This was the first time Shiller had heard such a distinct tremor in his voice. Bruce's voice trembled so much that he could hardly finish the last whole word. Or perhaps, he didn't want to.
For the first time, he had spoken out about what he had always been running away from - that night, those two gunshots, those two bodies lying in the puddle of blood, and the helpless little boy named Bruce Wayne.
He had believed that Little Bruce was forever buried that night.
So when he realized that he was still holding onto unduly fantasies of this world, those pleasant memories of that movie night, just like that little boy, it felt like all the hatred and effort driven by this hatred over the years were just self-deceptive evasions.
Facing the child who lost his parents was more emotionally stirring for Shiller than facing Batman. For the first time, he wasn't giving advice as a detached bystander, but truly advising, "...Even Gotham has its daylight."
Bruce's throat bobbed. He took a deep breath, as if suddenly infused with a certain vitality. He rose to his feet, trembling slightly. The cool night breeze of Gotham blew over his Bat Armor, causing a tremor that no one could hear.
He limped slowly towards the edge of the rooftop.
Standing there, he saw a glimmer of light appear on the skyline of Gotham City. A golden thread, like the creation of a new world, cut through the dense darkness.
He had never before seen a sunrise in Gotham.
He suddenly realized that even in such a dark and gloomy city, at the moment of sunrise, the light that cuts through the darkness is still a brilliance he had never seen before.
The darker it is, the more shocking the light is.
Bruce closed his eyes. He slowly brought his fingers together, as if grasping that light cutting through the darkness.
Suddenly, Bruce took a deep breath and opened his eyes. The radiance of the sun was held in his eyes, the arc of light on the horizon left a dazzling gold streak in his pupils.
Who would know that he had briefly seen in his consciousness that little boy lying beneath the dark tide? It wasn't until he saw him that Bruce understood; he always considered those happy memories as the first reward for his painful life. Therefore, every time he experiences a bit of joy, he always wanted to repay it with tenfold the pain.
He was so desperate to escape these happy memories, just like instinctively avoiding pain.
To become Batman, he not only has to accept this pain and darkness, but also accept the fact that he is still that little boy. He's still looking forward to that movie. He's still longing for the light.
Just like that night many years ago, without the anticipation of light, there will never be the desire to merge into the darkness.
"Who am I?"
He said softly, "Who am I?"
The breaking rays of dawn wouldn't answer him, but he already had the answer in his heart. He said, "I am Bruce Wayne..."
"I am Batman..."
His voice began to soften: "I am... Batman."
A silent and heavy oath fell in his heart, like a solid stone monument standing firm under the washing of the dark tide.
Starting from today, there will be only one Batman in this dark city, Bruce Wayne - he is Batman.
Starting from today, he will bear the dark authority from this mad city of Gotham, holding the sharp blade of dawn's light.
He will stand above this living hell, the cold wind can't pierce his armor, the flame can't melt his heart.
He will stand outside any rules, fear no sins, place himself in the darkness, his heart towards the light, always towards the light, with the dawn as his boundary, and the sunrise as his signal.
Bruce thinks, he will be the dawn of Gotham.
He will be - Batman.