"There are those who say fate is something beyond our command, that destiny is not our own. But I know better. Our fate lives within us... you only have to be brave enough to see it." -Merida, Brave

~~~~~~~~Four year later~~~~~~~~

"One of our traditions at this University is to select one graduate to deliver a special speech on behalf of the class. This year we decided to go with Jenny Morrison" Dr. Henry Mills said and some students cheered. He looks over at me and smiles. My friend, Jasmine hugs me and Dr. Mills looks ahead.

"She may not be known to you, but umm, Jenny is known to some students, she has pack herself in the campus with experience and extra curriculum activities. She earned a double major in both science and arts. All while maintaining a spot in her theater arts as the lead actress, but only that. Outside of the classroom, Jenny has served on our student government board and was an active member of the girl's fraternity—" the girls and some guys all cheered.

"—She also worked as a pathfinder, as a tour to new students and their families. But there is more to Jenny than just these few highlights but it's really her story to tell. So ladies and gentlemen, please join me in welcoming your classmate, Jenny Morrison" Dr. Mills said and I get up and start to walk over there. My fellow classmates cheered and applauded. Dr. Mills hugged me and I hugged back, thanking him. I got up there and stared out into the room. There are many students graduating today and many of their friends, families, and relatives are here today to show them their love and support.

"Why do you have paper?" I heard one of the students asked and I looked at her and smile.

"Sorry, don't have an iPad," I said to her and she nods. I start to get my things ready, taking out my paper from the folder. When I got everything ready I looked ahead with my biggest and brightest smile.

"Good morning—" they cheered.

"Thank you, Dr. Mills, for that amazing introduction. And thank you for over exaggerating my achievements. I'm positive I'll be getting some phone calls from potential jobs," I said making some laugh.

"So here we are, class of 2017, we did it!-" they whistled and cheered.

"Yeah, feels amazing, huh. All our hard work actually paid off. All those late nights doing homework, all those quizzes, tests, carrying around heavy books that caused us hundreds only to be used for one hour and then that was it. I mean couldn't they reduce the size of the books we gotta carry? They're huge, they weight a ton-"I laughed along with my classmates. A kid yelled out 'she's right' we turned to him and laughed.

"I have one question, well actually, two questions. What's next? What do we do now? I think that's our biggest question right now. What do we do next? What is there to do? I mean some of us already have job offers lined up, but some of us don't. So for those who don't, what are we going to do?" I asking looking around the room.

"Well let me give you a piece of advice that a little friend of mine once said. 'Just keep swimming'-"I said in Dory's voice and they whistle and cheered.

As I continued to give my speech, I looked at the student's faces, and I swear I saw him there. Sitting on one of the chairs smiling at me. I swear I saw his bright golden eyes staring at me, looking so proud of me. I knew if he was real, he would be proud, and I knew he would be right there, supporting me. When I finished my speech they all cheered and clapped. I went back to my spot and Jasmine hugged me again. I looked at the spot where I thought I saw him but he wasn't there when I looked again. Sighing, I paid attention to the ceremony. As I went to receive my diploma, I heard Charlie's and Rene's voices, telling me how proud there were. I turned to the crowd, hoping I'll see my real parents, but as expected they weren't there. My mother was somewhere in Paris doing something with her friends while my father was in town attending a meeting. Finally, they announced that we were officially graduated, the students from below threw their caps up in the air.

"We did it," Jasmine said turning to me. I smiled at her and nod.

"Yeah after all this time we actually did it," I said hugging her. After trying to find her parents for the past 20 minutes we found them. Jasmine went running to them and hugged her parents. I waited in the back and I couldn't help but feel jealous. Suddenly I hear a name I haven't heard since I woke up. Turning to my right, I froze upon seeing them there. Charlie, the Cullens, Bella, Rene, Phil, Sam, Jake, and Jasper were all there smiling at me. Charlie had a balloon, a white balloon with bright red words 'Congratulations'. Bella had my favorite kind of rose, Alice had teddy bears and Jasper was smiling at me. Oh, that smile I loved so much.

"Annie," he whispered and I couldn't help but let some tears fall.

"I did it,"I whispered back and he nods, smiling.

"I'm proud," he said as he walks towards me.

"Hey, Jenny you okay?" Jasmine asked turning towards her. I quickly look back and they weren't there anymore, they were gone. Wiping away my tears I turn to Jasmine and nod.

"Yeah, umm you ready?" I asked. She narrowed her eyes at me before nodding. I walked to her family, they greeted me, hugged me, and said my speech was amazing. Smiling at them I thanked them.

"So Jenny, what are you going to do?" Jasmine's father, Mr. Harrison asked.

"I'm moving to Seattle," I said smiling and they looked at me confused.

"Why there?" Jasmine's mother, Mrs. Harrison asked.

