My parents gave me the name Grace because they believed I was a gift from God. From the moment I was born, I was showered with love and affection. I was reminded each day by my parents that I was special, that I was unique and fragile.

But when they died nine years ago, the fragile part of me shattered into little bits like glass. It felt like my world came crashing down. It was like there was nothing left to live for. Each year, I'm reminded of the pain I felt that day. Each year, it feels like I'm reliving that horrible day and it's no different this year.

Nine years without my parents. It's like a wave of emotions hitting me all at once. Sometimes I wish it had been me instead of them. I had received many calls from Monica and a few of my parents' friends.

"G? Are you okay?", Theodore asks, snapping me out of my thoughts. I flicked my eyes around the room to find everyone staring at me including Donald Rachel and Theodore. I nodded before saying, "Yeah, I'm fine." I smiled apologetically. Rachel continues saying, "Your source. Have they found out which name those two number plates were registered under?"

I shake my head and answer, "They were both fake plates. It's a dead end." Donald continued saying, "Rachel, Grace and I will go interview Elijah further right now. He knows something we don't." Theo nods and we set out to The Baldini Group building in Donald's card.

Donald is in the driver's seat and I'm in the passenger seat leaving Rachel seated in the back seat. I look out the window and sigh. We stop at a traffic light. I feel Donald's hand in mine. I turn to look at our intertwined hands and then look up at him.

"Are you okay? You've been spacing out a lot today.", Donald says with genuine concern. I lightly smile and say, "I'm alright, really. There's just been a lot on my mind." His expression reveals that he doesn't believe my lame excuse but drops it anyway and says, "I'm here if you ever need to talk, okay?" I nod and suddenly Rachel clears her throat saying, "I'm still here lovebirds." I feel my cheeks turn bright red of embarrassment.

Donald begins to drive once the light turns green and within a few minutes we're inside the building heading for Elijah's office. His secretary lets us in and Donald speaks up. "Good day Mr. Baldini."

Elijah stands up gesturing for us to take a seat. "Good afternoon agents. Nice to meet you once again.", he says and turns to look at me. "I believe we haven't met. I'm Elijah Baldini as you know." I stare close at his features. He looked handsome. He was dressed in a black suit. I could still smell the strong scent of aftershave coming from him. He looked like he was in his forties with a bit of grey hair growing among his brown hair. His green eyes were mesmerizing to look at. God really took his time in creating this man.

We shook hands and I introduced myself. Donald began to ask questions. "Sir. We believe that you still know more on the disappearance of your daughter.", Donald says and Elijah responds quickly, "I told you, I haven't seen Gina in years and I recently just got back from Madrid." Donald sighs and nods his head at me to go ahead.

I then bring out my phone and show him the picture we have of him and Gina boarding the plane to Madrid together. "Your daughter is the prime suspect in the case we're investigating. If you don't tell us everything we need to know, you could be charged with obstruction of justice and abetting murder. Even the rich can't escape the law.", I say and Elijah's eyes suddenly darken.

He slams his hands onto the table and stands up speaking in a stiff tone saying, "If you're going to threaten me agent, you might as well leave my office or shall I call security?" Rachel replies calmly saying, "Only the guilty would see it as a threat. Now tell us what we want to know and we'd let you off."

Elijah sits back down. He sighs before saying, "Gina's mixed up with some dangerous people. These people could go after you and your family." Donald responds saying, "Which people?" "THE TRIAD. This organization is the most powerful organization in the criminal world. They have so much influence everywhere."

"It still doesn't explain what you were doing in Madrid with the daughter you say you haven't been in touch with in years.", I say and Elijah replies, "Gina left when her sister died. I tried to get in touch with her ever since then but it was like she had vanished. Her phone was unreachable and I didn't know where to search for her so I gave up. A few months ago, she reached out to me saying she had a nice job and she wanted us to go on a trip together to Madrid to catch up on what we've missed in each other's lives. I immediately accepted and on getting there I was taken to an abandoned building and Gina tortured and forced me to fund THE TRIAD's upcoming project. I didn't know that she was a criminal till then."Donald asks, "Do you have any idea where she could be staying?" Elijah shakes his head and responds saying," I have no idea."

We thank him for his time and head back to the agency. On our way back Rachel says, "I kind of sympathize with him. His first daughter died and his only child left has become a terrorist." Donald continues saying, "It's sad honestly." They continue to talk about the case while I remain silent.

We arrived at the agency and we began to brief the others on the information we had received. Theo informed us that he's getting closer to finding the whereabouts of Regina Baldini. Soon it was time to head home.

