The man she buried is back and knocking. His words tear down walls, rummaging through the life she had to rebuild, reliving all the pain he caused. Daniel had come around before, many times. In and out, hitting Adrielle like a hurricane but there was never a warning of his appearance. It wasn’t meant to be easy, it was meant to burn, turn everything upside down and it always had. Blood may be thicker than water, but water never stings when it flows through. 

Daniel Bryne, a once honest, hardworking and kind man, turned to a true monster, seemingly overnight. At the age of 18 years old, Daniel enlisted into the United States military, joining the Army. After two deploy missions, at only 20 years old, he returned home for a year to take care of his mother and father when he met a woman named Estelle Beckett. A young blonde florist working in her family’s shop. She was sweet, gentle but strong and fierce when necessary. It took a lot to spark that flame, but once you did, the flames set ablaze and there was never enough to put it out.

Estelle loved nature and plants and was going to school to become a Geologist. She was a force to be proud of, and one to fear… Daniel became drawn to that, Estelle had that charm about her, drawing in soldiers like a siren draws in sailors. Her beauty, her kindness, her sweet voice, it was all so alluring, and it caught Daniel. 

Within just 3 weeks of his time home, he began taking the beauty on dates to nice dinners, picnics, museums, gardens, and the drive-in movie theater. She was enchanted by his kindness and resilience. It didn’t seem forced, the connection felt so real and so true that Estelle couldn’t help but to fall in love with the young soldier. The two did so much together, spending every moment they could. 

Early on, the florist met Daniel’s parents, they were kind and welcoming, greeting her with open arms and not too soon after, Daniel and Estelle gained a new addition to their love story. One starting so sweet, bringing another beauty into the world, ending so dark and twisted. You see, Estelle had only one secret from Daniel, she had a weak heart, and the pregnancy had been tough. She tried to keep up the facade, but as she neared her third trimester, it got much harder. She was growing tired, weak… Her body was beginning to fail and at just 26 weeks, Estelle went into labor. 12 brutal hours later, she welcomed a beautiful but tiny baby girl into the world whom she named Adrielle Miriam Bryne, after her mother and Daniel's little sister. The two were lost in their daughter’s blue eyes, her tan skin and light red hair. She was perfect, so beautiful and they were so happy to finally meet and hold her.

But something went wrong… 4 days after Adrielle was born, Estelle had fallen asleep at 4:06am, 20 minutes later, the alarms started blaring. Her heart rate flatlined, blood pressure bottomed out, nurses and doctors flooded into the room, doing all they could to save the new mother, but there was no hope. That is when they learned of the damage innocent Adrielle had caused her poor mom. Estelle’s heart was weak; she was born with Congenital Heart Defect. She had treatment which has kept her strong and alive for 23 years, but the pregnancy had weakened her to a point of no return. The strain of the pregnancy was too much for her heart to take and unfortunately, Estelle Beckett passed away at only 23 years old, 4 days after the birth of her first and only child. Daniel was devastated as he walked towards the nursery. Having to let go of the love of his life, he felt so much anger and had nowhere else to place it, so as he looked at his 4-day old daughter, he felt a sense of blame, as if it was all her fault. He began resenting her and when they left the hospital, it all truly went downhill.

Soon after Estelle passed, Daniel began to drink. He cut contact with everyone, his parents, siblings, friends… they all lost him overnight. Adrielle suffered the most, because though he kept her, he didn’t care for her. Daniel grew more and more aggressive and resentful towards her. He drowned himself in bottles to cope with the loss of his true love and could no longer look at his only daughter the same. “I hate you” rang through the home regularly. Whether Adrielle was sleeping, watching tv, or just lying there, Daniel couldn’t silence his resentment towards her, because, in his mind, she killed Estelle. For the first few months, he tried to love his daughter, he tried to accept her and move on, coping by going to a grief support group, but he stopped going. He stopped trying.

When Adrielle turned 5, it got worse. The abuse became more frequent, it started small, just verbal, or Daniel would ignore her for days at a time. At 6 years old, Adrielle learned to cook for herself, she learned to clean, taught herself to read and write. It was a way to escape the pain. Soon after the verbal abuse began, Daniel added physical abuse. Again, it started small, rough grabs, pushing her away where she’d stumble backwards, resulting in her falling and being pushed into the wall. Then the hits started, knocking on her cheek, her eye, punching her stomach until she vomited, it seemed to never end. As she grew older, it only got worse, but she also began planning. Adrielle decided to just run. She didn’t sneak away. Instead, she walked into the living room with her few bags and looked at her father.

