I’m Someone Else

Chloe made a trip to the nearest grocery shop and came back with some meat and vegetables. She prepared a delicious meal for Thomas right in the house she was renting.

“The food’s ready, Thomas. Give it a taste and see if you like my cooking.”

Thomas nodded. He was starving after everything that happened today.

Chloe was a pretty good cook. The food she made was excellent, and Thomas dug in heartily, but as he ate, he began to realize that she was only filling up his plate while she stuck with a few bites of mashed potatoes.

“Why aren’t you eating more, Chloe?”

“Oh! I’m on a diet, Thomas. You don’t need to worry about me. Have some more.”

“A diet?”

Thomas found it strange. It was the first time he had heard of someone going on a diet by eating mashed potatoes.

After the meal, he saw Chloe taking out several food containers and storing the leftovers in them. It was then that he realized what was going on. She wasn’t on a diet at all. The food was too precious to her. She wanted to bring it to her sickly father instead.

Thomas felt his heart twisting up.

He watched as Chloe walked off into the kitchen before closing his eyes. Those frail, slender shoulders of hers bore the weight of a burden far too heavy for her. A person her age shouldn’t be shouldering such heavy responsibilities.

He heaved out a heavy sigh.

He then opened his eyes. He took a deep breath and glanced around the room. It was small. All it could fit was a bed. The thing that caught his attention the most was the little slivers of blue skies that peeked through the ceiling.

He was overwhelmed with bitterness and regret, and he couldn’t help but clench his fists. Was this the home of a hero?

nothing

be the home of a hero who served his

served eight years in the army and gave up

and his

a hero—a bona fide

an honorable

in arms, by his nation,

person he didn’t do right by was his little sister. They had been each

eyes as he made his

not tears, but on the day when Zachary died, Thomas wept. He

A hero.

Those who sacrificed themselves were heroes,

treat Zachary’s sister as his own and not let anyone hurt her or humiliate her. He was going to change the Hahns’ living situation! He wanted to ensure

Huff!

down. After glancing around the room again, he decided to rent a new place

up, but he couldn’t help but feel a sense of helplessness as he

a cigarette as he tried to come up with an

a poor, disabled man. True enough, that chick was so

silver lining. Take a look at this chick. See how gorgeous she is? We’re in for

“You’re awesome, Walt!”

the voices were coming from. He spotted four men

the lead had a peculiar get-up. Both of his wrists were wrapped up in thick layers of white bandage that was particularly noticeable in the darkness of

he

look, Thomas realized that the man was Walt Fisher, the guy whose wrists he

the bomb! Look at

burning up inside. Hey, let’s not wait until we get to the motel. It’s dark out now anyway, and there’s no one around. Let’s have some fun right

with you! Let’s let off some steam first and carry on later when we get to