The Gun Barrel of Death

Mia curled into a ball on the floor, unable to get back up no matter how hard she tried.

"You are the real Lacus." "Thank you for your service."

—Sarah's and the Chairman's kindly voices were shattered amid the deafening gunfire.

Tears flowed from her tightly shut eyes.

Were they going to kill me here?

Because I was no longer useful?

Because I knew the Chairman's lies?

"Miss Mia."

She opened her eyes and saw Lacus crawling over from beneath the window. Lacus sat down beside Mia, hugging her knees just as Mia did, yet she smiled at her with narrowed eyes.

"Don't be afraid."

Mia could not stop herself from crying again, her heart filled with guilt.

I was the one who deceived her and brought her into this danger, yet she did not blame me at all. Instead, she came to comfort me.

She was such a wonderful person, and I had actually wanted to kill her.

Lacus gently took Mia's hand, soothing her as though comforting a child. "...Don't be afraid."

The warmth from Lacus's palm seeped straight into Mia's heart.

To Mia, Lacus had always been someone who lived inside a screen. All she knew of her was that meticulously crafted appearance. Now, studying Lacus through tear-filled eyes, Mia realized she had been wrong.

Lacus was flesh and blood just like her. A bullet could kill her just as easily, and she too was someone no one could ever replace.

Even if I was not as beautiful as Lacus, I must have had many good qualities of my own. Yet I had never valued them. I only ever thought of myself as insignificant and worthless, so I ruthlessly cast that self aside.

How could I have discarded myself so easily? Why had I not loved myself