“We’ll be back in 3 ½ minutes everyone, so stay on your toes” yelled a man in the studio. The lights seemed so blinding to Michelle, especially after spending so long in a dark cold cell. She hadn’t decided if she was enjoying the newfound freedom that came with being out of prison. Too much attention, too much noise. There was a time when she used to live for these kinds of moments.

“How are you feeling Michelle?” The host looked to her innocently, his smile looking ugly and disfigured to her.

“We agreed not to mention that day John. You know what I lost, what we all lost.”

“What you lost is not the same as what they lost. What? You lost a few friends? Well, they lost all of their idols. They lost their gods. They lost their goddamn hope Michelle. I think they deserve an explanation, don’t you?”

She bit her lip, trying to hide her frustration.

“Look I won’t apologize, but I won’t push it again. We both knew I was going to ask anyways. There’s no use lying about it.” A knowing smile stretched across his face.

In that moment Michelle reconsidered just walking out. In her youth, she wouldn’t have hesitated. She would have savored the personal victory, reminding everyone that she didn’t answer to anybody. Now, she needed the money for rent. Michelle didn’t have a penny to her name and the only way she could afford her shitty apartment was to take another moment in the spotlight. Allow herself to be dragged through the mud on live television.

“Let’s just get this over with,” Michelle grumbled.

“Now that’s an idea. By the way, have you changed your mind about the photoshoot afterword? My viewers would absolutely love it!”

Michele glared at him, holding back all the insults that came to mind. A man behind the camera motioned to them that the cameras would be rolling soon. Michelle straightened her back and ignored the urge to strangle John Dice on live television.

“And we’re back with more from Michelle and her new life on the outside. Now Michelle, there’s something else I’ve been meaning to ask you. You’ve said before that you’ve found peace with yourself while in prison, but what exactly do you mean by that?”

“Well, I tried a couple of things in prison such as reading, meditation, praying, writing…”

“I’m sorry did you say praying,” John said cutting Michelle off midsentence. “I’m not sure praying will do you any good Michelle.”

Michelle’s face had started to scrunch up in irritation. “I don’t think that’s for you to decide.”

“You’ve done a lot of bad in your life. Do you really think that you could just be forgiven like that?”

“I’m not sure, but it’s worth a try.” Michelle said fidgeting in her seat. She straightened her dress and looked at John again.

“Well good news everyone! No matter what you’ve done, there’s a chance that praying will absolve you of all guilt. No matter what crime you’ve committed, you can still be forgiven. Isn’t that right Michelle?”

“That’s not fair. I’m trying my best here. Besides, I found that religion didn’t quite fit my lifestyle.” She looked at the crowd and noticed the disapproving looks directed at her. She wondered if she should have lied.

John laughed. “I see you’ve found a sense of humor while you were in prison Michelle. Did the guards help you with that?”

Michelle flinched and a vicious portrait made its way into her thoughts. Blood splashing onto a pretty blue checkered jacket. The stomping of feet marching around her.

“Now before you go Michelle, I’d like to ask you one last question? We live in a time where no one dares to pick up a cape in the name of justice. Instead those with terrifying powers run around freely doing whatever they want to whomever they want. That is until law enforcement stepped up their game and deployed elite teams all over the city to take care of the issue facing our society.”

“Is there a question in there somewhere?” Her sharp eyes picturing his blue tie wrapped around his neck.

“Straight to the point Michelle! I like that about you. The question on everyone’s tongue is, do you feel responsible for the current state of things?”

Michelle looked down and started to fidget with her dress again. Feeling immense pressure on herself from the crowd, she took in a deep breath.

“I’m sure this question may make you feel uncomfortable, but you should know that the polls are saying that 82% of the public feel vulnerable and unsafe when they step outside their home. The Free Ministry even had to reinstate the right for citizens to keep registered firearms because the people demanded it. Crime has exponentially risen and what you started has- “

“I do,” Michelle whispered under her breath.

“What was that Michelle? I didn’t quite catch that” John said as he eagerly leaned forward, the crowd seeming to lean in with him.

“I do,” she declared as her voice projected clearly this time. “I could hardly care what you think of me John, but I feel responsible for starting a movement that I couldn’t control. I feel responsible for allowing all my friends to die the way they did. I was selfish to think that the world would be better without heroes and their self-righteous bullshit. The truth is, the world needed them, or at least someone like them. It was a balance, one that I tipped to the wrong side.”

 The crowd had become fairly agitated at this point. Some of them even resorted to angrily yelling insults at Michelle. In the back of the room, a tall man in a dark jacket stood up and walked towards the doors in the back. His hood covered his face. “I know my words sound empty, but I have regrets just like everyone else. I’m alone in a world that I no longer have a say in. I barely recognize what this world has turned into. And yes, I’m scared. Scared and powerless just like everyone else.”

“Wow….do you really mean all that Michelle? It almost sounds like you wish that heroes would come back.” John acted as if he was taken by Michelle’s burst of raw honesty.

Michelle unexpectantly looked directly at the man standing by the exit. The young man in the dark jacket paused and turned around to listen, pulling his hood down and revealing familiar green eyes and bronze skin the same shade as her own. A smile came to her face. Not a sinister smile or a malicious smile, but a kind-hearted warm smile. A smile she’d practiced for a week. A smile that showed vulnerability and compassion. “I’m not sure that’ll ever happen, but if anyone out there has any kind of hope for the future, don’t be afraid to shape it yourself.”

The man in the dark jacket turned his back to her, continuing to walk towards the exit. A lone tear creeped down Michelle’s face. She quickly wiped it away. The crowd had fallen silent again, exchanging glances between each other as if gauging how they should to respond to her tear.

“That was very powerful Michelle, but I’m afraid that’s all the time we have for today. Thank you for joining us on CHS today and we hope to have you back soon. For anyone who bought VIP tickets, she’ll be staying backstage to have her picture taken. Who wouldn’t want a picture with the vulnerable Ms. Universe?”

“John!” Michelle seethed under her breath.

“Good night everyone and make sure you get home safe before it gets to late!”

The light dimmed and the crowd started to shuffle out of the room. Michelle walked off the stage and headed toward the back. Not a single person in the studio paid her any attention after the show ended. She felt herself start to become invisible to the world again. Michelle leaned against a wall and stared at her feet for a few minutes trying to catch her breath. Her heart was still pounding.