Come morning, Devon’s eyes ached and stung from the second sleepless day he’d had. The city was unforgiving, almost as much as he was. His head throbbed and pleaded for some shut eye but there was no time to be sorrowful about his loss of his precious naps; there were more important things.

Growing up in the country was easy compared to the life he’d now lived. Early morning rising, fed the cows and chickens, then moseyed on inside just as the sun angled itself high in the sky. He missed the warm welcome from his family for breakfast, the freshly cooked eggs they feasted on each and every morning. The vibrant buzz of conversation, the small town gossip and uninteresting details of their lives that seemed to go nowhere. Stood still, in the small town back in Kansas.

The city made that look like Peewees Playhouse. It was not for the faint of heart, nor for those who desperately needed rest during any hour. It was business all day, and party all night.

Unfortunately for Devon, he worked at night. It was the only time of day he could come out and really do his work without the judgmental stares and whispers he’d encountered during daylight. The moment that sun said goodnight, and the moon showed her shining face to Manhattan, Devon was clocked in and ready to protect.

Leaving Kansas was hard, but with his new found powers and ability to change things for the better, a small town with little crime was no place for a hero. But the big city? God, maybe it was even worse. Though he was surely busy every night, it never felt as rewarding as it once had.

Not many grateful people on these grimy streets, he thought to himself as he draped his cloak over his broad shoulders, buckling it as his throat securely. It was time to shine.

The streets, filled with smog and soot, carried something far more sinister than he’d prepared himself for. Some nights, the capture of the criminal was something he loved, thrived on. The adrenaline soared through his veins like a jet through the sky.

Other nights, with little sleep and heavy eyes, he felt as if he couldn’t wait to just curl back up in bed. Forget all he’d seen and done the previous day and just sleep. That night was tonight, rolled into a handful of nights exactly like it. It made him almost reconsider his career at some point, but he never allowed himself to wade into that water.

With a final huff, and a swing of the arms, the last man involved with the robbery was slung tightly into the back of a police cruiser. But before he could get the thanks he rightfully deserved, he was gone. In the blink of an eye. Like he always was and would be, because truly. The work was worth a million thanks and maybe then some. He never failed to love what he did once the action had begun, yet when his feet hit the wooden floor of his apartment, he felt empty.

As the sun said good morning, once again, Devon flipped back into the plush mattress he’d paid far too much money for, groaning to himself. This wasn’t enough. His passion couldn’t keep him afloat here, no matter how badly he wanted it to. It’d warn him down to the core, pieces of himself flaking off every time his eyes begged to close but couldn’t.

It was time to go home.