Heroes Know When to sacrifice

The Final Goodbye

Ok. Inspiration hit me. And I was like:

Me: OW! What was that for?

Inspiration: You can't just do that to those readers! They deserve an ending!

Me: But what am I supposed to do? I can't figure out how to continue this!

Inspiration: Then end it.

Me: How?

Inspiration: .shows idea.

Me: ...

Me: I love it.

Inspiration: Thank you.

Me: Why didn't you bring this to me earlier? Did you have to let me write that sappy good-bye and stuff?

Inspiration: .shrugs shoulders.

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The Final Goodbye

Meg slumped down onto the seat in the plane, bringing her knees up to her chest and wrapping her arms around it. The air trapped inside of the cushion exited, blowing air out. It made a tiny squeak, which would have made her grin.

Not today.

Today wasn't the time for happiness, It wasn't the time for anger like the last few hours after-

Meg stopped herself before letting her mind wander there. But she knew that she had to go there sometime. It would happen eventually. It always did. After her father, after the griffin family, after the home of her childhood. There was no escape.

At least... At least she could control when it would happen if she went there now, she wouldn't have to worry about going there in the middle of a fight when the slightest hesitation could leave her dead. Or worse, wounded.

Meg hated being wounded. When you were hurt, you were left at the mercy of those around you. Forced to rely on others for everything. And if it was fatal, the medics and doctors at best would kill you, ending your pain. But some poor fools thought that they could save you, making promises they wouldn't be able to keep. Making you suffer longer, maybe even giving you a glimmer of hope that you, despite everything, would make it. Leaving you with the only feeling of denial, and hope.

Only to let you down in the end. Wondering why you suffered through all that pain, just to die. That's why she hated being wounded. The people that believed you would make it. And then getting angry at you for making them believe that you would survive.

Maybe that's why she liked Grey so much.

Grey didn't lead Meg into a false hope that Apollo would make it. He was direct, yet understanding. When Meg started to go... there, Grey would grab her shoulder, giving it a reassuring squeeze, and when their eyes met, she knew that if she needed time before moving on, he would get her time. Of course, she didn't like Grey in a like-like way, he was way too old for her. But he started to like him like a brother, like Apollo.

"Now." her mind told her. "Now is the right time, let your walls down Meg, it's ok, your friends are here, they can help you. You just have to let them."

Jason, Piper, and Crest chose just that moment to walk into the plane. Meg hadn't noticed that she was staring out the window, but she was, the airport was busy today, with giant planes landing on the runway, while others escaped into the air, carrying whatever they wanted, able to go whenever they needed.

"Meg, Leo's outside, do you want to talk with him?" Piper asked, concern lacing every word. "He says that he has something for you," she added when Meg refused to acknowledge her.