How to be a Hero

A New Day

A girl with blood red hair sat at a old table eating breakfast. She was almost as pale as the milk in her bowl, but not as pale as the white streak running through her hair. A woman sat across the table, far from her. She was a brunet, with green eyes as empty as the bowl in front of her. 

The girl pulled up her sleeves, her jacket looked expensive, but there was stains of dirt and other things that no one was able to explain. There was no noise between the two, only the sound of a TV playing a commercial about the Hero Academy. "Join hero academy and you can be the next Shooting Star or the most remembered Meteor-". The tv was cut off by the brunet, afterwards she threw the remote across the room. 

A frown spread on the girls face. She wanted to yell out words but knew she would regret them. The Woman looked across the table, studying her hair with disappointed eyes. The child wouldn't make eye contact with her. 

"We're getting your hair dyed back tomorrow, Autumn" she said. Autumn's eyes widened 

"Rebecca, please don't! All the kids will laugh at me if they don't think I have an ability! I'll be the laughing stalk of the school" Autumn said, tears beginning to form in her eyes. 

"It's better than that trashy looking hair you have" Rebecca scoffed. 

"You don't even let me prove myself" Autumn yelled "Just let me join the Hero Academy, I can graduate and make a lot of money once I become a real hero we don't have to live like this.." 

"That TV is filling your head with sinful idea's." She said "Never will I let you join that stupid academy." 

"What are you too scared I'll end up like-" Autumn got interrupted by a fist slamming onto the table making the plastic bowls shake. 

"You know we don't talk about that!" She yelled "YOU LIVE IN MY HOUSE SO YOU FOLLOW MY RULES. If you don't like it go run away with a friend, but until you do that, or move out, you will listen to my every command. Let the dream of you being a hero die." Her face was completely red. 

Autumn's face also began to turn red as the tears dripped down her cheeks, making what looked like small rivers. Realization set on the woman's face. She went to go comfort her but Autumn only turned away

"I'm sorry" Autumn hadn't heard her say those words in years. Everything was always 'you'll get over it' or 'stop crying'. Though why now was she saying it. "I shouldn't have snapped at you." Rebecca cradled her in her arms. She cried into her shoulder, something she didn't thing out happen at the age of 14, or something she didn't think would happen at all. 

"I'm sorry for pushing your buttons" Autumn said muffling the words into Rebecca's coat. She rubbed her back giving Autumn a feeling of comfort. "What was dad like?" She asked, her voice was weak and she wasn't sure if she had done the right thing. 

"Autumn, not now.." She said with regret "You know how I feel about it." 

"Please?" Rebecca sighed 

"Well your father... he was... brave, the bravest man I knew. He was so charming and a gentleman. I remember when we were young your he would come to my window and I would sneak out with him at night. He wanted adventure and to fully live his life, it was so hard to believe a man like him fell for me. He would die for the people he loved... it's too bad he loved the world." Autumn watched the smile fade from her face with the forced memories. 

Rebecca helped Autumn get back up, she pats her back "Go to school" she said. Autumn walked towards the door grabbing her bag from the couch and flinging it onto her back. She walked to school her eyes feeling heavy, once she got into first period she would fall asleep. It was habit at this point.