I tied my long black hair into a braid and pulled on a collared shirt. I applied some makeup, not a lot just enough to make my emerald eyes pop. I grabbed my car keys off my dresser and made my way down stairs. My daddy sat at the kitchen table, reading the newspaper with a cup of coffee in his hand. My day had just started and his had just ended. He gave warm smile, a tired look his is crystal blue eyes.

"How did you sleep last night, sweetheart?" He asked.

"Good, Daddy. Another late night I see."

"Yeah, your Uncle Jordan likes to keep me busy. You know it keeps my mind off the war." He said.

"Just try to rest, Daddy. I'll call you when I get to school. I have to go pick up Janine and Michele and stop by Starbucks. So it'll take me a little while. Don't worry about me."

"I know I worry to much Gracie Lynn.... But you are my baby and I don't want anything else to happen to you...."

Daddy had never be able to tell me what happened to me. He would mention something about me disappearing then drop the subject. He was never able to go into the full details of my mother's death either. He'd choke out the word cancer and pretty much leave it at that. I hugged him tight and kissed his cheek.

"Love you, Daddy. I'll call you when I get to school."

"Love you too, sweetheart. Be careful and drive slow."

"Will do." I called over my shoulder.

I closed the door and sighed, praying I wouldn't find the house ransacked when I returned home.