Letters

25

Katana's POV

"Are you coming out tonight?" Talia asks as we walk into the Arsenal Training Center after training.

"I don't know." I mumble. "We'll see."

Talia nods then we split up and head to our respective lockers.

Once I'm at my locker, I take off my boots and gloves then I change out of my training clothes.

After I'm changed, I take a quick shower, dry off, change into my normal clothes then I pack up my stuff.

"Come on boys." I say then my pups and I leave the locker room, leave the training center, and head out to my car.

Once at my car, I throw my bags into the trunk of my blacked out Mercedes-Benz G Wagon then I pick up my dogs and put them in the backseat of the car.

My back seat is covered with a specialized cover that protects the seats and the doors from the pups' paws and claws.

After the dogs are in the back, I shut the door, get into the drivers seat, buckle up, start the car, then I drive back to the apartment in silence.

I usually have Tierna has my passenger to and from training, because we both drive with our respective girlfriends to the gym they work out in in the morning then Tierna rides with me to training.

Today, September 8th, is Oksana's birthday, and I'd rather be alone right now so Tierna's riding back with Tobin.

I almost called out of training today, but I knew if I did then I'd just spend the whole day drinking away my emotions.

There are three days every year that I now hate because of the memories it brings up.

March 4th, August 25, and September 8th.

March 4th, 2022, my wife, son, and in-laws we're murdered by Russians.

Oleksandr was born on August 25, 2017 so he was 4 years old when he was murdered.

September 8th is Oksana's birthday.

After an agonizingly long drive, I arrive back at the apartment building so I pull into the underground parking garage then I park in my reserved parking spot.

Once I'm parked, I get out of the car, get the pups out of the car, get my bags out of the trunk, lock the car, then myself and the pups head up to our apartment.

When we get to our penthouse apartment, I unharness the dogs then they run off into the apartment.

"Puppies." I hear my girlfriend say as I lock the door.

Once the door is locked, I walk through the penthouse to find my girlfriend.

Eventually I find my skier loving on our dogs in the living room.

I also find a small container of cupcakes, some candles, and a lighter sitting on the mantle next to a picture of my wife and son and their urns.

"What's that?" I ask.

"Well Katana." My girlfriend says as she stands up and approaches me. "Since today's Oksana's Birthday, I thought we could have a little celebration of our own."

For the first time all day, I smile a bit.

"That...That sounds nice." I say.

"Awesome." Mikaela says then she hugs me.

I really don't deserve Mikaela.

"Now come on Katana." My girlfriend says. "Let's celebrate Oksana."

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