I’ll never forget the day she asked, “Do you think the sun gets lonely up there?”

I had turned away from the sky, gazing upon her laying on the grass beside me. She didn’t take her eyes off the sky.

“Probably,” I had told her. I watched as her face turned into a frown. “But… the sun gets to shine down on all of us, making our lives better. So maybe the sun thinks it’s worth it.”

“Yeah,” she s...

“You want… this?” My mentor says, holding up the bizzare old toy.

“Yep!” I respond, trying to keep my laugher in so he knows that I’m serious.

He jumped as it made an annoying noise. “You know this will get you killed instantly.”

“Eh. I beg to differ.” I snatched the fuzzy, big-eyed toy out of his hands, holding it up in like a trophy. “Trust me, with this thing I’m getting back home no probl...

“Leah… I really — I really like you. And I was wondering… would you go out with me?”

He had flowers in his hands. A timid, sweet smile on his face. Man, why did it have to be this way?

How was I supposed to tell him no? How could I confirm his worst fears? Would he even understand?

“Jake,” I said as calmly as I could, trying to hide the chaos exploding in my head. “That’s so sweet of you.”

He ...

“Stina, please…”

“No… this — this can’t be happening.”

“Please, you have to understand!”

“Understand what? Understand that you risk your life everyday just for… glory? Revenge?”

“No, it’s not what you think—“

“Oh, right — sure. You believe it’s all for some noble cause! Saving the world, helping “helpless” people, making the world a better place, and all that crap.”

“Stina…”

“Cause I know w...