Everybody Loves a Hero

Prologue

What's the difference between a gift and a curse?

Growing up everyone said I had an amazing gift. When I was little, I wanted to save the world and help everyone in it. My parents, family, friends all believed that I would do it one day too. They encouraged me to follow my dream and make it happen. What they didn't tell me was that the world was a big place and there are a lot of people. It's impossible to save everyone.

I first realized my gift was more of a curse shortly after turning 16. I tried talking to my parents about it, but they didn't understand. They said that just because I had experienced a minor setback and that I had to bounce back like I always did. They didn't understand that this "minor setback" was nothing like I had ever experienced before. So I went to my friends, and they said the same thing. Some even said I was being over dramatic and that I should suck it up. After all, I was on the fast track to fame and soon this would all be a brief mention in my future autobiography.

It went on like this for two years. I could see it in my parents' eyes that they were starting to worry about me. That I was no longer living up to expectations. I had a gift; I shouldn't be so afraid to use it. This worry soon turned into anger. I was becoming the laughing stock of the town. They didn't raise me to sit back and do nothing. I had to be out there, using my gift or everything we worked so hard for would be all for nothing. My friends turned their backs on me when they realized I was no longer going to help them to fame and fortune. My curse left me in a bind. A damned if I do, damned if I don't situation. When I couldn't take it anymore, I left without a word to find someplace where no one knew who I was and what I could do. I would just be a normal person again.