“Where are you going?” Daniel said, slurring his words, beer in hand.

“I’m leaving. Figured I could at least tell you. Don’t contact me ever again Daniel.” Without another word, she walked out. Daniel didn’t chase after her, he just sat there in silence for a moment. Then, he stumbled out of his chair, walking to the front door, almost ripping it off the hinges.

“Adrielle! Get your ass back here!” He screamed but Adrielle didn’t stop. “Adrielle Miriam! I swear I will kill you, you ungrateful brat!” Daniel stumbled into the street, falling to the gravel, watching Adrielle walk away, shoulders tense but she held her high up high. She took his abuse, made too many excuses and told too many lies to protect him for far too long. His damage was done and now, she was going to repair it, put herself back together and make her own story. She was no longer the decorated soldier's daughter, Adrielle Bryne. She was only Adrielle Miriam Beckett, and she wasn’t going back. She no longer considered Daniel a father, Estelle was the only parent she still had.

Adrielle rebuilt her life. She went to college, became a police officer and got in contact with her once estranged grandparents. They of course welcomed her, and she found real peace, but of course, all good things must come to an end…

Every night since she left, Adrielle prayed to God Daniel wouldn’t come back, he wouldn’t call or write again. She had changed her number so many times, but he always found her somehow. Adrielle sat at her mother's grave and begged her to save her, to come back, to protect her. Though she never truly knew Estelle, Adrielle loved her more than anything, she always missed someone she could never see, and never met… “Mama please… I wish I knew your voice… your sent. Maybe if you were still here, I would truly be safe. I miss you mama… but how can I miss you when I never met you?” She paused, taking a shaking breath. “I wish I was the one who died, because at least you’d be here, and Daniel wouldn’t have done this…”

Her phone began ringing and she picked it up. “Officer Beckett, what is the problem?”

“Disorderly, public intoxication and physical assault at the dive bar downtown. I knew you were stationed out there.”

“Got it, heading there now. Got anything else for me?”

“It’s a white male. According to the caller, he’s screaming at people in another language. You seemed like the best to call.”

Adrielle sighed. “What language?”

“They couldn’t tell, with the screaming and him slurring, they couldn’t recognize it. Call if you need back up and we’ll send more guys your way.”

“Alright, thanks Jackson.” With that, Adrielle put her phone back in her pocket, wiped her tears and took a deep breath. “Duty calls, I love you mama…” Adrielle grabbed her things and hurried back to her car, turning on her lights and rushing over to the dive bar.

Once she arrived, the voice was like a siren. “아드리엘! 당장 나와요! 당장 나와 이 망할 자식아!” (Adrielle! Get out here you ungrateful brat!)

Adrielle recognized that voice, it echoed in her mind on repeat every day. She took a deep breath, pressed the alert on her phone, signaling for back up before walking into the bar, hand on her firearm. When she entered, the bar went silent, drinks sat on the tables, food left forgotten, and all eyes were on the officer. “Daniel. That’s enough. Put her hands behind your head and get down on your knees.”

“이 개자식아, 네가 누구한테 그런 식으로 말하는 줄 알아?” (Who do you think you are speaking to like that) Daniel slurred, stumbling towards Adrielle.

She pulled her firearm from the holster on her hip, “한 걸음만 더 가면 촬영합니다.” (One more step and I’ll shoot.) Adrielle, responded. “무릎을 꿇고 손을 머리 뒤로합니다.” (On your knees, hands behind your head.) Adrielle remembered all the times Daniel got drunk. Estelle was half Korean, so Daniel learned for her and every time he got drunk, he got angry, he’d scream at Adrielle in Korean. “It’s over Daniel, this is your final strike. Get down, hands behind your head. You get no more warnings.”

Daniel gave up and listened, slowly putting his hands up, clasping them behind his head and he hit his knees, staring up at his daughter with an empty look in his eyes. “You think you’re some fucking hero, but you ran because you’re weak.” He hiccupped. “You killed your mother and can’t even take responsibility.” Just then, backup entered. Adrielle never shared her wounds, but they would all know now. “You were a mistake. I should’ve killed you when I had the chance, at least then I wouldn’t have to see your face ever again.”

