Jemima's family has been torn apart for so long it hits hard.

Jemima lay in bed staring at the ceiling for some time now. As nice as it was that she finally got an apartment all to herself, she still felt... well, lonely. Her mind kept on calling back to her about where it all started. The days her family drifted apart. It was bad enough when her parents died and one of her older brothers and her older sister left home, but the feeling didn't really kick in until her oldest brother had to leave her little sister and herself at an orphanage.

Mima, I need you to look after Holly for me. I have no idea how long I'll be gone, but I'll try to come back for you. Can you be a brave girl for me?

The first couple of weeks were hard to say the least. It didn't help that Holly would constantly ask her about why they were even there and where the rest of their family was. All she could say was it was just them now and they had to take care of each other.

But she did her best to stay determined that one day, somehow, Striker would come for them and take them home.

Sadly, fate had other plans.

Jemima, Holly, there's two couples here who each would like to adopt you. Do you want to meet them?

What really broke her heart was seeing that Holly was eager to meet them and, probably, live with one of them. From what she remembered, the hellhound couple could only take one of them. Not to say they didn't like both of them and they wouldn't take up much space, but they unfortunately didn't have the best living space for two orphans.

And as if that wasn't enough, Holly actually wanted to go with them.

Don't worry, Jemmie, I'll be okay. Maybe you can come visit me sometime.

But, Holly-

I know you miss big brother, but I think he'd want us to be taken care of, don't you?

As much as Jemima hated to admit it, she knew Holly was right. She was genuinely surprised at how calm Holly sounded; for an impling, she seemed wise beyond her years. Something Jemima was a little envious of. Still, the hardest was saying goodbye.

Luckily, or so she liked to believe, the imp couple that took her in seemed to understand her pain.

It's never easy losing the ones you love, believe me, we know. But it doesn't mean you're alone.

That's right, when you love someone, they stay in your heart forever.

Jemima would never forget her adopted parents' words, not even the day they gave their lives for her. The annual cleanse was now yet another reminder of her long years of loneliness.

She wished she had her siblings' luck. Her youngest sister, as far as she knew, still lived with and was provided for by those nice hellhounds, her older sister now had a stable job and a loving family, and her oldest brother, oh was he lucky.

Jemima knew Striker had it rough since that day, too. But after their reunion back in Wrath, she could tell he'd come so far. He was much stronger and tougher than she remembered and had now become a single yet proud father to a wonderful little daughter.

Little Maria was lucky too. She didn't have to know what being an orphan was like; to cry herself to sleep for many nights, to wake up in an entirely different home full of strangers, to lose everything she held onto. And Jemima was certain Striker wouldn't let that happen again.

With a sigh, Jemima picked up her phone and dialed his number. He wouldn't appreciate being called on a work night, but she didn't care.

Just hearing his voice would do her some good.