Hero
SPACE It was a cold day when my father died in that prison cafeteria… it was even colder the night my mother was burned alive with the haunting memories of pain they had left Cassandra and I. It was as if all of the burdens had been eradicated… although they still taunt me to this day. My entire life now has been formed by my past… the negatives and positives combined to create my life as it is this very day. I will prove myself to be the opposite of what they see me as. To them, I’m a monster… I was… but the evil has left my soul… and there is nothing but good inside of my heart. The past is in the past, my friends… it’s neither here nor there… what is relevant right now is other things in this world. Innocent people being murdered, children starving; and there are more people focused on the fact I am back in the public eye? Gossip and drama are more appealing to this hypocritical society than the New Orleans tragedy. Hypocrisy.
SPACE It wasn’t how I would imagine it. Judging from the glimpses of destruction that appeared on television, I didn’t think it was this gruesome. These are what nightmares are made of: Families forced to live on their roof-tops as their house is buried under the contaminated water beneath them; children are separated from their mothers and fathers; dead bodies floating around the once dry city now a modern day Atlantis. The sky was dark as if Katrina was mocking their misfortune… laughing at them in sounds of thunder rumbling through the flooded city.
SPACE These are all first-hand glimpses of the terror I saw when I arrived in boat to the destroyed city of New Orleans. I already donated 100,000 dollars to the victims of this unfortunate natural disaster, but I felt even money wouldn’t help these people in the sense everything they had is gone. I made my first priority to help out as much as I can… As I floated past the tips of drowned houses, I couldn’t help but feel a pain in the pit of my stomach. It was a sick feeling…
SPACE I was accompanied by the United States Coast Guard who were also trying to do the best they could to help victims of this tragedy. I looked around and noticed a lonely child laying on a dirty rooftop as if he had given up.
Danny Starr: Over there!
SPACE I pointed to the child’s location, and the navigator turned the boat towards the dry rooftop. When we got close enough, I stuck my foot out of the boat into the dirty water and leaped on to the rooftop to check on the child myself. I reached down and touched his skin gently trying to wake him up… I felt his heart beat still at a healthy pace… but he was weak and pale as if he hadn’t eaten in days. I lifted him up slowly and carefully onto my shoulder and carried him into the motor boat I had came by.
SPACE The Coast Guard men quickly covered him in blankets and comforted him as I watched to see if there were any more victims stranded alone. Most of the area was already checked, therefore, without wasting too much time the Navigator turned the boat around to get this child real medical attention. We arrived at the dock about the same time the medical officials had set up a gurney to take the child away with. When we were close enough, the anchor dropped and the child was lifted by two men onto the stretcher. I followed quickly behind to make sure he was okay when I heard my name repeated by multiple voices in the near distance.
SPACE Flashing of camera lights were going off simultaneously as I paid no mind to the media. I continued to follow the rolling child until we both were lead to a medical treatment tent set up near the peer. I watched from a safe distance as they hooked up Ivs and began running basic tests on the child to make sure he was healthy. The flashing continued; I just wish I could get away from it all. The child woke up and was labeled healthy just a little malnourished as I let out a sigh of relief. The child’s eyes opened up when he saw my face… and a nurse who was checking his blood pressure looked to me, then back to the child.
Nurse: Danny Starr saved your life, hun. If he hadn’t of pulled you off of that rooftop when he did, in an hour or so you would have been beyond treatment.
SPACE Just then the child mustered up enough energy to open up his mouth and barely speak… but speak, nonetheless.
Child: Thank you…
SPACE The child said as he gasped for air… I smiled knowing now he was all right.
Nurse: You’re a hero.
SPACE Hero? It’s not every day you hear Danny Starr and Hero used in the same sentence… and I’m hardly a hero in my opinion. I just want to do some good to make up for all of the bad I have done.
Danny Starr: Take care of him, okay? I have work to do…
SPACE I was determined at that point. The child’s appreciation fueled me to help more and more and injected a friendly ambition in my veins that flowed like adrenalin. I turned away from both the nurse and the saved child to head towards the boat once again when my destination was short lived. I walked into the chest of a police-men standing at least two inches taller than myself. Beside him was another police man, both scrutinizing me as I await a greeting.
Danny Starr: Is there anything I can do for you?
Police Man: Mr. Starr, I’m sorry but the mayor feels uncomfortable that you are here. The city feels its in its best interest if you would leave it to professionals.
Danny Starr: I’m just trying to make a difference…
Police Man: Mayor’s orders, Starr. It’s bad enough the press already got wind of you being here… the mayor doesn’t want a criminal playing the hero.
Danny Starr: You sons of bitches… there is a crisis going on, and you’re more focused on me?
Police Man: Either you follow the orders or we can do this the hard way, Starr.
Danny Starr: Very well.
SPACE I began to turn around towards the exit of the grounds when the two police-officers grabbed both of my arms attempting to escort me out of the premises. I shake them off.
Danny Starr: I can walk for myself…
SPACE The policemen allow me to walk alone but follow closely behind until I make it to my rent-a-car. Even as I am leaving they are watching my every move. They continued to watch me like hawks to a squirrel until I drove so far they were out of my sight. A tear dropped from my eye as I turned off onto the interstate heading to the airport.
SPACE Scars last forever… and they might not hurt, but as soon as you look down at the scar placed upon you… the pain comes rushing back like the blood that was poured. This life of mine is a giant scar… and every time I look in the mirror; look in my eyes… I’m filled with the anguish that will never escape my soul. Bigg Money says I will need to pull a rabbit out of the hat to beat him… my friend… whatever you are bringing to our match on Survival… its nothing compared to the pain I feel everyday I wake up from the cold, dark nightmares.