In the Shadow of the Man of Steel
Legal Disclaimer-The rights are owned by other people.
Author's Note-It's self-explanatory, but, I always adored him, so I have to admit, I'm a tad depressed. He was a cool guy from what I have heard and an inspiration to so many. Reviews are okay. Hope you enjoy it. You might also want some Kleenex.
In the Shadow of the Man of Steel....
Jesse Kilmartin sat in the coffee shop, the headline screaming out at him from the paper.
Actor who played Superman dead.
He drank his coffee and remembered when he had first seen the motion picture of Superman. He had liked the portrayal; liked the way the actor had shown the human side of the alien that was a protector. He knew how he felt. He had shown the movie to Brennan, Shalimar, Emma and Lexa, knowing they felt the same way. It was great, even if it was just a movie, to have someone out there who understood how they felt. It was a really rare thing to see these days. It made him very sad to think that the actor was gone.
The actor had gone on to other roles, other lives, but was always known for Superman. The man of steel. They too shared a bond there. Jesse could turn to steel when the need arose. Superman could too, but he was just a comic book.
The actor? The physical, good looking actor had gotten married, had other roles on stage and screen and was an avid horseman. He had been paralyzed from the neck down in an accident on horseback. The actor had courage of steel, undergoing hours of physical therapy to work a body that wouldn't work on its own anymore. The actor who used his fame to make sure that people knew that people like him needed help, and actually helping when he could, using his talents to bring the message to the people. He used his fame to bring attention and money to the causes of his life, setting up foundations and keeping the dream for a cure alive. Not a treatment, a cure.
Paralyzed people were just like the rest of us, just unable to do the things that everyone else could, but their minds were still active, their hearts still beat, and they were just like they used to be. They deserved the same treatment and needs as everyone else. They were not to be counted out because of their disability. They were to be counted in. As mothers, fathers, brothers, sisters, voters, consumers, and as people of the world.
Jesse felt for the family. It hurt to lose someone, and when someone was as bright a light as he was, the darkness could overtake you. He knew, like others who had read the article, that the simple memory would always brighten the world. People would take action, they always did.
The last piece of the article stuck in his mind. When the actor dreamed, he always dreamed that he was out sailing. Jesse folded up the paper, and headed outside, his ring beeping with the next assignment and the location to meet his friends and family at. He knew that today, he would carry the burden of the man of steel. In his thoughts, he thought of the other man of steel and smiled, a small prayer for the hero.
Sail on, Superman.