I see...
A car crash, an old man laying in the driver's seat motionless, blood coming out of his cut temple, his eyes lifeless...
A boy looked over at him, he called his grandfather, shaking him.
"..."
No reply.
It was then the boy relised, his grandfather was dead...
He had no reaction, except a look of pure
And utter shock.
I'm sorry...
Im sorry...
Im sorry...
I'm sorry I'm sorry I'm sorry I'm sorry I'm sorry I'm sorry I'm sorry I'm sorry I'm sorry I'm sorry I'm sorry I'm sorry I'm sorry I'm sorry I'm sorry I'm-
"!"
I awakened from a nightmare, a nightmare that forced me to relive a memory that I regret with all my heart, yet...
It seamed my mind liked reminding me of THAT day...
I layed there, looking up at the ceiling for a good minute or two, I looked over at my clock, it red 6:58 AM.
I looked back at the ceiling and let out a sigh...
I got up and went about my morning routine.
* * *
I live at 1980 elthrith's avenue in Old Town Philadelphia, it's a brick townhouse built in the late eighteen hundreds, my grandpa first bought the place when he came to America back in the seventy's.
My dad never moved out of the place, and him and Mom raised me here, however seven years ago my mom and dad was called by are church to go on a missionary trip to Africa, and so my grandpa took care of me through most of that time...
Up until he passed, then after the funeral my mom's best friend stepped up to be my guardian in there place while they went back to Africa...
Though she lives in her own apartment while I have the whole house to myself, though she comes by every now and then to check up on me.
(And get a free dinner out of me.)
I digress.
After three years of living on my own, I've learned how to take care of myself.
The first thing I do is splash water in my face and then do my morning exercises.
I do 100 sit-ups.
100 leg-up's.
100 pushups.
Light calisthenics and I workout with my dumbells.
And afterwards, I practice Shadow boxing.
My grandpa was a martial artist, he taught me everything I know, when I was in Middle School I was fat, I got bullied a lot, so after a certain incident, my grandpa put me on a diet and trained me in kickboxing.
I lost one hundred pounds in six months, and all the training gave me a lean and well-built body.
After I got done, I walked into the bathroom and took a shower, then put on my favorite outfit which I dubbed, "the protagonist" fit.
I call it that because it looks like an outfit an anime protagonist would where, it's a black short sleved dress shirt, with a pair of jeans and black chuck Taylor's.
After putting it on and brushing my teeth, I took a look at myself in the mirror...
The reflection of an emroled eyed boy with brown spiky hair and a baby face stared back at me.
'man... How old am I? Seventeen? And I still look like I'm fifteen in the face.'
I thought as I stared at myself frustrated in the mirror, I had inherited my father's build, yet I got my big eyes and button nose from my mom.
Which was rather unfortunate, it made me look like a kid.
"Maybe I should grow some facial hair?... Nah, Mikoto will kill me-"
I went out of the bathroom and grabbed my backpack from my room, and after getting a bottle of water from the fridge I left the townhouse.
* * *
I walked down the street with my earbuds in, my hands jammed into my pocket, the beach boys blasting in my ears.
I enjoyed the beach boys, that and the Beatles, Elvis...
Or anything from the fifty's and sixteese, older music was always filled with more soul and emotion, and most of today's music can be described as audio porn.
Or it's just bland and lacks any real creativity, everyone's is copying everyone else, I'm not saying that ALL today's music is trash.
But most of it boils down to "I really like your bodyyyy..... Let's partyyyy.... Yeaaaaahhhh...."
But I also liked indie rock, and classical music, beatoven, Bach, handle, the greats.
But once again I digress.
I eventually made it to a crosswalk, I waited there for the signal for me to go across...
I looked at my phones clock.
I smiled, it looked like id make it to school on time...
Usually something always happens to make me late, and I always get involved, sometimes be accident, sometimes by choice but- "heh... Looks like I'll finally have a normal morning for once..."
I spoke to soon, I heard a woman call out from the side.
I looked, and there running into the road was a little boy, chaising after his ball...
Little did he know that there was a car coming straight for him, I leaped into action with no hesitation.
I rushed forward and pushed him out of the way with all my might, then I heard a horn.
"!"
Everything went black.
* * *
I opened my eyes, the sound of beeping filled my ears.
My arm and torso in pain, my eyes were heavy. I let out a groan.
"Ohhhh.... Ah, crap..."
"Your awake."
I looked to the side, there sitting in a seat next to my bed was a Japanese woman with died red hair and brown eyes, she wore a white tank top and jeans and she had a hunting magazine, this was Mikoto Tanaka...
She was my mom's best friend and my guardian. Mikoto was by all means a tomboy...
My mom would tell me story's about her when she was a kid, when my grandpa on my mom's side would take her off on camping trips, Mikoto would come along too...
She would always play with frogs and tadpoles while Mom would scream just looked at them, and later on she would go on to catch catfish the size of a forearm, hunt dear. (she has a head of a dear mounted to her wall) and even wrestle an alligator.
(Btw she's a cage fighter.)
"Oh... Hey." I sed with a tired voice.
I looked down at my arm, I had a cast.
"What happened?"
Then I remembered.
"Oh... I got hit didn't I?"
"No crap Sherlock." She gave me a deadpan stare.
I looked away a few seconds, I only had one
Thing in my mind.
"Hey... Mikoto... I was trying to save a kid from getting hurt, is he ok?"
She looked at me for ten seconds, then she got up rolling up the magazine in her hand and hit me over the head with it.
"Of course he is you idiot!"
"Ow! What was that for?!"
"That was for nearly getting yourself killed."
I rubbed my head.
"What was I supposed to do, let the kid get run over?"
She didn't answer for a few seconds.
"No... But still, Jack this isn't the first time you've done something like this... Remember that purse snatcher?"
"I couldn't just stand by-"
"And that guy who broke into Mrs avallo's car?"
"Once again, should I have just stood by?"
"And that little girls cat in the tree in ben Franklin park?"
"She was crying-"
"You broke your leg."
"But-"
"Jack-" she stopped me, she took a seat on the bed.
"Your parents put me in charge of you, they expect me to take care of you and make sure you don't get into trouble, but no matter where you go you always end you up finding it yourself-"
She placed her hand on my shoulder.
"Look... I get it, you like helping people...
But this whole hero complex you got, someone's gonna end up taking advantage of you. Or worse, you could end up getting really hurt... Jack, promise me you'll be more careful?" I could tell she was sincere, why wouldn't she be...
The woman practically raised me along with my mom, really she's more of a second mom.
I didn't want her to worry about me...
So I lied.
"I'll... I'll try Mikoto."
"Good."
She got up and grabbed my cheek, pinching it. "And that's ANT Mikoto, got it?"
"Ow! Oh... Yes ant Mikoto... "
She let go and messed with my hair.
"Good, I'm gonna go let the doc know your awake, want me to get you anything?"
"Nah I'm good"
"Alright" she gave a grin and walked out.
I layed back and let out a sigh.
"... Give me a break."