I was accustomed to calling out for my brother to help me when the battle proved too difficult for me. That was then, now I am older, and I can't depend on anyone for help. But now, when the time comes again where I cannot fight it alone, I know that this time, someone will always have my back.

I yawned as I stretched out of bed, waking up on the first day of winter vacation. My cat, sensing my movements, also woke up and stretched. I smiled, and greeted her. After a long six hours of sleep, I notice I had a dull taste in my mouth, which grossed me out. I sigh, too cold and lazy to use the restroom, but my needs overpowered me. I finally get up after five minutes of struggling to go back to sleep.

I sat there for a moment, trying my best to recall my dream. I could only remember certain scenes, but after a while I was able to piece them all together.

I was 8-years-old, sitting behind my brother, eating a hotdog. I watched the T.V., seeing the night sky twinkling with dozens of stars. There was something falling from the sky, leaving a trail of smoke that blended in with the darkness. A female voice began to speak, talking about something I knew only too well. Suddenly something broke away from the blaze, and steered toward a different direction.

"But you had something they didn't. Something that no one saw, but me... Can you guess?"

I jumped as the object crashed, its sound blaring through the speakers.

"Luck."

The trees and the surrounding brush were lit for a moment, then consumed by darkness once again.

"Was I wrong?"

I grinned as I remembered the moment I first witnessed the beginning of the Halo 3 campaign. So many memories were made, and it all left me familiar with every little bit the game. Many years have gone by since then. This year had been its 10th anniversary, but with the series overtaken by a different company, the meaning of Halo was lost by them.

I started to shuffle over to the bathroom, without bothering to turn on my lamp. This would be a regrettable choice, because I would stub my toe against something and send whatever I had accidentally sliding across the floor. I cursed, bent over to blindly reach for the item on the floor, and with luck, was able to immediately find it. It was cold, but I still wasn't sure what it was. I turned on my bedside lamp, and realized it was my Halo 5: Guardians case. It had been left untouched ever since this semester of school had started.

Remembering how lackluster the storyline it was, I carelessly threw it aside. As I examined the rest of my room, I noticed my collection of the Halo series in my pile of Xbox 360 games; I smiled at the memories of playing with my older sibling, and a boy from school that had been my crush.

But it was so long since I had played any of the Halo games, I decided to have a Halo marathon. But all of that was to come after a hearty breakfast.

I set the timer on the toaster, then proceeded to the fridge to make myself some chocolate milk as a treat. Throughout this, I noticed the silence throughout the house. My heart sunk at the thought of being entirely alone.

'Don't be surprised, Dahlia. They always do this.'

I breathed in sharply, and exhaled. Then, I walked over to the window, wondering if my parents have really left me alone. I frowned when I saw that my parent's car was gone. I huffed, then made sure to lock every single window and door in the house.

Ever since my dad got his new girlfriend, he hasn't been around as much. I always chalked it up to the fact that since I was older now, he thought I would be fine by myself. I was my brother's sister, after all. But it didn't mean I was perfect like him; it was something everyone knew. The ding from the toaster brought me back to reality. I put it away, then smothered both slices of bread with jam. I decided to eat at the dining table for once, since no one was around.

As I sat down and ate, I went back to lamenting about my family. I wondered what my dad would do if he knew the things my brother did, and all of his vices. He was always such a good kid, but was involved in drugs like everyone else. But his goody two shoes always somehow managed to fool even someone the likes of our dad. But I guessed I should be thankful that my brother had a least some sense of morality, because he has never offered me any.

I wished I had at least someone to talk to all about this. But unfortunately, my crush and I drifted away, my once two best friends had homeschool, and the other became a person I didn't even recognize. Another friend left me for dead once her best friend just happened to also share the same classes we both had. Now I'm stuck listening to their mindless chatter and annoying giggles. Life was harsh; even my counselor didn't seem to take my problems seriously. She always laughed everything off, and I just felt as if she was only belittling me. It was times like these where I wished I didn't feel emotions like the way spartans didn't.

I sighed, and stared at my glass of milk. The chocolate had settled at the bottom of the cup, and I was slightly disgusted. I placed my dishes in the sink, and headed upstairs. I didn't even make it to the first step when I heard a knocking on the front door. I stiffened, staring at the door. I glanced a the windows near the door, examining the curtains so the stranger couldn't see through them.

Seeing as they were all blocking any hint of sunlight, I snuck over to the door.

'Why would anyone come over at 7a.m.?'

I looked through the peephole on the door.

There stood an aged woman, with silver hair, shrouded in a luxurious white coat. She appeared somewhat familiar, despite that I didn't recall ever meeting anyone like her before. She looked back, and knocked harder.

I jumped, and hurriedly tiptoed up the stairs.

Once I was in my room, I locked my door. My cat eyed me lazily, unaffected by the knocking downstairs.

I'm such a scaredy cat, I realized. Here I was, spooked by an old lady probably knocking on the wrong house. Meanwhile, Master Chief has to fight aliens twice his size. How could I ever wish to belong in a universe stuck in a violent war with aliens if I'm intimidated by some old hag? I shrugged at the thought.

For a moment, I wondered what it was like to have meaning to your life, to fight with a purpose. How I have wished all these years to be at John's side, as an ally.

I sat down on my bed, staring at the blank T.V. for a moment, seeing my reflection. Still dressed in my outfit from yesterday. I shivered, and grabbed the jacket I had thrown off yesterday. I grabbed for my Xbox controller, turning on the console, then the T.V. I popped in Halo: Combat Evolved Anniversary, the game already downloaded for when I decided I was ready to continue on campaign once again.

After playing for hours on different games when I was too frustrated with Legendary difficulty on CEA and ODST, then too frustrated with the final quest of Dragon Age: Inquisition, I knew now at 12 o'clock at midnight, was the best time to begin my childhood favorite, Halo 3.

The familiar tune of the theme song felt so satisfying, I didn't notice my weariness. I sang along as I chose only three skulls: IWHBYD, Cow Bell, and Grunt Birthday Party.

I was so tired from my finals, and sleeping early due to my tests, I lied on my bed for a bit, staring at my T.V.

Resting for only a minute, until the game loaded. Resting for a few more seconds, until the beep resounded through my headphones. Resting for a few more seconds, as Cortana begins her dialogue of Chief. Resting until the explosion sound of Chief landing in the jungle woke me up...