Homecoming to an Empty Heart

Deep within the tall building of Greendale's police headquarters, Julia Graham was having a private conversation with her superior, Lawrence Davis.

"Julia, I hope you understand how dangerous this mission is. You'll be going undercover in a criminal organization. If you're exposed, you'll suffer a fate worse than death.

"Even if you manage to infiltrate the organization, you'll have to join in on all the criminal activities to gather evidence, maybe even shoot at your own comrades," Lawrence warned, his expression grim.

"Not only will you suffer from the psychological effects of doing so, but no one knows how long you'll have to go through such torment. Moreover, you have a husband and a son, as well as your parents. Are you sure you can bear to leave them?"

Standing at salute, Julia replied, "I'm already preparing to divorce my husband. He'll have a new wife who will take good care of our son. As for my parents, they've reunited with their biological daughter and are very happy with her. I have nothing to worry about."

Her voice remained steadfast as she continued, "I'm willing to do what it takes to bring down these criminals and protect the safety of our nation as well as our people. I readily offer my life to the country, and I won't regret this!"

Lawrence seemed to want to continue dissuading Julia, but he didn't know what to say.

"I have to do this," Julia insisted. "My mentor, Captain Tolliver, mysteriously disappeared after making contact with this criminal organization. I have to find him, even if it's only to bring his body back.

"I've spent the last few years investigating these criminals. No one knows this case better than I do. I'm the only one who can take them down, sir."

Lawrence remained reluctant. "You should know that if you become an undercover operative, your name and contributions might never be made public. There's a safer path for you to choose. You don't have to live your life in constant fear…"

As if relenting, Lawrence finally says, "Since you've made up your mind… go ahead, then. I hope you'll get the chance to put on this uniform again. Once you leave, your name and identity will become classified information. You will no longer be you. I wish you good luck and all the best!"

He raised a trembling hand and returned the salute.

"I've always had good luck," Julia said with a faint smile.

…

When Julia emerged from the police building, she was already dressed in regular attire, the breeze tugging at the hem of her jacket.

It was rush hour. The light of the setting sun filtered through the tree branches, and the streets were packed with people heading to their respective homes.

The restaurants were bustling with hungry dinner crowds, while children played with their friends along the sidewalk. Life seemed so picturesque.

Julia stood dazedly on the street, not knowing where she should go.

Lawrence had said that it would take seven days to create a flawless cover identity for her. While waiting for that, he told her to spend time with her family and bid them a proper goodbye.

But she knew that no one in her family welcomed her.

Her husband, Elijah Sherwood, and their son, Coby Sherwood, were fond of her younger sister, Juliette Graham, who'd reunited with the family a year ago.

Out of guilt, her parents, Jerry Graham and Bertha Lewis, doted heavily on Juliette. At the same time, they now treated Julia as if she were a complete stranger to them.

All of a sudden, a notification popped up on Julia's phone. She tapped on it and saw a video that was shot in the home she'd put a lot of effort into decorating.

The video started with a scene in the kitchen, where Elijah—handsome and sophisticated-looking—was smiling to the camera.

"Hungry already, you greedy bunny? Your favorite grilled ribs are almost ready."

Juliette, the person taking the video, said coyly, "Let me try a piece! I want to see if you added too much salt again."

With an exasperated yet doting expression, Elijah picked up a piece of meat and blew on it lightly before feeding it to Juliette. "Careful. It's hot."

The camera panned down to show a young boy—Coby—jumping up and down in excitement. "Me too! I want some too! You're being unfair, Daddy. You don't like me anymore now that you have Aunt Juliette!"

Juliette ruffled Coby's hair while saying, "How is he being unfair? Didn't your daddy make you your favorite pulled pork?"

As expected, it was a video featuring Julia's husband, son, and younger sister.

Toward the end, the camera flashed past a crayon drawing that was hung up on the living room wall. There were streaks of glue lining the artwork, traces of where the drawing had been put together again.

The drawing depicted a blue sky dotted with white clouds, while a family of three—two adults and one child—stood hand-in-hand on the grass.

Two weeks ago, Julia was thrilled when she saw Coby making this drawing. She asked him, "Are you drawing you, Daddy, and me?"

Coby glared at her in displeasure and snapped, "That's Daddy, Aunt Juliette, and me! Don't you get it yet, Mommy? Even if I add a fourth person to this drawing, I hope it'll be a little sister that Daddy and Aunt Juliette give me!"

Although his voice still carried the innocence of a child, the words stabbed her in the heart. As they echoed in her ears, she looked up and saw Juliette lowering her head bashfully.

Elijah, however, simply chuckled and asked, "Do you want a little sister, Coby?"

It was at that very moment that Julia realized there was no longer a place for her in this family anymore.

Following the video was a taunting message from Juliette.

"When are you going to accept reality and give up, my dear sister?"

After a minute, the phone screen dimmed automatically, and a reflection of Julia's emotionless face could be seen.

None of it mattered anymore.

Pocketing her phone, she silently answered Juliette's question in her heart.

"I already have."