"Why not? I like the cold," I said.

"Do your parents know?" she asked and I smiled.

"Of course, they know and they're so proud," I said lying. If only they knew the truth that my parents don't give a damn about me. Mr. and Mrs. Harrison nod and I turned to Jasmine.

"Call me when you get to New York, alright," I told her and she nods. We hugged one last time before departing.

An hour later I got to my house. Opening the front door, I stopped and looked around. I was trying to remember all the good times I had here, trying so hard to remember my happy memories. Sadly I couldn't come up with any. These past four years have been hell. Since the day I told my father I wanted to go to college, he stopped talking to me. He wouldn't even acknowledge me, he would pretend that I didn't even exist. One day I was passing by his office when I heard him ask my mother, why I'm acting like a spoiled brat? That I should be thankful that I have two hard-working parents who give me everything. Durning dinner he wouldn't even look my way and my mother wouldn't say anything. She pretends that everything is alright. She pretends she doesn't see my father's hatred eyes on me, she pretends she doesn't see the scars on my wrists. She pretends she doesn't know anything. She doesn't stand up for me, she only adds fuel to my father's hatred towards me. I think they don't like me, I truly believe that they hate me. I don't ever remember them acting this way, I don't remember them ever being mean.

Morning came and I packed everything in my car. I rented a cargo trailer, I mean I didn't have a lot. Just my clothes and some personal items, I wasn't going to take any furniture since they weren't mine, to begin with. As I was walking back and forward my father was in the living from in front of the fireplace. After I finished, I went downstairs to get some water before I left. My father was still in the living room in front of the fireplace. I don't know why I did it, I don't know what possessed me to do it, but I went to sit down next to him. He didn't turn my way but continued to stare into the fire. Minutes went by and none of us talked, we stood there just watching the fire burn. After a while, I turned and studied him. He was growing older, his dark brown hairs were turning grey. There were some wrinkles here and there. But he still had that coldness in his eyes whenever he would stare at me.

"Why do you hate me?" I asked him. He turned to me for a quick second before turning back. He didn't answer and I was getting angry. Since I woke up, not once has he said anything nice to me. Not once has he smiled or showed any kind of happiness towards me.

"Why?" I asked again. And once again he didn't answer.

"Daddy, please tell me what I have done wrong? Do you hate me so much that you can't even look at your daughter properly?" I asked as tears came down my face. I thought I didn't want or need his attention but I was lying. I just wanted my father to at least smile but I guess that will never happen. When he didn't answer, I gave up, wiping away my tear I got up and headed to my room. But before I left the room I turned back.

"I'm leaving," I said and when he didn't reply I turned around.

"Where are you going?" he asked.

"Seattle," I said and I hear him scoff.

"What a waste of time," he said. Shaking my head I turned around and walked away. Walking up the stairs I saw my father pull out a book and threw it in the fire.

Entering my room and looked around. Since I remember this place has been somewhat like a haven to me, my own personal safe place and now it won't be. Now it'll be just a memory in my mind. I walked to the bathroom and I stood in front of the tub. I remember that one night, the one night when I thought of ending it all. But somehow, he came to the rescue as always. He stopped me from doing the unpredictable and he healed me. But I didn't want to be healed, I only wanted to forget.

Walking back down I turned and my father was still in the living room, shaking my head I walked out of the house. I put the last box in the cargo and closed the door. Looking back up at the house, I took in all its beauty, all its shape, and colors. I buried it deep in my mind just in case I wanted to remember what it felt like to be all alone in the world. I opened the driver side of the car and stared at it for some reason I couldn't climb inside. I turned to the house and then back to the car, something was telling me to not go, something was begging me to stay.

"Tell me why?"I asked walking into the living room. My father was still there, sitting and watching the flames of the fire.

"Daddy, answer me,"I begged him. I wanted to know why he treated me so cruel. Why did he hate me so much, why? When he didn't answer or turn my way, I walked over to him and made him face me.

"For the love of God, answer your daughter," I said in an angry tone. He rolled his eyes and smacked my hands off his face.

"I don't have to answer you" he sneered at me.

"Yes, you do. You owe me-"

"I don't owe you anything," he said. He pushed me and I fell to the ground. He gets up and begins to walk away. I was going to let him walk away but something caught my attention. The book burning in the fire was a copy of the first book I published. It didn't make much but people in my town liked it. I stared at it shocked.

"Why did you burn it?" I asked turning to my father. He stops but didn't turn or said anything.

"Why?" I asked again as I got up from the floor. I walked over to him and stood in front of him, he turns away.

"All this time, all this damn time you read it? You read my book," I said disbelief but he rolled his eyes.

"It wasn't that good. I don't know why people said it was good," he said walking away from me.

