Willows Peak, Oregon
November 3, 1999

(3rd Person POV)

Robin Elizabeth Martin sat comfortably on the worn out leather couch as she watched television, after a long shift at the hospital.

The twenty eight year old woman popped a piece of popcorn into her mouth as she boredly watched a cheesy cereal commercial flash across the screen.

Suddenly, a shrill ring rang out from the kitchen, causing Robin to jump in surprise.

"Son of a—!" The Martin woman exclaimed with a start. She pushed herself off of the couch and made her way towards the small kitchen. The Martin woman picked up the ringing house phone from the counter and held it to her ear.

"Hello?" Robin asked as she took a seat at the kitchen table.

"Hello, miss." The male voice on the other end of the line greeted, before asking. "Is this Robin Martin speaking?"

"That depends on who's asking." The brunette stated bluntly, as she stood from her seat an began to pace.

"This is Michael Dawson with Whittemore & Brown law firm. I'm calling about your friend Marina Kekoa."

"Marina? Why would a law firm be calling me about my old college roommate?" The woman asked in confusion with a furrowed brow.

"Miss Martin, I'm sorry to inform you that Marina Kekoa was in a car accident two days ago."

"Oh my god! Is she okay?" Robin asked, concerned for the well-being of her friend.

"I'm sorry to be the one to tell you this, but Miss Kekoa succumbed to her wounds yesterday morning." Dawson told her solemnly. "She has you named as her daughter's legal guardian."

The young woman froze, her mind going blank due to the information she'd just received. "Marina's dead?"

"Yes, she is. I'm sorry, ma'am."

"And....uh, her daughter? You mentioned she has a daughter." The brunette stammered, wiping away the tears that fell from her eyes.

"Yes, she had a six year old daughter, Alana." The man replied gently, pausing slightly as he looked at the sleeping girl that sat in one of the waiting room chairs. "If it's alright with you, I'll be bringing the girl over to meet you. I have some paperwork that you need to sign in order to make her being under your care official."

"Yeah, yeah." Robin agreed with a sniffle, wiping away the tears that flooded from her eyes. "How is she doing?"

"As well as you'd expect."

"When are you going to bring her over?"

"Is tomorrow alright?"

"Yeah, of course." She stated with a nod, despite the fact that he couldn't see her. "Is three o'clock good?"

"Three o'clock is great. Thank you for your time, Miss Martin." Dawson told her, before gently saying. "And I'm so sorry for your loss."

"Until tomorrow, Mr. Dawson." Robin replied, ignoring his previous comment.

"Until tomorrow, ma'am."

Without another word, the woman hung up the phone and slumped into the chair that she'd previously occupied. Shakily running her hands over her puffy and solemn face.

"Oh, Mari." The brunette sighed as her body shook aggressively and tears pooled in her brown eyes once again.

Robin's best friend was gone, leaving nothing but sadness and a devastated little girl in her wake.