It started that summer

Final Goodbye (The End)

The cold air nipped at my cheeks as I sat alone in the center of the room, the emptiness wrapping around me like a shroud. I took a deep breath, steadying myself. "Four months have passed since... since that night," I began, my voice breaking the stillness and echoing softly against the walls. "I'm finally free of that damned cast, and my scars are starting to fade." I glanced around, half-expecting someone to walk in, but the room remained silent, a ghostly reminder of everything that had happened. "Kori and Dick are married now," I continued with a smile, "He chose me as his best man. I was so honored. And you know what? The Christmas season makes Gotham look beautiful—something I never thought I'd say. I've started a team with Roy, we're calling ourselves the Outlaws. We even borrow Dick's wife sometimes. The Princess fits right in, bringing her grace and strength to our ragtag group. I've got a family now. A real family." Each word felt like a small victory. I felt my stomach drop as I looked at the red stains on the floor.

A surge of anger flashed through me as I thought of him. "But you—" I spat, gripping the paper tighter. "You took so much from me. You made me feel like I was trapped, like I would never escape the darkness you created." I paused, my hands shaking slightly. I wanted to throw something, to let the anger explode out of me. "You think you're a puppet master, don't you? Pulling strings, watching as I fell apart? Well, guess what? I'm done being your pawn! You think you've won but you only made me stronger. I hate you for the pain you've caused, for the lives you've destroyed. But . . . I know that if I had killed you that night—if I had let you take that last shred of my humanity—I would have been lost." I sunk into the chair and tried to ease the tension in my body. I felt nauseous thinking about how things could have played out differently. "I'd be just another villain in your twisted legacy. I would have never come back. I wouldn't be here. I wouldn't be surrounded by the love of my family, who have fought so hard to pull me back from the brink. I can't imagine a life without them. Without Dick, who has always been my anchor, reminding me of who I am and who I can be. Without Damian, who I've grown so close to. We've moved past our brokenness, and I finally got the brother I've always needed. He fills a void I didn't even know was there. I'm doing better—much better—but it's because of the people who care about me, not you."

As the words flowed, I felt warmth spreading through me at the thought of them. "And it's not just them, it's Tim and Duke, always ready with a quip or a shoulder to lean on. Tim's been there every step of the way, helping me navigate this new life. And Duke? He's like a breath of fresh air. I can always count on the girls. This family of mine, they've made me whole again." My voice shook as I continued, "Bruce. . . m-my dad. . . he. . . he saved me this time. He didn't just find me. He brought me home. And because of that, I've found my place again. Without this, without my family, I don't know where I would be."

I swallowed hard, remembering the laughter and love that filled our home. "But here's the thing, while I hate you for what you've done I . . . I get it. Somewhere beneath the madness, you were once a man. And yeah, maybe that's where my sympathy comes from. You were trapped in chaos, just like I was. But you chose the darkness. You didn't have to go down that path." My voice wavered as I continued, "I . . . I know what it's like to feel crazy. To have no one and be alone. To live recklessly because you don't think your life means anything to anyone. . . I know what it's like to hurt so deeply you think you'll never come back. But I did. I'm here. I've healed more than just the scars on my body. I'm learning to heal the ones in my mind, too. Therapy is helping, and I can shower and swim without panicking. I can hold a fork without flinching at sharp edges. I'm finally reclaiming my life. If I had killed you that night, I wouldn't be standing here now. I would have been lost, spiraling into a darkness I might never have escaped. But I can't let you have any more power over me."

As I neared the end of the letter, a wave of calm washed over me. "So here's my final goodbye to you, Joker. I'm leaving this letter here. I've always been more of the dramatic one, think of it as a symbolic farewell to our past." I glanced at the old Robin emblem in my hand, the colors faded but the memories were still vivid. I could almost hear Bruce's voice, the day he handed it to me—how proud he was, how much hope he saw in me. Tears pricked at my eyes, the nostalgia filling my mind with memories. It would be so easy to hold onto it, to cling to that part of my past. But deep down, I knew I couldn't keep living in what once was. I had to let go to live in the present.