I was in bed for four days after that. I was kept at UA where security was the best. Mom came and checked on me every day. When she first came, she had cried for most of the time and wouldn't let me out of the hug I was locked in for at least ten minutes. I probably would have done the same if I thought she was dead for a six or so months. My classmates came in, though it was hard to talk to them after firing a gun at Iida. He said he knew that I wasn't myself and forgave me, but I couldn't help still feeling guilty.

Recovery Girl helped me with my back, healing it in no time. My legs would take some time, however. Another problem was the precarious state my arms were in. If I used my power a few more times and ended up breaking my arms, I'd be done for. I didn't know how I would live with never using One for All ever again, but the bigger struggle was living with arms that would never move again. The ugly scarring on my arms were my constant reminder of the danger I was to myself.

All Might would visit me a lot. It was usually after he had drained his hero form either by teaching or fighting villains in the morning. On my last day in the hospital, I asked him something that had been constantly on my mind. "Do you think I should give up trying to be a hero?"

All Might was silent for a while, looking everywhere besides me. "I didn't mean for any of this to happen, Midoriya. I gave you One For All so you could live out your dreams and become a hero. I knew the consequences, but I gave you my power nonetheless. I'm sorry, my boy, but with your current condition...I can see no way that you could survive hero work."

I was silent for a moment. The words hurt. I'd been putting together fragments of my memory since All Might had saved me, and the strongest emotion I felt was the want, the need, for me to be a hero. It was my driving force. Without it, I was just another bystander. I gripped the blankets so tight that my knuckles turned white. Don't cry...you knew this is the only way.... tear slipped silently down my cheek, closely followed by another, then another, and before I knew it, I was a sobbing mess. "E-Everything I worked for...A-All Might...W-what you trained m-me for...I-I'm sorry...I-I didn't mean for...s-so much trouble."

All Might, in his weaker form, wrapped his arms around me, almost like a father. "I'm sorry we couldn't save you earlier, Izuku," he said quietly. "This is all my fault. I'm so sorry, my boy."

~

Mom picked me up later in the day. I could walk again and my back gave me no pain. The car ride was quiet, but I knew I'd have to tell her sooner or later. "Mom..."

"Yes, sweety?" Mom answered right away.

I swallowed hard. "Um...I think that it would be best...if I-"

A car horn suddenly blared as my mom swerved to stop from going into the opposite lane. I jumped. "Mom! Are you alright?"

"Sorry, Izuku. You know I've got a one track mind. Can hardly talk and walk at the same time. Could you tell me later? That way everyone will be safer." She was smiling, but I noticed that she was hiding something. She looked older. Had my disappearance and reappearance been too much for her to handle? I hoped she hadn't lost too much sleep over me.

Right when she put the car in park, she said, "Okay, I'm listening."

"Um, okay." I got out of the car and followed her inside, starting to tell her my bad news. "As I was saying, since my arms are in pretty bad shape...well, All Might told me that it was a good idea, so I think that I'll give it up."

"Give what up, Izuku?"

"Mom...I think that I should quit going to UA and forget my dream of becoming a hero."

She was silent for a moment. "Oh...well, if that's what you want. I mean, being a hero has been your dream since..."

"I know..." I felt the tears wanting to fall again. "B-but I'm a danger to myself. I-I don't want to loose my arms. D-do you think that it would be a good idea for me to just live a normal life?"

My mom wrapped her her arms around me. "Izuku...I think that would be for the best."

It felt like my whole life crashed onto my. I buried my head in my mom's shoulder and let out everything I'd been holding in since I was rescued. She had confirmed my suspicions, but it still hurt that everything I'd worked for was being destroyed before my eyes.