The Aftermath
The green glow crept up from the window sill into the apartment. He glided in on an arc of pure energy. His ring pulsated as he descended lightly onto the living room floor. John Stewart was home. As the aura around his body waned, Stewart surveyed his sparse yet functional efficiency. Everything looked to be in order. Nothing appeared to be missing. The Green Lantern sighed and walked toward the kitchen. Something was indeed missing. No, that something wasn't a piece of furniture or some other appliance. No, that something was a someone.
He opened his refrigerator hoping that he might find solace in that great panacea for troubled hearts and minds: Bob and Terry's berry ice cream. However, no solace was to be gained. Stewart laughed to himself. The Flash must have found his cache and did the only right and natural thing. Well, the next best thing to Bob and Terry's was a large glass of buttermilk. Buttermilk had worked wonders for his stomach while he was a child. His mother would make him drink a glassful every time he complained of an upset tummy.
With his immediate intake need satisfied, the Green Lantern went to check on the scars left from his most recent battle. J'onn pleaded with him to go to the emergency room to have his wounds tended. The Manhunter feared that Stewart could be suffering from a concussion or cracked ribs. Notoriously stubborn, he said he was alright and required no medical attention. Looking into the bathroom mirror, he smirked at the reflection. He had a large gash on the left cheekbone, a fat bottom lip, and a very big knot along the hairline. He lifted his tunic to check his ribs. A large purple and blue welt seemed to dance with his every breath. Stewart nodded in approval. Boot camp in the Marines had left far worse damage than this. Yet, he couldn't help but notice the deep sorrow in his eyes. He glanced down at his right hand. How often had the ring protected him from major catastrophe and even death? Too many too count for certain, but despite its great power, the ring proved powerless to protect him from wounds of the spirit.
After a long shower and dressing his wounds as best he could, the exhausted hero flopped into his bed. He checked the alarm clock. Only 10:00! The day seemed to drag on forever. He looked at the clock again. He viewed it not for the time but for the object under it. It was a book. Stewart instinctively reached for it, but at the last moment hesitated.
"It's too close. It's just too close. It hurts too much," he whispered as set the book back in place.
He reached for the remote. Perhaps the idiot box would provide him with some well needed escape. He leaned back against the headboard and saw pictures that made him wince in pain.
"This is Snapper Carr reporting. The band of super beings commonly called the Justice League have once again saved our planet! Details are sketchy at the moment, but we have confirmed that the invading force from Tha....."
Stewart clicked the remote. He was in no mood to rehash the events of the past several days. He knew that he and his friends would be hailed as saviors and heroes of the greatest magnitude. Big flaming deal! So they had driven out a deadly invasion force. So they had liberated millions. So they had saved thousands of lives. So what? Did that stop the cruelest blow of all?
He rolled over and reached for the light. He saw the book again. He stared at it for a view moments. It was a book all about love and that was the last thing he wanted to think about. Click.
The green glow crept up from the window sill into the apartment. He glided in on an arc of pure energy. His ring pulsated as he descended lightly onto the living room floor. John Stewart was home. As the aura around his body waned, Stewart surveyed his sparse yet functional efficiency. Everything looked to be in order. Nothing appeared to be missing. The Green Lantern sighed and walked toward the kitchen. Something was indeed missing. No, that something wasn't a piece of furniture or some other appliance. No, that something was a someone.
He opened his refrigerator hoping that he might find solace in that great panacea for troubled hearts and minds: Bob and Terry's berry ice cream. However, no solace was to be gained. Stewart laughed to himself. The Flash must have found his cache and did the only right and natural thing. Well, the next best thing to Bob and Terry's was a large glass of buttermilk. Buttermilk had worked wonders for his stomach while he was a child. His mother would make him drink a glassful every time he complained of an upset tummy.
With his immediate intake need satisfied, the Green Lantern went to check on the scars left from his most recent battle. J'onn pleaded with him to go to the emergency room to have his wounds tended. The Manhunter feared that Stewart could be suffering from a concussion or cracked ribs. Notoriously stubborn, he said he was alright and required no medical attention. Looking into the bathroom mirror, he smirked at the reflection. He had a large gash on the left cheekbone, a fat bottom lip, and a very big knot along the hairline. He lifted his tunic to check his ribs. A large purple and blue welt seemed to dance with his every breath. Stewart nodded in approval. Boot camp in the Marines had left far worse damage than this. Yet, he couldn't help but notice the deep sorrow in his eyes. He glanced down at his right hand. How often had the ring protected him from major catastrophe and even death? Too many too count for certain, but despite its great power, the ring proved powerless to protect him from wounds of the spirit.
After a long shower and dressing his wounds as best he could, the exhausted hero flopped into his bed. He checked the alarm clock. Only 10:00! The day seemed to drag on forever. He looked at the clock again. He viewed it not for the time but for the object under it. It was a book. Stewart instinctively reached for it, but at the last moment hesitated.
"It's too close. It's just too close. It hurts too much," he whispered as set the book back in place.
He reached for the remote. Perhaps the idiot box would provide him with some well needed escape. He leaned back against the headboard and saw pictures that made him wince in pain.
"This is Snapper Carr reporting. The band of super beings commonly called the Justice League have once again saved our planet! Details are sketchy at the moment, but we have confirmed that the invading force from Tha....."
Stewart clicked the remote. He was in no mood to rehash the events of the past several days. He knew that he and his friends would be hailed as saviors and heroes of the greatest magnitude. Big flaming deal! So they had driven out a deadly invasion force. So they had liberated millions. So they had saved thousands of lives. So what? Did that stop the cruelest blow of all?
He rolled over and reached for the light. He saw the book again. He stared at it for a view moments. It was a book all about love and that was the last thing he wanted to think about. Click.
