Epilogue

I hate death

I hate cemeteries.

I hate how people use death as a shield, a reset button, just like you did, Dad. Do you even realise that you left me to clean up after you in both lives? What a mess!

So, yes Dad. You’ll always be remembered as a coward and a hypocrite by me.

But don’t worry, the world still calls you a legend here and even in reality.

A man with a big heart, leaving behind a legacy no one dares to question. You’re safe in their story. You egotistical bastard.

And here I am again, standing in front of your virtual grave. I know you can hear me through the transmitters and I'm not here to remind you to treat me as your daughter, far from it. I came to vent.

Don’t ask me why I'm here. I get that I'm wasting my time with these pent up emotions... I'm asking myself the same damn thing because, I know how much you love playing deaf to my cries.

I don’t miss you.

I don’t yearn for your recognition, wisdom or your protection anymore. Not when I spent my life learning how to survive without any of them.

I’m not that little girl you threw into the world like a pawn on a chessboard, some guinea pig to your experiments, a lab partner_, Let me tell you now, I'm me, your daughter, Annette. Not Anderson, not Alex.

I’m a big woman now. A force to be reckoned. Thunder Group's very own shark.

They have no idea, do they?

They didn't even realise that I was performing the whole time, reading from a script that even the tiniest mistake meant death in both these worlds.

But, it's true what you said before that Power is a shield. But, you know what I learned from all that? It wasn’t a gift. It was the price I paid to stay alive here.

Time’s a weird thing, isn’t it? You’d be old now in reality. Probably even soft. Sentimental even. That thought alone makes me laugh.

Feels like just yesterday someone pointed at this very grave and said, "That’s your father". I honestly wanted to have a laugh then but, I didn't, You know why? I hated you enough not to gave out a single reaction.

And maybe when I log off from this life, I’ll wake up in the reality with you next to me, like none of this ever happened. That scares me, Dad. So much.

How could you send me, your daughter, into a battlefield with no armor, no map, no escape plan? Nothing.

I wasn’t meant to fight, was I? That wasn’t part of the great "design". You wanted some flairs and dramas but, my side of the story would mean weakness to the plot. You didn’t want me to be brave, just powerful.

Well. Mission accomplished.

I survived. I gave it all back to the rightful heir.

There’s nothing left in our name here.

And still, I wonder… Did you ever love me? Even just once? On a good day? I know I won’t get an answer from you... It’s pathetic how hard it is to ask and you are not even here!

I hope you miss me when I’m gone because, I’m done following the script. From now on, I’d be writing my own.

Oh, and Mr. Wesley? He always hated your plan. You’re lucky you were already dead or he’d have skinned you alive. He died just yesterday from here and I suppose he'd be already awake into reality now. Guess you two can fight it out. Personally, I hope he wins.

Goodbye, Dad.

I do love you. In a crazy, twisted way. But this time? I’m choosing me.

Let my life begin.

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