) of keeping a small business afloat, the toll on mental health is something we don't talk about nearly enough.

What we know so far is limited, and the investigation is ongoing. But Amy's story is a reminder that the people behind the counter at your favorite local spot are carrying more than your oat milk latte. The pressures of small business ownership in this region are relentless, and the support systems — both public and private — often fall short.

We're not going to speculate on the details of this case. What we will say is this: if you have any information about Amy Hillyard's whereabouts, contact local authorities. And if someone in your life is struggling with depression or anxiety, check in on them. Not in a performative Instagram-story kind of way — actually check in.

The Bay Area rallies hard when one of its own goes missing. Let's hope that energy translates into answers for the Hillyard family. They deserve them.