"You have one last chance to make it right," I said and he stops but doesn't turn around.

"If I leave this house I won't ever come back. I'll leave and never look back. This is your last chance, daddy." I said hoping he'll do the right thing. I prayed he'll turn around and hug me. I prayed that he'll come and tell me he's sorry. I should have known better, I shouldn't have expected so much from him.

"Have a nice life, Jenny," he said before walking up the stairs. I watched him head upstairs and it took a lot to not go up there and scream at him. It took a lot of willpower to not scream at him, call him names that no father should be called, it took a lot to stand there and watch him leave. One question kept on asking as I drove away from the house, who was wrong? Him for walking away from his daughter? Or me, for walking away from my father?

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~15 years later~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~''

Opening the front door, I walked inside the house. I remember it being so cold and distance. I don't ever remember it to be warm and friendly. I don't ever remember having any good memories in this place. There were all bad memories of my father and me. I remember him hating me with a burning passion. I remember all the stares he would give me whenever he thought I wasn't looking. But now I sit in the same exact spot where we last talked, where we last saw each other alive. I stared into the fireplace where he turned my book. I took out the letter he sends to me before leaving. I slowly opened it and I read it.

Dear Jenny,

The last and final time we talked, you asked me a question. A question to this day I ask myself. And to this day I do not know why I hate you but I do. I won't ask for your forgiveness, I don't expect it or do I truly want it. And besides, I know you won't give it to me, I wasn't the greatest father in the world. I treated you with such hate and disrespect. I won't justify my actions to you because I don't have to. I don't owe you anything but you owe me something. You owe me an answer which I know I won't get, well not now anyway. I have a question for you and I want your honesty. Why did you stay?

And just like that, he ended this letter. He didn't even clarify his question as to why did I stay? I don't even know what he meant so I won't answer. I looked into the fire and I watched how it burned. The last time I was here was when he was still alive. It's been three days since he passed away. My mother died two years ago and he didn't even invite me to her funeral. I didn't even know until two months later when I visit my hometown with Jasmine and the girls. Do how stupid I felt when people asked me why I didn't come. At first, I didn't know what they were talking about so I came home. For the first time since I left, I came home. I didn't expect my old keys to work but it did. Opening the front door, I walked in seeing my father in the living room as though nothing ever happened. I walked in and he briefly looked up and sighed.

"What?" he asked in a bored tone. I stared at him confused and angry. How dare he?

"Is it true?" I asked and he rolls his eyes.

"Is what true?" he asked,

"Is it true that mother is dead?" I asked and once again he eyes his eyes but nod.

"Why didn't you tell me?" I asked him.

"Would you even bother to come?" I stared at him hurt and confused.

"OF COURSE I WOULD COME. SHE'S MY MOTHER," I screamed at him.

"Please, you haven't seen her since you left-"

"What do you even mean? I would see her every Christmas and every other damn holiday, she would come and visit the girls. Just because you didn't want me there doesn't mean I wouldn't have come. For the God how can you be so cruel towards your own daughter? How could you not tell me MY OWN MOTHER IS DEAD! YOU FUCKEN BASTARD," I screamed at him as I continued to cry. He just sat there and watched me cry.

"Where is she buried?" I asked, he didn't even answer me but continue to stare.

"Never mind, I'll go and find out myself" I turned around but before I left I turn to him and he stares at me with an expression I never saw.

"I won't ever forgive you for this. She was my mother and I had the right to know. Even though you and I aren't on good terms, we are still family. You are my father and I am your daughter, your one and only daughter. I came home so you can meet them, but now you'll never get to see them. Why do you hate me so much? Daddy, why?" I asked once again like expected he didn't answer but this time he looked away. Felling angrier I turned away and left him there.

I climbed into my car and called all the local funeral homes, hoping they'll tell me she was there. Finally, after the fifth try, they told me she was there. I went to the cemetery and parked aside. I walked to my mother's headstone and I broke down and cried. I cried for not being there when she needed me. I broke down and cried for not being the perfect daughter. I cried and I cried.

After nine years of not talking or having any kind of communication, I finally decided to reach out to her. We meet up and talked, she asked for forgiveness and I forgave her. Not because I had to but because I saw the sincerity in her eyes when she asked. In a way I wanted my mother back, I just wanted at least one of my parents back. We talked more and we both agree she can come and visit the girls, who were so excited to me her. My mother said she'll come to every Christmas and every other holiday, she even asked if we can go home but I told her, I wouldn't go back there and she understood why. She said we could all travel somewhere nice, somewhere where we haven't been. For four years she and the girls were getting to know each other and now all they have are short memories of her. I feel guilty for not letting them meet her earlier but I had a grudge against them. And now my little girls will not know their grandmother, now they'll only have those beautiful memories they shared with her.