Sometimes I wake up wondering if I’m still in a dream. If the actions I take really have an effect on the world around me. It was a surreal feeling to be in a position like this. Talking to the ghost that always haunted my mind. I always wondered what she could be doing with her life, I wondered if I was a ghost haunting the back of her mind. And now the voices couldn’t plague me anymore. I had my answers.

“We were walking home from the grocery store, that’s when we passed you in the alleyway.” I could feel this twinge in my chest as the words came out.

I could hear the gunshot ringing in my ear faintly, flashes of my mom’s body dropping in front of me flared in my mind. I moved my hand up to my face slowly, I looked over my fingers. Slowly moving them to my mouth, but I stopped. I moved my fingers down and I looked her in the eyes.

“I heard you screaming for help, and once I saw what was going on I ran in without thinking.” I took a breath and tried to calm down. My heart was racing, faster and faster the more I talked.” I tackled the guy down, and you ran off. Now here’s the part, I hate the most.”

“You don’t have to if you-” She started to talk but I stopped her.

“No! I want you to know who the real hero is. I want to tell you about her. Once you were gone, I tried wrestling him down. But he got the better of me and threw me off, and pulled out a gun.” I balled my fist in frustration, this wave of rage built up inside me. “That’s when my mom came in, she tackled the gunman and told me to run. I hesitated, I wanted to go back in and save her. Then the gunshot sounded off, and my mom. D-dropped.” I could hear myself beginning to stutter.

I tried to tell her more, but the words escaped me. I wanted to tell her how the killer ran off past me, that my legs felt like cement. That I couldn’t do anything at all. That I was completely useless.

“I can’t do this,” Lux said as she shot up.

I was suddenly free from my shock and I quickly turned to her.

“Lux-!” I called out.

She rushed to the door and I chased after her. I tried to grab her shoulder but she just smacked my hand away. She stopped as she swung the front door open, she hesitated as she looked down to the floor.

“I can’t do this Strdyer, I just can’t! I can’t even stand being in the same room as...” She stopped for a moment.

A clear look of astonishment crossed her face.

“Lux it’s okay if you still can’t forgive us both yet..” I replied.

She stood still for a moment, then she abruptly slammed the door leaving out.

I jumped a little and stared at the door. I remember the week of Mom’s funeral, my dad beat me as soon as we got home. Telling me over and over again how it was my fault. I carried that burden for years, and even now I still carry it. I can’t imagine just how much she’s carrying on her back right now. How much change I’ve been forcing on her to take. How many mixed emotions she had to bury in order to take care of me. She needed time.

“Forgive Lux Donum, it’s a lot for her to take in at once.” I turned back to her.

Her eyes met mine for a moment, then she quickly looked away to the floor.

“No, no! It’s fine!” She replied. “I can’t imagine this is easy for her, or for you.”

“Well, if I’m being honest. Seeing you is the greatest blessing I could have ever gotten.”

She slowly looked back up into my eyes. She had this look of astonishment on her face.

“Why is that? So much happened because of me..”

“Because you’re alive and okay! Your living proof that that day wasn’t a waste.” I smiled brightly at her. “I always wondered what happened to you, I ask myself if I made the right call. I lived in guilt for so many years, and I guess it just feels nice to be free! I have all my answers. I’ve been reminded a lot recently, just how much Mom loved people. And I can say without a doubt, she’d be okay with this outcome. If it meant seeing you like this.”

“Your mom sounds like she really was an amazing person.” She said softly.

“She was, she absolutely was. So tell me about your-”

“Ah-! Rex! Where are ya! I got ya now flashli- Ah I died didn’t I…” I heard Zack yell from the living room, finally waking up.

“Zack! You’re up!” I cheered as I looked over to him.

He looked over to me and his eyes widened in shock, then they formed into smirk.

“Oh Stryder I didn’t mean to interrupt! So bold! I’m still in the room!” Zack snickered as he stood up.

I looked over at Donum and then myself, realizing now the only clothing on my body were some tattered jeans. I could feel the warmth rising to my cheeks, and I could her Donum chuckle.

“I-it’s not like that, she’s just a friend!”

“I’m messing with you idiot! I’ve been awake for the past hour! I've been listening to all your sappy crap. And how are you gonna quote me and not give me any credit! You don’t respect the mighty destroyer of worlds enough! Maybe I should go to work for that Rex fella.” Zack rambled on and I just ignored him for the most part.

“Then why didn’t you speak up!” I yelled over his complaining.

