hop d12 cb [fin]

A smile is worth more than the coal dust of twelve.

Happiness flowing from the edges of his fingertips as he goes into a rapid paced conversation about how excited he was for Leon's return home from work. Leon, his big brother, a hero in the eyes of some, but no one knew that his brother was a savior. That's why when he was so young, he promised to become better than him, someone better than his brother. Leon just laughed at him and ruffled his hair with that signature smile and passion burning through those eyes, telling him he didn't have to try so hard. Except, he had to do better; be better. Leon only kept rising from there, kids asking if they could meet Leon.

"No, you have me and I'm better!"

They laugh in his face as he grips his fists tighter. Marnie gives them a stare that sends them all bolting in different directions as he stays quiet. A healer is what she told him long ago. Sometimes he thinks of what good he could do as a healer, but his brother wasn't one. His brother worked in the mayor's office and he wanted to be like him. It's hard trying to be like a sun, but he still pushes himself up off the dirt, wiping away the dust as he gives Marnie the biggest smile, going into his B+ and how amazing he was.

Happiness is worth more than the pain others want him to feel.