1 Smiling Azure

'Man this stinks.'

A sigh of dejectedness can be heard.

'Any way I try to work around this, it seems like I just can't. Not something easy for me to say as I lie here. How long has it been since.....'

Groans of pain can be heard from a figure as it lifts up.

'Not long since I can still move, though with how dire it looks, that won't be the case soon. Ugh, this pain sucks. Well, I can't see anything that is in front of me.'

Shuffling and stumbling is heard in the darkness, with more groans of pain as the figure tumbles back to the ground.

'Man, guess this is it. Pretty bleak and lonesome, I guess this is where people would beg to be saved and promise to turn a leaf and be a better person and help others. Sadly, I can't do that, I already tried to live my life as good as I could, helped others to the point where I had nothing. Now, on this business trip to help my company since no one else wanted to go, I took the opportunity to help the company so it didn't fail.'

A sigh with a chuckle is heard, and then some wincing.

'Now I am here, under some rubble on a train, where no one will notice that the train is delayed until it's too late. At least the bright side is that I am the only one that was on this train, and no one else was on here. Ironic how I tried to help and help, only to be alone, and dying, while trying to help. I'm not going to fault myself for not being greedy, but I should have tried asking for more when it came to certain things, asking more for myself, to be selfless, while selfish when it came to my well being. Instead, I was a yes person and never thought about the consequences that it would have upon me.'

Shuffling is heard again as the figure stands up. In the dark space the only thing that can be heard is the groaning of the figure along with the groaning of metal with the weight of boulders on the train. The heavy mustiness in the air of damp soil, and a heavy aroma of something metallic.

'Well, with how heavy the scent is, more than likely I am going to bleed out. Damn, I really don't want to die, there was more that I wanted to do, even if I would find an excuse so I could help somebody else instead.'

The figure laughs light heartedly.

"Damn it hurts to laugh, and it is getting hard to think inside my head, guess I will be talking out loud to you dirt. Hahaha"

A faint voice is heard in the figure's head. 'What would you say is your greatest drawback?'

"I am not surprised that I'm hearing a voice in my head, I relish the conversation. Telling myself that I was helping others when it was blatantly obvious I was being taken advantage of."

The figure let out, for some reason, a relieved sigh after finishing the sentence. Reaching into a coat pocket and pulling out a cigarillo and lighter. As the figure lit it, their bright, twinkling azure eyes looked forward. As if determined to not let death make them pause in their thoughts.

'Is that such a bad thing though? Attempting to help all, even if it was at the point of being taken advantage of?' The voice chimed in the figure's head.

"Nah, not really," the figure replied while blowing out a deep puff of the cigarillo. "I guess, what makes me say that it is a drawback, was that, I guess you could say it was naivete, in hoping that others would open up, and be sincere. Maybe even be my friend, however, my willingness to help others ended up being taken advantage of by many. Though many also did appreciate it, but those who did, I never saw again. The sincerity that came from those people, the gratefulness, oh, that feeling of warmth in knowing I helped someone, it felt good. And the thoughtful conversations that came with them! Oh! How I wish I could have had conversations of sincerity and interest with others. But, for those that I saw time and time again, all they had was maliciousness in their eyes. I hoped being helpful would get them to open up. Alas, I was the one being greedy in hopes I could help them."

A heavy sigh came from the figure as another puff of smoke came with it.

'I wouldn't think that. If anything, your only fault would be that after a certain point, you could not say no. You were afraid that saying no would disappoint others and make it to where they wouldn't come to you. That isn't a bad thing either. Sometimes saying no is also helping people, if done correctly, and not out of spite or greed. Which then opens up for possibly someone else to come to you seeing that you have standards along with your morals and ethics.'

A soft chuckle is heard.

"Well, it is good to know that it is ok to say no. However, I guess this is a little late for a self revelation," the figure said as the last puff came from the figure, flicking the butt of the cigarillo far away as it burned out, "I do not think I will be able to use that advice now though."

'Well that is just negative to think that! Some might say practical, but you know that is not like you.' The voice chimed in.

"Yea yea, I know, I'm more of a positive thinker, I���ll use that knowledge in my next life if there is one!" The figure chuckled.

'There is a next life for you! But you are being too damn stubborn to die!' The voice hotly said as it laughed as well.

The figure laughed softly and looked up, silence once again entering the space.

Sometime later it would be said that a body was found amongst the wreckage of the train, though the train never registered a rider, which is why crews did not rush to the scene with it being a one train line. The biggest detail that surprised everyone was that the person showed no sorrow, but was peacefully smiling up to the sky, sitting crossed legged, beautiful azure eyes looking up, as if knowing that all would be ok. The person later gained the nickname "Smiling Azure".