I start at a short run. The alleyway flashes before my eyes as I strip off my suit and glasses. Within five steps I have shed my Clark clothes and donned my classic red and blue. Next step I take pushes me powerfully into the air.

I extend my hands in front of me to keep up the appearances of direction and to finally stretch out arms that have been burning to be used fully all day.

The wind blows at my face immediately as I soar through the city in mere seconds. But I don't break the sound barrier. No, not yet. That's not needed. This cruising speed is just fine.

And the higher I get the more I hear. Alarms, conversations, screaming, televisions, fighting, cars, engines, everything all at once. But I just block it out.

I keep ascending and let the sounds become background noise in my mind.

I am high above the city now. Much higher. Higher than the clouds. Higher than all the planes. All that's left is me.

Alone at last.

I relax my body and close my eyes. I let the sun seemingly soak into my skin. I feel the energy inside my body seem to rejuvenate and double. And I can sense my lungs fill with the glorious oxygen that I don't even need. But it feels amazing anyway.

The sun soaks my body and I am like sponge to it. Nothing helps on a day like this but that magnificent star. It gives me hope.

It gives me strength.

But that's not the only great thing up here. The wind feels wonderful too, like a cool blanket covering me, consoling me. And for the first time during this flight I stay completely still, hovering in air.

Finally, I have found what I have needed all day long: utter peace. Up here everything is still, even me. And it's all that relaxes me. All that revives me.

Stillness….. No one would believe that the Man of Steel seeks it.

And suddenly I hear a loud explosion somewhere in the southern part of Metropolis. I take a deep breath before putting all my might into my next push in the air.

I fly downwards, and for the first time today, break the sound barrier and go as fast as possible. I let all the sounds rush back into my head and cloud my mind. I concentrate on the part of the city I know is in trouble. I hear screaming, countless explosions, police sirens, and other numerous signs that point to a disaster that has just taken place.

And just before I reach the ground, I clear my mind. I block out all the noises and all my thoughts. I focus.

I can do this. I can do this. I can do this. Just concentrate.

And then I relax. The panic vanishes.

The sun will be there tomorrow. It always is. And the world will be too. And that gives me all the strength I need.

I land on the ground with a fast, but graceful thud.

Showtime.