Post by Robb (Owner) on Oct 29, 2024 20:46:21 GMT -8
McKena arrived at her dad's house just after dusk, her whole frame visibly weighed down by something more than just exhaustion. The day’s makeup was smudged around her eyes, streaked down her cheeks from earlier tears she hadn’t bothered to wipe away. She stood at the doorway, hesitating, before Robb opened the door, his expression a blend of concern and warmth that only seemed to make her tremble more. She stepped inside, dropping her bag on the floor as she barely managed a whisper.
“Dad…” Her voice cracked, and suddenly, she was wrapped in his arms. He held her tightly, grounding her in the safety of his presence as her quiet sobs filled the space between them.
They sat together in his living room, the silence heavy but comforting. Robb kept his hand on her shoulder, waiting patiently until she was ready. She fidgeted, picking at the hem of her jacket, her voice so soft it was almost swallowed by the room.
“I don’t know if I can keep doing this,” she began, her tone shaky. “Everything’s a mess… I thought joining The Division would keep CJ, Maya… everyone safe. But I’m losing myself. Every day, hiding behind that mask, doing things I never wanted to do. They have no idea why I did it.” She lifted her gaze to meet her dad’s, searching for understanding, and there it was, plain as day in his eyes.
Robb stayed quiet, his face a steady, encouraging presence, though his grip on her shoulder tightened slightly as he listened.
Her words started spilling out in a rush. “I thought I could handle it, Dad. I thought I could protect everyone, even if it meant doing things I hated. But I can’t keep this up… I’m so tired of pretending, of being something I’m not. I’m scared of what Julian might do if I leave. I don’t even know what he’s capable of. What if he goes after CJ, or worse?” Her voice broke, her hands trembling as she buried her face in them.
Robb moved closer, guiding her chin up to look at him. "MK… I know the burden you're carrying. You're stronger than anyone I know, but no one can carry that weight alone. You don’t have to keep doing this—protecting everyone, carrying this secret. If you want out, if you’re ready to end this, I’ll stand with you, every step of the way.”
McKena’s gaze softened, relief mingling with the fear she could still feel gnawing at her. “But what if… what if something happens to you? Or CJ? Or Maya?” She shook her head, barely holding back another tear. “I don’t know how to make it all right.”
Robb placed both hands on her shoulders, his gaze unwavering. "We’ll figure it out, MK. Together.”
McKena’s eyes stayed locked on her father’s as she let his words sink in, the reassurance she’d been aching for finally washing over her. She took a breath, her fingers twisting tightly together.
“It’s hard to imagine going back after everything… After all that I did, the people I hurt just to keep everyone safe.” Her voice cracked, the weight of guilt hanging heavy. “But if I keep doing this, it’ll destroy me. I don’t even recognize myself anymore, Dad.”
Robb kept his gaze steady on her, his thumb gently brushing her shoulder as he tried to break through the wall of fear she had built. “MK, you’re not defined by them, by what they made you do. The McKena I know—the one with that Hardy fight in her—she’s still in there, underneath it all.”
She closed her eyes, fighting back the tears that once again threatened to fall. “I want out,” she whispered. “But what if Julian doesn’t just let me go?”
Robb’s eyes darkened slightly at the thought of anyone threatening his daughter. “Then he’ll answer to me. You’re my daughter, MK. Anyone who tries to stand between you and the life you want… they’ll regret it.”
A soft, almost relieved smile broke through McKena’s sadness. She exhaled, feeling some of that tension slip away. “Thank you, Dad. I needed to hear that.”
McKena looked up at her father, the warmth of his reassurance soaking in, finally breaking through the icy grip fear had on her. “You always make it sound like anything is possible.” She sighed, the exhaustion lingering in her voice. “I think… I just want to be myself again. Not someone hiding, not someone hurting people to protect the people I love.”
Robb’s hand tightened gently on her shoulder, his voice low and steady. “Then be that McKena. It’s never too late to walk away, to set things right. You know your family will stand by you, every step of the way.”
McKena nodded slowly, a flicker of determination igniting in her eyes. “I don’t know what the Division will do, but… I’m done being afraid.” She straightened up, as if a weight had been lifted, her father’s confidence bolstering her resolve. “Thank you for reminding me who I am, Daddy.”
Robb gave her a warm smile, pride evident in his eyes. “That’s my girl.”
After McKena left Robb’s embrace, she found herself alone in his quiet, dimly lit hallway, breathing in the calm of the house that had always felt like a sanctuary. She walked over to the framed pictures lining the walls—photos from birthdays, graduations, holidays spent with family, and snapshots of loved ones. Her gaze fell on a picture of CJ as a young boy, his gap-toothed grin beaming up at her. A soft smile crept across her face, remembering those innocent days when the world felt simpler.
