The news were quick to call the tragedy a victory for justice. The villain had been apprehended by a trio of heroes only moments after throwing Alan Winthrop to his death from a rooftop.
The motives of the crime quickly forgotten by all but those the dead left behind.
Even heroes tend to forget their deeds.
But in this case one of the heroes was also a victim because death does not discriminate and the heroic life El wanted was not the dream she thought it would be..
Eliza was a superhero now she might be something else.
Now:
As Eliza Winthrop walks through the halls of her college campus she seems as a ghost, still alive but her old life as dead as her father.
El, was always one of the cool kids, the center of attention. Now she garners another kind of attention. Hushed whispers and stolen glances. Everyone talking about her, but not daring to speak to her. Treating her as some fragile doll. Afraid to say the wrong thing or anything at all. A few people try with a “I’m sorry for your loss” or “It will get better” and they get a monotone “thank you” in return. They shake their heads and walk away.
Some friends stuck around but most didn’t even bother. Eliza used to be carefree and giving to all around her. Throwing money and smiles around to be the center of affection.
Now she is a shell-shocked shadow of herself. Her emotions buried in ice.
She tries not to make eye contact as she walks down the dormitory’s hallway. El holds tight her little sister, she is in turn clutching a teddy bear. El knocks on Evas door. Her college roomate and superhero partner.
El used to be the local trendsetter, the IT girl. That is gone too. Now you only see her in comfortable clothes and sneakers. Her eyes are puffy from lack of sleep and tears.
“hi, can we talk?” El says eyes downcast as the door opens.
“uhm. moving out dorm. Just came for my things, my laptop and..” she trails off.
“I think I’m taking a sabbatical next term… there is nothing for me here.”
El squeezes her sister a bit tighter. “Anna say hi to my friend Eva”
El ruffles her sister’s hair lovingly but with a quiet desperation in her blue eyes. As she moves part Anna and Eva to enter the dorm room.
Anna takes a step forward, struggling with the stuffed bear. Her arms can barely reach to Eva’s hips. Eva crouch to eye level with the fuzzy toy animal and scratches it behind an ear.
“I like your bear” Anna gives a small smile and Eva gives her a tight hug.in return and whispers “I’m so sorry”
Now:
As Eliza Winthrop walks through the halls of her college campus she seems as a ghost, still alive but her old life as dead as her father.
El, was always one of the cool kids, the center of attention. Now she garners another kind of attention. Hushed whispers and stolen glances. Everyone talking about her, but not daring to speak to her. Treating her as some fragile doll. Afraid to say the wrong thing or anything at all. A few people try with a “I’m sorry for your loss” or “It will get better” and they get a monotone “thank you” in return. They shake their heads and walk away.
Some friends stuck around but most didn’t even bother. Eliza used to be carefree and giving to all around her. Throwing money and smiles around to be the center of affection.
Now she is a shell-shocked shadow of herself. Her emotions buried in ice.
She tries not to make eye contact as she walks down the dormitory’s hallway. El holds tight her little sister, she is in turn clutching a teddy bear. El knocks on Evas door. Her college roomate and superhero partner.
El used to be the local trendsetter, the IT girl. That is gone too. Now you only see her in comfortable clothes and sneakers. Her eyes are puffy from lack of sleep and tears.
“hi, can we talk?” El says eyes downcast as the door opens.
“uhm. moving out dorm. Just came for my things, my laptop and..” she trails off.
“I think I’m taking a sabbatical next term… there is nothing for me here.”
El squeezes her sister a bit tighter. “Anna say hi to my friend Eva”
El ruffles her sister’s hair lovingly but with a quiet desperation in her blue eyes. As she moves part Anna and Eva to enter the dorm room.
Anna takes a step forward, struggling with the stuffed bear. Her arms can barely reach to Eva’s hips. Eva crouch to eye level with the fuzzy toy animal and scratches it behind an ear.
“I like your bear” Anna gives a small smile and Eva gives her a tight hug.in return and whispers “I’m so sorry”
Eliza awkwardly shuffles on her feet. Her laptop safely back in her bag and a modest necklace with a silver heart locket wrapped around her hand. Her fingers traces the links in the necklace like prayer beads.
“I just kinda wanted to say thanks… I don’t blame you. I’m not mad anymore. I’m just……… I don’t know, empty I guess” she looks Eva in the eyes for the first time.“Thank you for being my friend”
She takes the hand of her sister and turns to leave. She stops in her tracks and extends a hand to Eva in it a blue metal badge..
“I should give you this” El says as she hands Eva her IForce badge. “I’m done; I can’t do this anymore, I’m not hero. Maybe I never was”There is an electronic hum as the badge begins to pulse, then it begins to beep.
El begins to walks away. “you should probably take that”
IForce, we have a situation. Dragonborn do you copy? I have a code Indigo
