Glowing in the Sun 5

"Darren, you've always aspired to be a hero, and you idolized the Supers, but Supers are not heroes. Being a hero is not about theatrical performances for on-lookers," Miriam explained. "What Tora is doing is what it means to be a hero. Even in the face of danger, she stands her ground to help and protect those who cannot protect themselves. A hero is someone who stands strong to protect the freedoms of the weak. The enemy may be one individual or an entire institution, but it shouldn't matter. You must have the fortitude, perseverance, and integrity to say no to the injustices in the world. If Tora chooses to do that, neither you nor I have the right to tell her to stop."

Darren could not lift his head after Miriam spoke. Since his childhood, being a superhero was his dream. It was the most significant goal he strove toward.

The world was messy. Governments and countries fought wars between themselves. Superpowered criminals and supernatural beasts attacked people in cities, and they needed to be stopped by other Supers. People died of natural causes, disease, and natural disasters. Children lost their families, they were abandoned, and poverty was widespread.

All his life, Darren believed that having superpowers would allow him to change things for the better. He wanted to join Rouen to fight Prowlers and supervillains that harmed innocent people. He could help people in car accidents and save people from burning buildings. If only he had superpowers. But he had none.

He wanted to help people in some other way, so he volunteered, and he donated. What else could he do? He was powerless.

Not long ago, Darren discovered the institution he so admired, to get rich, were harming innocent people. As heroes, the people they should protect became collateral damage, and a means to an end in their ventures. They protected the lives of the people in public but destroyed the livelihoods of those same people in secret. When he discovered this, instead of doing the right thing, he hid behind the fact that he had no power. He reasoned that he had no superpowers to take on Rouen physically nor the political influence to bring them to justice.

What kind of hero would he be if he hid in fear every time a significant obstacle stood before him? If he were a real superhero, he would probably run and hide every time something stronger than him came along. He would not be able to do anything while people died in front of him.

Darren gritted his teeth to the point where his jaw hurt. As he gripped the arm of the wheelchair, the metal crumpling like a piece of paper seemed to escape his notice.

He released his fist and admitted, dejectedly, "I'm a coward. I do what I can because I don't want to see people suffer. But I'm scared. I'm scared of people. I'm scared of my own emotions." His voice barely a whisper. "I'm scared of losing the people I love. I'm scared of losing Tora."

Miriam bent down in front of Darren, her hand on his shoulder. She placed her finger below his chin, lifting his head slightly, so his eyes met hers. "It's okay to be scared because fear is a part of us. Fear keeps us alive," she replied. "But, you have to overcome your fears if you truly wish to do what is right. Tora was scared, too. That's why she stopped her investigation, but Abby and her mother were innocent people who needed her help. She couldn't turn her back on them." Miriam smiled. "You know she learned that from you. She would always talk about how much you went out of your way to help people. You'd give beggars on the street your food and sit down and talk to them. You defended the weaker kids at the orphanage and even helped the children who would often bully you.

"Etora is 'an eye for an eye; do to others what they do to you' type of person. You inspired her. You do more to repay another's kindness while doing good to others even when they've done wrong by you. All those years she watched you become the strength she needed to help her overcome her fears. Maybe what you need is for someone else to become the strength you need to overcome your fears."

Darren's eyes grew wide as Miriam squeezed his hands tightly. "Whether we have everything or nothing at all, we have a responsibility-" Miriam paused as she looked at Darren. She nodded to him as if telling him to finish her sentence.

"-as human beings, to help, support, and exalt one another." Darren finished.

He used to say that all the time. However, some time ago, he stopped repeating those words. It was a code he wanted to live by after being inspired by Daniel Dorne. Daniel did not have to go out of his way to help Darren's family when their car crashed, but he did. He was a stranger to them, but the man chose to help others at the expense of his own wellbeing.

Darren looked over the city for a moment. "It really is a beautiful view."

He could see all of downtown Los Angeles on one side and the freeway on the other. Right next to the hospital was a small church with its doors wide open as people walked in every few minutes to pray. He listened carefully at the cars running down the streets and the loud voices of the people below, the children in Grand Park just a few blocks away. He could not understand how, but he could hear it. He could listen to everything in his line of sight.

Maybe his mind was playing tricks on him. The wind whistling over the city helped clear his mind. He refocused when he returned his gaze on Miriam.

"Thank you," Darren said as he looked back at Miriam. "Thank you for caring about me. Thank you for helping me realize the reason I wanted powers in the first place." Darren shook his head. "I never wanted powers because I wanted to be cool or a celebrity. I wanted powers so no child would have to watch their mother burn alive."

Miriam's eyes widened as Darren began to emit the same crimson aura as when he was in a coma. He slowly began to float up from the wheelchair.

Darren did not notice the change as he continued to speak. "I've never wanted to admit it, but I have more now than when I was a child. I have people who care about me. I have people who remain at my side no matter how much of an ass or a hypocrite I am. For that, I'm grateful. I still want to be someone who helps people, with or without powers, to fight against injustice, and help anyone in need. Although I may not be able to face anyone right now, I will work to gain the strength I need to do so. I want to do what I can to leave a better world than I found. That is my goal." Darren said.

Darren felt warm and overflowing with energy as he continued to look at the sun as he declared to Miriam. His body felt lighter, and the wind tickled his face as his hair swayed in the light evening breeze.

"That's great, sweetheart." Darren heard Miriam's voice further than before. "Don't freak out but, look down."

Darren's eyes followed down to his feet and further to the floor. He looked closely to see that the balcony was below his feet as his feet were dangling in mid-air. Darren released a sharp gasp before he flailed his arms like he was swimming in a body of water.

"Whoa!" Darren saw the red glow emanating from every corner of his body like a second skin as he hovered in the air. He raised his arms to the sun, looking at the red glow turning a sunset orange against the evening sun. "What the hell?"

Darren looked down when he felt Miriam slide her hands in his. The aura went from Darren to Miriam, enveloping her body, before she also began to float off the balcony floor.

"Ah," Miriam gasped.

She tried not to panic as she analyzed the situation. The higher Darren floated, the higher she rose. It was almost like he was extending his aura onto her body when she took his hand. She could let go of his hand, but she might hurt herself as her feet were meters off the wooden floor.

"Um, okay. It looks like we're going to keep floating up. Imagine you're a balloon filled with helium. We're floating up, so you need to deflate yourself, slowly," she added quickly, "to lower us back on the ground."

Darren nodded and listened to Miriam's advice. He imagined slowly removing the air from a balloon, bit by bit, in small intervals. He came to a stop in mid-air at every interval until he and Miriam touched down on the balcony. The two finally released the breath they held in their lungs as the tense situation alleviated.

"Oh! Oh, my god, that was really scary." Miriam said. She held onto the wall as she tried to regain control of her trembling legs.

"Um, I'm still glowing."

"Well, think of flipping off a light switch." Miriam was just coming up with metaphors as she went along, but they seemed to help. Darren closed his eyes, and his glow diminished until it wholly faded.

"Oh boy," Miriam said as she looked at Darren, her eyes still wide. She pulled him into her office before she closed the door and shut the curtains.

"I hope someone who just happened to be looking up did not see or record that." Miriam sat in the chair behind her desk and released an exasperated sigh as if she just went through hell and back. She passed her hand on her chest, trying to calm her erratic heartbeat. She held her head in her palms as she moved her head from side to side.

"Oh, dear God, please don't let these kids be the death of me," she said, referring to Darren and Tora as she fetched her phone off the desk.