Adrielle ignored his words, though they stung, and cuffed him. She stepped back and had the other officers drag him to their squad car. As they dragged Daniel out, paramedics came in and Adrielle walked over to the victim. “I’m officer Beckett, where are you injured?”

“My wrist.” They winced, placing their hand on their ribs. “It hurts to breathe.”

“You may have a broken rib.” Adrielle waved to the paramedics to take over. “They’re going to get you to the hospital; an officer will go with you to get your statement.” Adrielle stood back to her feet and went outside, watching as her father got shoved into the back of the squad car, wearing that evil, heart wrenching smirk.

Jackson walked over, slamming the door in Daniels face. “What is your relation to him? It’s obvious this is personal.”

“He’s my father.” Adrielle couldn’t look the officer in his eyes, she watched the car, afraid he’d escape and come after her. She never aimed to harm anyone, it was something that would always destroy her, knowing it would turn her into him…

“What did he do to you? You’ve never spoken of him before.” Jackson questioned, tone soft but direct.

Adrielle sighed, turning to him, finally looking away from the car as it drove off. “He’s the reason for all my scars.” With that, she walked away to her car, turning the key and driving off.

For the last 5 years, Jackson had wondered the cause of Adrielle’s scars. The two attended the police academy together, and one day, Jackson entered the center to see Adrielle training, all the scars visible. The lines all over her back, puncture wounds on her stomach, scars from cigarettes on her arms and chest, and the long scar across the back of her neck all in view. When Jackson asked, Adrielle said she was just clumsy. He knew it wasn’t true, he’d seen enough, heard enough stories just like the untold ones Adrielle lived silently. For the first time she was honest about it. Daniel would’ve killed her, and he surely tried, but she got away just in time.

Adrielle sat in her office, filling out the report when she heard a knock on her door. “Can I come in? I come with statements.” Jackson said, waving written statements. Adrielle sighed, gesturing towards the chair across from her. They sat in silence for a moment. “What’s the truth, Addie? What happened?”

She sighed, setting down her pen. “My mom died after giving birth to me, Daniel blamed me for her death because he didn’t know about her heart defect. He started drinking, isolated us and just… took his grief out on me. It was my life, and I got away, this.” She said, gesturing around her desk and office. “Is my life now. I’m not a Bryne anymore and I never want to be.”

Jackson sat there, trying to process this. “I know I’m not the one you need an apology from, but I can say, you really have put it in the past. But can I ask one more question?” Adrielle nodded. “What did he say to you? I watched the body cam and security footage, but I don’t know Korean.”

“Here.” Adrielle handed him the file. “This is the translation of what he and I said.” Jackson read over the file, eyes widening at every word. “I know, that’s not even the worst of what he has said to me…” Adrielle said, running her hands through her long red hair. “Hey, what are they gonna do to Daniel?”

“Um, he’ll stay here to detox before the trial. The victim is pressing charges and so is the owner for the property damage and disturbance.”

“Great, so I’ll come to work and hear him every day until it’s out of his system…”

Jackson sat down the file, looking up at the clock. “Let me walk you to your car. Just in case he tries to make a run for it.” Adrielle chuckled, standing to her feet and grabbing her things, Jackson followed, and they walked out to the parking lot.

Adrielle opened the car door, about to step in when she turned back to Jackson. “Hey Dylan?”

Jackson turned to her. “Yeah Addie?”

“I may have left, but the past doesn’t disappear. The past always comes back, breaking everything you’ve built.” Adrielle climbed into the car, starting the engine and drove off.

Jackson stood there, he had never looked at it that way, but then again, he’d never been in a place like that firsthand. But he could see the pain Daniel brought to Adrielle.

As Adrielle drove home, she couldn’t help but think what things would turn out like now. He’d seen her, and if he gets out and free, would he come after her again like he had 2 years ago? Would he always come back knocking down all she had built? Would he try again, would she get away or survive next time? She may never know and hopefully she’d never have to find out. Adrielle knew that even if you leave once, the past is still a part of you. She has to live with the scars and pain every day, reminding her where she came from and what she had been through. Adrielle had freedom from her past, from Daniel, but he would always be right behind her, freedom will only come when he is truly gone. She can only wait for the day, and she knew it was wrong to hope, she just wants everyone’s pain to end. Daniel has hurt so many people, including himself. Adrielle believed in Heaven, Hell and everything in between and she wanted to believe even after everything he’d done; he would be with Estelle again…

The past always finds you, remember that…