[h2][i]Kara[/i][/h2][hr][hr]

Kara sat curled up on the couch in her apartment, wrapped in a fleece blanket. Her hands were wrapped around a chipped ceramic mug half-filled with tea that's since turned lukewarm. The TV in front of her played some documentary she wasn't fully paying attention to as she was lost in thought, mainly reliving the experience after the shooting and upon their arrival at her home.

The phone rang again. Kara stared at it. She was hesitant to pick up but after a moment she reached for it, already knowing who was on the other end of line.

"Hello?"

[i]"Kara..."[/i] Her supervisor was on the other end, pausing for some reason before he continued. [i]"The report with your name on it landed on my desk. I'm sure you know what this means now, don't you?"[/i]

Of course she knew. "Yes," she bit her bottom lip with enough force for it to hurt but not to draw blood, "I'm aware."

[i]"You can come in tomorrow to return your badge and whatever else was issued to you as well as to pick up any personal belongings. Do you have any questions?"[/i]

[i]None other than why are you so indifferent when taking away someone's livelihood?![/i] "No sir, no questions." 

The young woman refrained from making any further comment and hung up the phone. She stood frozen for a moment before having to suppress the extreme urge to cry. Then the thoughts flooded her. [i]How am I supposed to support myself now? Do I tell mom? Do I tell my brother? Where will I live.[/i] The feeling in that moment was overwhelming, and she sunk herself deeper into her own self-made hell before taking a moment to reflect. It wasn't the end of the world, it was only a job. Granted, a job she lost, but there would be others. 

Like a switch, Kara was suddenly on the move. She would head out to see a friend, someone she's known for years, and hopefully this person would help her with what she needed.