Once upon a time I had two parents who loved me, even if they didn't always have time to play with me. Once upon a time I was in love. Once upon a time I was happy.
My parents were taken by cruel irony. My loved one tried to kill me. Now I have friends that I think I can count on, I have another person that I love, but I can't let any of them get too close.
It's when I let them in that bad things happen.
Once upon a time I was a criminal, now I'm a hero. Nothing makes sense in this world. How could I, a normal little boy with nothing extraordinary about me become a hero? I still don't understand how that happened.
But here I am. Here I sit hiding behind this accursed mask. I don't completely understand why I continue to hide myself. After everything that's happened I know they wouldn't betray me. I know that they'd accept me for who I really am inside. And yet I continue to hide. I know that I haven't lived the best life, nor have I lived the worst. I stole so many things when I was young, now I try to help everyone I can, but who's going to help me when I need it.
Whenever I let anyone close something horrible happens that completely destroys my life. I don't want that to happen again. I have good friends, even if I do hide myself from them. I have everything I could ever want, and yet I still can't let anyone get close.
What should I do?
Should I let myself be swallowed by the lie until it becomes the truth? Maybe I should just let my guard down so that my friends can finally help me? My life has been a curse since that day many years ago when my parents died, and yet for others it has been a blessing.
I feel the pain and they reap the benefits. Such is the life of a hero. At least the whole world isn't watching my every move. I can only imagine what it must be like for people like Superman.
Just give me a sign that I'm not alone. That my friends aren't going to leave me.
He slowly closed the book he had been writing in. He wiped his hand across his eyes to get rid of the tears that the memories had brought. His entire world had shattered when he lost his parents. He had gotten over that. Then he had no choice but to steal to survive.
He had managed to escape the web that had ensnared him in that world. That was easily the most shameful part of his past.
His stomach began to growl.
He opened his door and walked toward the large room that encompassed both living room and kitchen. He slid the door open just like always.
"HAPPY BIRTHDAY!"
His eyes turned upward. "Thank you."
He looked around at his assembled friends. "How'd you find out?
A blue cloaked figure floated forward. "What's good for the goose..."
"Funny Raven. Thanks though."
"No problem. Happy birthday Beastboy."