"You already destroyed my first home. I won't let you take this one."
I knew what I was doing this time. To be honest, I usually didn't. In the past, I let my fathers guide me, I let me sense of purpose and the plan of the team do the talking. I followed orders, I faced down danger with the promise of near-invincibility. I did what I needed to do to save the people I loved.
But this time, I knew. I knew how this needed to end. And I wasn't guessing. I wasn't simply following orders.
"I'm proud of you." Chloe's voice rang out in my head. After all I had put her through, it would finally be over. She would smile at my memory, and remember our days at the Talon, in front of her Wall of Weird, at the farm. She would be proud of me, and what I had managed to accomplish. She, before anyone else, had always been right about me. And she had been right about this. It wasn't a trial. It was the real thing.
It gave me peace to know that the Justice League would survive. They would protect the Earth, which I had expected was my destiny, without my help. They didn't need me to lead - far from it. Each member was strong and capable, each his own master. They might remember the oath they made me, but it wouldn't be necessary. They didn't need my memory to put their own duties into perspective. The fight would be carried on, and that in itself made my decision a little easier.
My mother. By crashing into her life, and now falling back from it, I would be leaving her devastated. I had chosen to stay, but I doubt I would ever put on that red cape, the blue emblem on my chest. Her face froze in front of my eyes. She would know that she had raised a son who was a good man. She would laugh and cry when she thought of me, but she would forever remember me as the little boy who lifted her husband's truck and completed her family.
And Lois. Oh, Lois. I wish I could have told you the truth. And I know I should not have kissed you, but I needed to - just one last time. I needed to feel your lips against mine, and feel, just feel one last time. What I told you - that you were exactly what I had always needed... I wish you knew how true those words were. And I doubt you will, but I wish you could forget me. I could never be exactly what you wanted - only two halves of a whole. I couldn't give you a complete love, a honest love, so I hope you'll never know the end of this story. I hope you didn't realize it was me all along, but it is you, Lois. I wished that you always knew.
For the first time, I knew what to do. I knew the choice I was making was right, was the final one. It defines me. And for once, without any guilt, I can save the world. I can make sure that no one will ever die again because of me and my mistakes, the plague I brought with me to this planet. I am dying a hero.
It's the sacrifice I was born to make.