A serious look dawned on Zack’s face and he looked me dead in my eyes.

“Because you needed to spread your wings all on your own. As charming and powerful as the mighty destroyer of worlds is. You can’t expect me to always be the wind beneath your wings. You gotta learn to fly on your own.”

I was taken off guard by this, but he was absolutely right. I didn’t know what to say at first, I was at a loss for words.

“But don’t misunderstand, I’ve been relying on you a bit too much too. That fight with snow white really showed me just how much work we have ahead of us.” Zack walked over to me, he was dressed in a similar fashion. Nothing but tattered jeans on. He smirked as he got closer, but quickly moved past me and over to Donum.

“Hey baby, what do you say to me and you. Flying out of here on a hot date? I could offer you some sage advice too. I’ve got years of warlock experience under my belt.” He lulled out as he leaned over on the table, flexing his twig arms for her.

Donum sighed and rolled her eyes, slowly going to her holster.

“You’ve got about three seconds before I pepper spray into those wizard eyes of yours.” Donum huffed out, giving him a stale look.

I smirked and chuckled a bit as Zack backed off.

“You know how many crazy wizard fangirls we arrest? Wanting to meet the ‘sexy wizard of the alley’ it’s maddening how far these fangirls go for you...” Donum sighed. “Besides I’m not interested in kids.”

“I can’t help it if my sexy charms drive the girls wild.” Zack cried.

“Dude we wear masks, how charming can you actually be?” I asked with a sigh.

“Hold up, hold up, go back, go back. Did you just infer that there are some tasty damsel in distress? Possibly a cage full of them?” Zack asked excitedly.

“A jail cell full of crazed fangirls, willing to break the law. Just to see you.” Donum corrected.

“Ooh! I like ‘em hot and crazy!” Zack snickered and I just sighed.

You know a few minutes ago I thought he really had matured.

“Do me a favor and actually keep changing your voice when you’re on camera! It’s not exactly easy to access that stuff!” Donum roared. “I’ve been cleaning up for you for a lot of things.”

“As a token of my appreciation, let's say me, you, and a good corn dog off Burben street.” He winked, slowly moving his hand on her hand. Donum didn’t seem to react, she just stared at his hand and slowly looked up to Zack’s face.

Then Zack yelped loud like a little girl as his whole body seemed to vibrate. He dropped to his knees and held onto the kitchen table panting hard.

“W-what. T-the hell. W-was that!?” Zack stammered out.

Donum held up a yellow taser and smiled sweetly at Zack.

ZZZZT!

She turned the taser on and stared at Zack.

“Touch me again and I'll show you the power of science, magic man.”

“Grrr” Zack growled like a dog and slowly backed away from her.

I walked over to the sink and poured myself a glass of water, and walked back over to Zack.

“Here.” I insisted.

“What? Some Mom remedy for after you get tazed?” Zack snapped at me as he snatched the glass.

“No. just figured you needed some water for all that thirst,” I replied with a smirk.

Donum started laughing and Zack just growled.

“I’ll vine whip you ya know!” He roared, but I just kept laughing.

It felt good to laugh like this, it was nice to forget about death for a second. To forget about all the hurt that was in the room. I wondered if Zack knew. It’s become apparent Zack isn’t as dumb as he acts. He’s observant and clever. Much more capable then I assumed him to be.

He’s always been one to make the whole room laugh, that was his talent. I admired him for that. He always seemed to know exactly what to say, and when to say it. Guess that’s why I always let him lead when we talked to people, he was just better than me. Even now when I should be at my lowest when the situation tells me I should feel stern and withered. I feel so light and full of joy.

“Zack, thank you,” I said softly.

“Eww, don’t go saying some gay I love you stuff.” Zack huffed.

“Weren’t you just complaining I don’t treat you well a minute ago?” I asked with a chuckle.

“Oh, is this you realizing just how much cooler I am finally?” He asked.

“No, just thanking you for how dumb you are. Your squirrel brain can really lighten the mood ya know?”

“I’ll roast you alive Stryder… With words, and fire!” Zack roared.

Donum was laughing hysterically now, we both stopped what we were doing and looked over to her.

“You know, you guys are nothing like what I thought you’d be.” She managed to say in between laughs.

“Well get used to it! This is the real deal baby!” Zack cheered as he flexed again, this time producing fire from his fist.

I took the glass of water and dumped it on his flaming fist.

“We do have fire alarms, idiot..” I sighed.