Today was Saturday, and I desperately needed something to do. I needed to get out of the house, where my father was.

  I don’t know what happened at his work, but it seemed like he hadn’t left the house in a couple days.

  I left the house after making breakfast, and decided to find something to do. The vast streets stretched out before me, and they stretched out even more than usual. Walking anywhere seemed to take forever with my slow pace.

  Additionally, I had to stop many times to rest, which made me wander even slower.

  Eventually I ended up at a park, like I usually do, and tried to enjoy the scenery. However, things didn’t seem as bright as before.

  It was like all the newfound appreciation for my surroundings was fading away. The trees didn’t seem as green, and the flowers didn’t seem as yellow.

  My mind wandered to the beautiful sight of the white flower hillside. A vast bed of white beauty, with a silent and calming air.

  Unfortunately, my beautiful daydream was interrupted by my phone ringing. I saw the name of the person that I had likely called the most recently.

  Jane.

  “Hello, Azure.” Jane said awkwardly.

  “I wanted to ask when you are free.” Jane spoke awkwardly.

  “I am free anytime.” I responded without hesitation or embarrassment.

  “Really, anytime?” Jane asked in surprise.

  “Yes.” I replied similarly to my last response.

  “That’s great, the thing is…,” Jane hesitated, “When I called everyone they wanted to meet you so badly they rushed everything up. So the meeting is tomorrow.” Jane said very quickly.

  “That’s fine.” I responded.

  “It is?” Jane asked.

  “Of course, like I said I have no plans.” I added. Jane sighed in relief.

  “Okay then, I have some more calls to make.” Jane said in her usual mischievously innocent voice.

  I put my phone down, and once again looked around me. With the plans made for tomorrow, everything around me seemed to become duller with my impatience.

  I continued wandering around, skipping lunch, and finally arrived home. I had exhausted all my will and body trying to stay away from him. It peeved me that his presence directed my actions.

  I walked into the kitchen to find my father reading a book. He must have been waiting for me, afterall I can’t eat or go to my room without passing through here.

  “What do you want?” I asked, making my father shiver slightly.

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  “How are you doing?” He asked, doing his best to be strong.

  “Fine, but you are making it worse.” I told him. Technically it was true, him being here was highly inconvenient.

  “How are your injuries?” He asked another question.

  “Just why should I tell you?” I responded.

  “Because I am worried, and I am your father.” He said matter of fact.

  “We have already had this discussion, you are not my father.” I spoke coldly. He looked down at the ground, and sat silent without a response.

  I decided to move forward with this depressive atmosphere. I cooked myself a meal and ate it, all without making a sound.

  I washed the dishes and was about to leave when, “Wait.” He spoke, breaking his own oppressive silence.

  “What?” I responded cruelly.

  “I will be completely honest with you, I want to start anew with you. Can you meet me halfway.” He continued with a relentless voice, one that screamed he was afraid yet still moving forward. My heart skipped a beat.

  Start anew?

  Various emotions swirled around my heart, however I was too surprised and blinded to know what they were.

  “Liar.” I shouted at him.

  He thought that after a dozen years a few words and a pizza would be able to make up for what he did.

  “Liar.” I screamed again.

  I looked at him with much contempt, while ignoring his self pitiful eyes.

  “You don’t deserve forgiveness.” I said harshly.

  He was the one who hated me.

  He was the one who abandoned me.

  He was the one who made me a murderer.

  He was the one who left me crying that day.

  He was the one who never looked for me.

  Anger filled me to the brim., but I quickly suppressed it.

  I clenched my fists and left the room, but not without saying, “You should go back to work, you belong there.” I said and turned my back on everything.

  I started again on my homework, but quickly got distracted by my thoughts. I instead started watching videos on the internet, and there was a lot of variety.

  The videos drew my mind away from the present, and faithfully calmed me down. I fell asleep with videos of animals playing on my phone.

  I woke up, and there was no smell of smoke, or pizza. I could not find my father, he had left.

  “Good, that’s what I wanted.” I spoke out loud.

  I prepared myself for the day; Cooked breakfast, showered, and changed my bandages. I finally noticed that it was past time for a haircut. My hair was down to my shoulders in some places.

  I hadn’t had the time to focus on my appearance for a while.

  I walked out the front door to find the outside terribly cold. I ran back inside for a jacket, and ran back out.

  I had to walk to the meetup, which would be exhausting, with my huge bag of food. I passed many people looking at me with pity. They obviously knew me from the newspaper, which had spread far and wide.

  It was just another cost that comes with my plan, I told myself.

  I arrived at a familiar park, the one I had talked to Haven at, In the exact same spot as well.

  I had chosen to arrive early, which meant only one other person was there.

  Jane was sitting at a pair of tables shivering. She saw me and smiled, trying to play off her previous state.

  Once I got close enough, she stood up and hugged me. Her body was cold, but that didn’t matter, I felt her concern through her embrace.

  She must have worried for the entire time I was away, and even now.

  After I was released from Jane’s hug I slid off my jacket and wrapped it around her.

  “What are you doing?” She asked like she was offended.

  “You're cold aren’t you?” I asked in response.

  “Yeah, but you’re injured, you need to stay in good condition.” She responded without hesitation.

  “Think of it as icing my back to help reduce swelling.” I tried to ease her caution.

  “Fine, but this doesn’t count as one of my favors.” She said rather cutely.