Heroes

he-ro: n. a person noted for feats of courage or nobility of purpose, especially one who has risked or sacrificed his or her life

Not so long ago, I had a conversation with a friend of mine about the opportunity for him to emerge as a hero. I think over the course of a lifetime, we are all given an opportunity- maybe several- to prove ourselves worthy of such a title. It is what we do at that crossroad that dictates our place on the moral spectrum. Because at that moment, not only are we capable of becoming a hero, but we equally posess the ability to become the villain. Unfortunately, such is usually the case when evil has a way of appearing more desirable than good. Just as unfortunate is there are people- or even a person- in my life that have chosen to play the part of villain. And they do it well.

There was a time that you were a hero to me. A time in which I thought you had the ability to save me. Over the years, fall after fall, I have witnessed you become the antithesis of the very definition of what a hero is supposed to be. Being a hero was never about climbing walls or flying through the air. At the very core of all heroes is the desire to do what's right. It was Superman giving up the chance to attain a normal life- a life that he wanted- because there was a greater cause to be served. It was Peter Parker willing to risk losing Mary Jane time after time, because Spiderman was needed elsewhere. It was Batman living in a mansion all alone because he couldn't let anyone in.

In the end, you weren't modeled after the heroes brought to us by Marvel or DC. You read more like great literature in the worst way. You are the tragedy that was Oedipus. You are Achilles- not at the height of his heroism, but at the downfall when he stooped so low and disrespectfully dragged Hektor's body through the streets.

You're not a hero. You're not even a sidekick. You're just the person that's going to break my heart. Again.