Odin swished his mead around in a circle, watching the liquid pour out the sides and onto the table. Being head of Valhalla was certainly interesting and you'd meet so many... eccentric people. All of them were barbaric. Truthfully, it slightly annoyed Odin, having to deal with all their screaming and bloodshed. As much as they annoyed him, he knew that he couldn't just get rid of them either, Ragnarok could happen at any time and he would need his best soldiers on the front lines. Even these dumb blatqnns.

As the Valkyries swooped into the dining hall, bringing the honored dead, Odin noticed that mixed in with the heroes, there was a little girl, no older than six years old. She looked around, terrified of all the women and men, spilling mead all over each other and screaming. She sat a little bit closer to her Valkyrie and pulled on her hair.

Odin stood up and everyone stopped screaming, killing, and dumping mead on each other.

"New heroes, might you tell us your story of your brave deaths?" Odin boomed. The little girl flinched and set her hands on her lap.

One woman stood up and started telling her tale of bravery. The same story he always hears in a different variation. After all the other heroes told their tales, the only one left was the little girl. She looked around nervously before standing up.

"Little one, what may your story be?" Odin gently asked.

"Well... my mom had been drinking her beer again and... and started to hurt my daddy, so I stood in front of her and told her to stop. Then she... she hit me on the head with a broken beer bottle," she quietly said, but in the silent room, her voice boomed and echoed off of the walls. Nobody said anything. Odin didn't say anything because what could he say? He decided he didn't need to say anything and instead started clapping. The little girl's Valkyrie joined after him and not long after, the whole room was cheering all for the little girl and her bravery. Odin knew of the many kids and people who did this every day, but he's never had a survivor in Valhalla before. The little girl was the first, but certainly not the last. Odin found his hall being filled with more and more ordinary people who have completed incredible feats.

A teenager who was a drug addict was trying to quit but got beat up in an alley by his past dealers.
A woman who fought against cancer.
A man who was suffering from anorexia had just started to get better but unfortunately met his demise.

A little boy who died protecting his little brother and mother from a crazed psycho.

Not all heroes have to have physical strength. If you can find the strength to commit personal victories, you are a hero, and Odin will save a seat for you at Valhalla. Do not give up. When the world pushes you down, you stand right back up and press on forward. Be your own hero. Find your strength and conquer your inner demons.