Returning to Mathias, he remained seated, as if meditating. He had been there for about half an hour.

image [https://i.imgur.com/9iCoN40.png]

"Agh..."

His head was spinning. He felt nauseous. Something was bothering him in his right arm.

"Ah!"

He had a scar near his shoulder that wrapped all the way around. At that moment, he began to remember some things.

"It’s true... I was fighting someone. During that, I lost my arm... But... What else happened?"

Then, several images flashed through his mind. He remembered everything.

"I... I really killed someone," he said to himself.

He knew well whom he had "done that to," but... he still felt guilty about it. He was the "hero," and yet, using his own powers, he had killed someone. He had practically become a murderer and was no better than the person he had caused death to, not once, but twice... At least from his point of view.

In addition, he recalled the event that triggered it—the death of his mother.

He screamed. He couldn’t bear it. He felt desperate and helpless.

He had been assigned a mission he wasn’t sure he could complete. He felt incapable. Insignificant. He couldn’t do anything on his own. He couldn’t save the children or Mr. Crowell, he barely managed to protect Sam from Christopher’s attack, and he let his mother die because he couldn’t protect her or confront his adversary due to his weakness... Someone he killed without even being able to stop him without using violence. Moreover, it seemed he was considered a threat by a “secret” organization that would eliminate him if he didn’t join them. That... was too much for him. There were other feelings he had, but... I can’t convey his emotions... But the last thing he said was:

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"...I-I could have even been present at my mother’s funeral, but I came here... Ah... I really am bad at making decisions..."

At that moment...

"So this is where you were..."

Mat felt someone hugging him from behind. It was Sam.

"Mat... Calm down..." she said.

"But... Ah... She’s no longer with us..."

"Mat..."

In the end, this was what affected him the most.

"Everything happened so fast, and... Ah... I know I wasn’t a good son to her, as I often made her angry and disobeyed her sometimes, especially when I was younger, but... I really did love her, so much. And now, she’s no longer here. I... I really wanted her to see the things I was going to achieve in the future, no matter what, and to pay back everything she did for me, but now..."

"..."

Samantha didn’t know what to say. She was also sad about what had happened...

"I... I want to see her one more time... Sam..."

"And—I do too..." she said, her sadness apparent. A tear rolled down her cheek. "She was a very good person. The way she left... She didn’t deserve this... But... I’m sure we’ll see her again, in heaven..."

"Yes, I know..." Mat said.

Then Samantha added:

"Mat, you’ve been through so much... And there’s more to come, but... don’t worry. Remember that I’ll be there for you, supporting you, always..."

"...Samantha, thank you... For everything." Mat, now calmer, took Sam’s hands as she embraced him and added, "I love you."

"I love you too, Mat, and I—Huh?"

Mat had removed Sam’s arms so she would stop hugging him, turned to face her, and hugged her.

"Can we stay like this for a moment?" he asked.

"Y-yeah..." she replied, returning the hug.

"I... I really don’t deserve her love," Mat thought at that moment. "I did nothing for her, and yet she loves me... Ha, I really am pathetic."

That last thought was about everything that had happened in his life. Or rather, recalling mistakes in it.

"But... still, I’m going to try to be someone capable. I’m going to try to be a better version of myself so that things like this don’t happen again and make her always able to smile."

"Oh, right... You remember you can make a wish, don’t you?" Sam said. "The angel mentioned it..."

"Yes... I know, but..." Mat replied. "I’m sure she’s watching over me. She’s already with God. It’s... terrible that she’s no longer with us, but she’s in a better place now."

"I know..." Samantha responded.

"That’s why I’m not going to let her down. Not her, nor God."

Samantha smiled. She was still affected by what had happened, but Mat’s attitude in this situation reassured her a bit.

"Mat, you... are amazing." She laughed a bit.

"Ah... Uh... I guess..."

He was silent for a moment.

"Can we stay here a little longer?" he asked Samantha.

"Oh, okay."

And they stayed, looking at the planet’s incredible landscape in all its splendor. Amazingly, it didn’t hurt their eyes. And... Samantha didn’t mention anything about what she had read...