[Mali]

homebody

it is not where you are but

whom you are with. it is.

where the heart is. it is.

home. and my home is with you.

"By any means necessary."  It's always a phrase that spills past her lips before the fight begins. Never a threat, but a promise that comes with the blood-letting during an impossible fight. Most often than not...When her breathing is bated, when she trembles and shutters before she falls to the ground, she whispers it to herself over and over again. "I will fight...!" In hopes of stand against the darkness. "I will fight...!" because it's not just the right thing to do. Because if no one will do it, then who will? "I will fight...!" not to save the person who needs it in that particular moment. But to save everyone who might've been hurt by that person - before - and - after -. She's not some dumb kid. She doesn't mindlessly rush into situations with no rhyme or reason. There is always an intent. There is always a want.

-

"Momma....Papa....I don't like admitting this but losing doesn't really hurt me. I've been losing all of my life. My old momma and papa turned me away...I almost died to mutants...I've been losing against the vampires and I've even lost to an ant. A giant ant- but an ant nonetheless. But nothing hurts worse than going into a city and asking the others why they don't scout as much as our enemies do. And....Instead of really giving me an answer, they asked me....If I won all of my fights. If I won any of them...And I could've lied. I could've said that I beat down some no-name but...I told them...I told them the truth." There seems to be a pause in the middle of her scribbles. Perhaps, a tear drop or two might stain where the ink becomes faded. "But they asked the same question over and over and over..." And what might that be? - Did you win?

"Did you win?"

"Did you win?"

"Did you win?"

"Did you win?"

D̴͍̓i̵̹͑d̸͚̕ ̵̡͊y̴͈͑o̶̮͊u̵̘̾ ̴̰͆w̶̮̌i̴̮͌n̸̮̈́?̷͈̀

"no."

one day...I'll win.