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Nightwing will always remember what it was like being weak, what it was like to just hurt all over and wishing at the same time that he's dead and the opposite. But those were wounds and scars that eventually would heal overtime and he could be sure that it will heal. But beside physically injured, he knows what it does to the mental. He swear that if Superman wasn't there, they could tie him up to the bed with those straps he sees in thriller movie. But even with those straps, he could probably still walk out of bed.
The point is, he understood.
Nightwing knock on one of the window in the building. If he remembers correctly, this would be the children wing. He peek in and stealthily got inside the room. On the corner, there's a woman sleeping fitfully on the couch, her eyes are puffy. Prop up against the wall is the bed occupied by the child that Nightwing wanted to see, attached to wires and all sort of medical machinery.
Just today during his police's patrol, he saw an ambulance rushed to the hospital and out they brought a kid. Skinny and pale looking. He looked distraught and panicked. His eyes wide, the oxygen mask shows his rapid breathing for air. Out also came, his parent. Single mother, Nightwing founds out later. She was crying her eyes out, shouted chants of he's going to be okay. Probably more to comfort herself than him.
He carefully crouch to make it eye-level with the child. His name is Matthew and he has lung cancer. Today the pain level index reached 9. He stare at him for a second, he seems like a nice kid. Nightwing childhood was not that golden but it has its moment and he never had to worry if his body decided to give up on him.
He pulled out a paper and a pen and start writing. After he's done, he fold it in half. He leave the mother some money though not much as he doesn't really have much to begin with.
The next sunlight, Matthew wakes up before his mother does. He's in daze as he take in his surrounding and finally he noticed the paper on his hand but it seems like he doesn't have the energy to lift his hand but his curiosity gets the best of him. He drag his hand slowly and open the paper. Squinting his eyes he starts to read it.
Dear Matthew,
Hi, I'm the friendly neighborhood watcher. You can call me Nightwing. If you feel creped out finding out there's a note written by a stranger well I would be creep out as well. But I meant you no harm.
Matthew snort, he doesn't really know how he could do anymore harm to his battered body. Nevertheless he continue reading,
Matthew, I run on rooftop almost every night and dealt with dangerous stuff of the world that I can't really share with you. But I gotta tell you that what I'm dealing with is probably a cheesecake compared to you. If I were you I would totally be scared but you handle it like a boss. I envy your courage. I hope that you will thrive to continue making me envy.
Get well soon,
Nightwing
Matthew finished reading just enough as her mother goes out of the bathroom. She looks tired but she still smile and walk up to him "Hey, son. You feel okay?"
"I feel better, Mom."