"Hey, are you ready?" Donald asks as I pack up for the day. I reply saying, "I wanna walk home if that's fine with you?" He nods with confusion written all over his face but masks it with a smile and says, "Call me when you get home alright?" I nod and began to head home.

As I'm walking home, my phone buzzes through my pocket. I take it out and just as I'm about to switch off my phone, I realize it's Monica and that she's called and texted me more than twenty times.

I pick it up and hold it to my ear. "Hey Mon", I say and she replies in an exaggerated tone, "Grace, I've been trying to get a hold of you for hours." I just reply with, "Oh. I've been busy." "How are you holding up?", she asks in a worried tone. "I'm okay.", I respond. She continues, "Do you want me to come over? We could binge watch F.R.I.E.N.D.S, eat pizza and have a good cry."

I respond saying, "I just want to be alone." She replies saying, "Oh. Alright. Well if you need me, I'm just a phone call away." I thank her and end the call. I enter my house and get changed into a black dress with a black coat to avoid getting a cold.

I then head out to a flower shop and request a bouquet of daisies. After receiving the flowers, I walk to the one place where I'm left alone with my thoughts.

"Himom. Hi dad.", I say and place the flowers on their grave. I take a seat on the grass and stare at the photo of the two of them. "I miss you." I continue in a shaky voice, trying my best not to break down into tears.

"I wish you were here with me. I miss you so much.", I say with a faint smile on my face. "I love you and will continue to love you.", I speak and suddenly, I feel someone sitting down on the grass beside me. I turn to see it's Donald.

"How did you know I was here?"", I ask, and he replies saying, "Your friend, Monica called and said she was worried about you. She knew where you would be so she sent me the address and I came here as fast as I could." He places a bouquet of daises on my parents' grave.

He doesn't ask any questions and just pulls me into his arms. My eyes begin to fill with tears threatening to fall. "It's okay to cry. You don't have to act strong in front of me.", he says and then the tears flowed easily down my face.

"I miss them every day.", I say shakily and he just holds me whispering, "I know. It's okay." We stay in that position for about an hour and Don decides to drive me home. I'm too tired to protest so I comply.

When we get to my house, I invite Donald in. I change into something more comfortable and then we sit down on the couch. "I'm here if you ever need to talk." He reassures me and I smile lightly.

"My parents were my role models. I wanted to be just like them. I wanted to experience the exquisite love that they both had for one another. We always went to the park every weekend. The smiles on their faces when I won many competitions in high school. The smile they had on their faces when I graduated from college. They were always so supportive of my dreams. They encouraged me to become a better person. They always told me I was meant for greater things. The memories we shared together remain carved into my heart. Then tragedy came along. They died in a car accident. It was a hit-and-run. That's the reason I left the agency. I tried to look for the people who killed my parents but they went off the grid and I didn't have the resources to look for them. There were many times I considered ceasing to exist. There were times when I felt so numb. I wouldn't eat for days. I'd sit down in the same spot and zone out for hours. Days where I wished it was me instead of them.", I say and sigh.

Donald responds in a gentle tone saying, "Hey, don't say that. It's okay to miss your parents. It's okay to cry. No one's going to judge you for that but what would they want from you? From what you've said about them, I'm sure they'd want you to live your life to the fullest. They'd want you to find love and be happy. They'd want the best for you Grace."

I look at him to him already staring at me. "I guess so.", I say and he continues, "My dad was diagnosed with lung cancer. It was a rough time for my family and I. My dad was in and out of the hospital on a regular basis. A few months later, he was admitted to the hospital and he began chemotherapy. Each day I spent with him, I feared it was going to be the last. But my mum was my support system throughout and she always told me that to get over it, you have to get through it. You have to let yourself cry. You don't always have to put on a brave face. So I did exactly that. I cried for hours that day and I believe that my dad would be back home in no time. He was recently discharged from the hospital a few months ago and his doctor said that he would be cleared in no time as long as he continues to use his medications. Now, I'm not saying you should forget about your parents. What I'm saying is don't let that weigh you down and remember that they'll always be with you in your heart and that they are in a better place." I nod and continue, "I'm sorry about what you went through, I had no idea." He just shrugs and responds saying, "It's okay. He's doing much better now."

I go into my room and bring out a mixtape. I head back into the living room and then I play the mixtape. I sit down on the couch and snuggle close to Donald. The video shows my parents and I in the park playing and having fun. Donald and I laughed at my pigtails and watched the tape silently. Memories flooded my mind and I felt at peace with myself. After nine years of hell, this finally felt like the closure I had longed for.