McKena clenched her fists, feeling her father’s words steadying her spirit. This wasn’t about being brave alone; it was about protecting those she loved while staying true to herself. She could feel the weight of her decision lifting ever so slightly. Leaving the Division wouldn’t be easy, but she knew it was the only path forward if she wanted to live with integrity.
With renewed resolve, McKena turned toward the door, ready to face whatever lay ahead.
“Dad…” Her voice cracked, and suddenly, she was wrapped in his arms. He held her tightly, grounding her in the safety of his presence as her quiet sobs filled the space between them.
They sat together in his living room, the silence heavy but comforting. Robb kept his hand on her shoulder, waiting patiently until she was ready. She fidgeted, picking at the hem of her jacket, her voice so soft it was almost swallowed by the room.
“I don’t know if I can keep doing this,” she began, her tone shaky. “Everything’s a mess… I thought joining The Division would keep CJ, Maya… everyone safe. But I’m losing myself. Every day, hiding behind that mask, doing things I never wanted to do. They have no idea why I did it.” She lifted her gaze to meet her dad’s, searching for understanding, and there it was, plain as day in his eyes.
Robb stayed quiet, his face a steady, encouraging presence, though his grip on her shoulder tightened slightly as he listened.
Her words started spilling out in a rush. “I thought I could handle it, Dad. I thought I could protect everyone, even if it meant doing things I hated. But I can’t keep this up… I’m so tired of pretending, of being something I’m not. I’m scared of what Julian might do if I leave. I don’t even know what he’s capable of. What if he goes after CJ, or worse?” Her voice broke, her hands trembling as she buried her face in them.
Robb moved closer, guiding her chin up to look at him. "MK… I know the burden you're carrying. You're stronger than anyone I know, but no one can carry that weight alone. You don’t have to keep doing this—protecting everyone, carrying this secret. If you want out, if you’re ready to end this, I’ll stand with you, every step of the way.”
McKena’s gaze softened, relief mingling with the fear she could still feel gnawing at her. “But what if… what if something happens to you? Or CJ? Or Maya?” She shook her head, barely holding back another tear. “I don’t know how to make it all right.”
Robb placed both hands on her shoulders, his gaze unwavering. "We’ll figure it out, MK. Together.”
McKena’s eyes stayed locked on her father’s as she let his words sink in, the reassurance she’d been aching for finally washing over her. She took a breath, her fingers twisting tightly together.
“It’s hard to imagine going back after everything… After all that I did, the people I hurt just to keep everyone safe.” Her voice cracked, the weight of guilt hanging heavy. “But if I keep doing this, it’ll destroy me. I don’t even recognize myself anymore, Dad.”
Robb kept his gaze steady on her, his thumb gently brushing her shoulder as he tried to break through the wall of fear she had built. “MK, you’re not defined by them, by what they made you do. The McKena I know—the one with that Hardy fight in her—she’s still in there, underneath it all.”
She closed her eyes, fighting back the tears that once again threatened to fall. “I want out,” she whispered. “But what if Julian doesn’t just let me go?”
Robb’s eyes darkened slightly at the thought of anyone threatening his daughter. “Then he’ll answer to me. You’re my daughter, MK. Anyone who tries to stand between you and the life you want… they’ll regret it.”
A soft, almost relieved smile broke through McKena’s sadness. She exhaled, feeling some of that tension slip away. “Thank you, Dad. I needed to hear that.”
McKena looked up at her father, the warmth of his reassurance soaking in, finally breaking through the icy grip fear had on her. “You always make it sound like anything is possible.” She sighed, the exhaustion lingering in her voice. “I think… I just want to be myself again. Not someone hiding, not someone hurting people to protect the people I love.”
Robb’s hand tightened gently on her shoulder, his voice low and steady. “Then be that McKena. It’s never too late to walk away, to set things right. You know your family will stand by you, every step of the way.”
McKena nodded slowly, a flicker of determination igniting in her eyes. “I don’t know what the Division will do, but… I’m done being afraid.” She straightened up, as if a weight had been lifted, her father’s confidence bolstering her resolve. “Thank you for reminding me who I am, Daddy.”
Robb gave her a warm smile, pride evident in his eyes. “That’s my girl.”
After McKena left Robb’s embrace, she found herself alone in his quiet, dimly lit hallway, breathing in the calm of the house that had always felt like a sanctuary. She walked over to the framed pictures lining the walls—photos from birthdays, graduations, holidays spent with family, and snapshots of loved ones. Her gaze fell on a picture of CJ as a young boy, his gap-toothed grin beaming up at her. A soft smile crept across her face, remembering those innocent days when the world felt simpler.
McKena clenched her fists, feeling her father’s words steadying her spirit. This wasn’t about being brave alone; it was about protecting those she loved while staying true to herself. She could feel the weight of her decision lifting ever so slightly. Leaving the Division wouldn’t be easy, but she knew it was the only path forward if she wanted to live with integrity.
With renewed resolve, McKena turned toward the door, ready to face whatever lay ahead.