Song: Fight Song by Rachel Platten

When I get home the house in empty of his stuff that is. I look around and everything else is still there. I guess he decided to just take his personal things. It's so quite up in here. I jump in the shower and fight back the tears. I know I will be fine on my own but I don't want to be alone. I have the hardest time going to sleep and instead of tossing and turning in the sheets I get up and head to the living room.

I grab a blanket and lie on the couch and watch TV. Sometime in the night I dose off to sleep. I don't have to get up early but for some reason I am up. I don't even have to go into work today but I don't feel like being here. I get in my car and go. I don't know where I am going and before I even realize it I'm on the Interstate and three hours later I am home.

No one is home. I go into the house and my dad has the place spotless. I am shocked it is so clean. I go up to my old bedroom and it is the way that I left it. I climb in bed and take a nap. I hear something downstairs and I assume he is home now. I walk down towards the kitchen and hear someone singing.

When she turns around she nearly jumps out of her skin. "Oh shit! Oh...I mean...sorry...you scared me to death."

"I'm sorry, who are you?" I asked her puzzled.

She wipes her hands on a towel and extends it out for me to shake. "I'm Marcie and you must be Katana. It's so nice to finally meet you."

"Marcie and who are you? Why are you here in my house?"

She is maybe in her late fifties but she still has her looks that's for sure. She is about my height and more rounded out but she is a hottie that's for sure. Her face turns a few shades of pink and then to red. "Oh heavens, well I...I'm seeing your father. We are together."

I laugh, "My dad dating, you got to be kidding me."

"We've been dating for almost half the year now. He didn't tell you?" I see the hurt in her eyes and I don't want to hurt her any more than she probably is.

"Maybe he had mentioned it, I tend to forget things. Well it's nice to meet you. Do you happen to know when he will be home?"

"He should be getting here. Would you like to stay for super I can make extras?"

"That would be great, would you like some extra help?"

"Why sure hun." She hands me a bowl. "You can get started on the salad."

"Actually, would you be upset if I cooked all together."

"Well, I guess that would be alright after all this is your house."

"Thanks, look it looks like you had a busy day. Why don't you go take a long hot bath and I will have super cooked in no time."

"Are you sure hun, I don't mind helping you out."

"Nonsense I got this." An hour later I am placing everything on the table.

My dad walks in and yells from the living room, "Dear God it smells like heaven in here what are you cooking darling." Then he enters the kitchen to see me by the stove. His expression changes quickly. "What are you doing home sweetheart, everything ok?"

I don't wait to say anything as I jump in his arms. "I was just missing you daddy. I had the day off and thought I would surprise you." His arms surrounds me and I get a good whiff of his aftershave. Oh how I have missed being around him.

"Well, it worked."

I pull away from him. "So when was you going to tell me about Marcie?" I move my eyebrows up and down.

"I didn't know how you would take it."

"Daddy, everyone deserves to be happy including you. She seems really nice. She should be coming down any moment now."

"Where is she?" He looks around.

"I told her to relax and take a hot bath. I cooked." I pointed to the meal.

His eyes grow wide. "So I guess school is teaching you well?"

"That and my new job, I am the assistant cook to the main Chef at this fancy Italian restaurant downtown."

"Well it looks delicious."

When Marcie comes back down we all sit at the table to eat and they keep praising me how delicious it really is.

"So, where is Raine?"

I get up to start cleaning up the dishes. "We broke up."

"Sorry to hear that; how are you holding up?" He seems upset but I know he really isn't because he never liked him to begin with.

"I will be fine. I'm going to be fine, really. I think it's time for me to start taking care of myself."

He comes up and hugs me. "I'm here sweetheart. You want to move back home you can there will always be a place here for you."

"I know daddy but there is no place around here that will let me cook the way I want and pay what I'm making now."

"I know but you know the door is always open here."

"I know." I smile.

After dinner we say are goodbyes and I head out back on the road. I stop by a gas station to fill the tank back up and when I walk out of the store I bump into no other than Jake. "Holy shit! Katana, no f-ing way. I heard you moved away are you back home?" He reaches over to hug me and I don't know exactly how to respond so I hug him back and then let go.

"No. Just seeing my dad. I'm on my way back to Atlanta."

"Atlanta, wow. You going to school there?"

"Yes! So...so what are you up to now?"

"Not much, working and going to the community college in the next town over." He grabs his arm. "You know the football days are over now after getting shot."

"I heard. I'm sorry I never got the chance to come see you, my dad wouldn't let me. Are you doing ok?"

"Yeah. I guess so. I will be alright." He looks away and then back toward me. "So..uhm...you headed out now?"

"Yeah, why?"

"Well a few of us are getting together, thought maybe you could swing by just to say hi, catch up on old times you know?"

I look down at the time on my phone and back up. It's already eight at night, nine my time in Atlanta. It will take me a good three hours to get home so that will put me in at mid-night. I don't have to get up early however I do have to be in at work by five tomorrow night. "I don't know, maybe another time."

"Come on just for like an hour, it would be nice to hear how you have been doing?"

"Ok. Sure. I will follow you is that ok?"

"Sure."

When he comes back out, I follow him to Blake's house. I walk in with him and everyone stops what they are doing. I am surprised to see everyone, well almost everyone together. No one talks about Anthony which is fine with me. They are all drinking but I don't due to having to drive home. We actually talk about life now and what everyone is doing. They are all shocked that I am living in a big city.

Some girl comes in and wraps her arms around Jake and I watch them kiss. He turns to me with a smile. "Jennie, this is Katana, Katana this is my fiancée Jennie." Wow, fiancé well then.

I put on a fake smile and shake her hand. "Nice to meet you." I don't know if I should be happy for them or not. I am over Jake; I guess I just never thought of him being a married man.

"It's so nice to finally meet you." She says with a wide grin, showing off her perfectly straight teeth. The way she says it sounds like they must mention me quite often.

I look over at Jake, "I guess I need to be going I have a long drive back home. It was really nice seeing all of you again."

Everyone says their goodbyes and then Jake lets go of Jennie. "I will be right back alright. Katana wait up let me walk you out." He walks me to my car and when I turn to tell him bye again he is hugging me. "I'm glad you are doing well. I was so worried about you. Don't be a stranger you are always welcome to come hang out with us."

"Yeah. I know...congratulation by the way she seems really nice."

"She really is; we met a several months ago and I really think she is the one." When I don't say anything he says, "Are you seeing anyone?"

"Not at the moment, it's kinda complicated."

"Sorry to hear that. Well I know the right one is out there for you. God it was so good to see you. Drive careful aright and next time you are in look us up alright."

"Of course...bye Jake."

"Bye."

All the way back home all I think about is old memories of us. That could have been us getting married, however things happened and we grew apart and now here I am driving down the road towards my new life, all alone.

When I get home it's so freaking late so I curl up on the couch and go back to sleep while watching TV. When I wake up, I stretch out and the news happens to be on. I get up and fix a cup of hot coco and scramble up some eggs. I head to the table and gather up my things and out of nowhere I hear my name. I glance around but it's only me and then I see it on the news.

I walk over to the couch to get the remote to turn the volume up.

'Joe Harper was found in his cell last night with multiple stab wounds; he was pronounced dead at six thirty this morning. As we all know Mr. Harper was found guilty of several murders and the attempted murder of Katana Harlow last year. He was serving life in prison with no chance of parole...'

What the hell...someone killed him.