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?

was nothing but four

the home of a

soldier! He served eight years in the army

of choosing between his country and his family, he chose

hero—a

an

right by his brothers in arms,

he didn’t do right by was his little sister. They had been each other’s strength ever since they were

the look in Zachary’s eyes as he made his dying

but on the day when Zachary died, Thomas wept. He cried his heart

A hero.

on Thomas. Those who sacrificed themselves

now on, he was going to 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

Huff!

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

help but feel a sense of helplessness as he felt about his pockets. Even the best of men were bested by money

the street gloomily and started smoking a cigarette

be a poor, disabled man. True enough, that chick was so soft-hearted and sympathetic that she ended up

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

“You’re awesome, Walt!”

the direction where the voices were coming from. He spotted four men who looked like thugs, and they were dragging an unconscious

that was particularly noticeable in the darkness of night. The bandages kept his hands in place, and from a distance,

he

man was Walt Fisher, the guy whose wrists he had broken just earlier

a sly grin on his face. “Guys, this chick is the bomb! Look at those breasts! And those long legs of

“That’s right. I feel like I’m burning up inside. Hey, let’s not wait until we get to the motel. It’s dark out now anyway, and

you! Let’s let off some steam first and carry on later when