The pain was blinding. But not in the way one would expect. He could still see everything, just not a future. How could he when his whole life was gone? It had fallen hard and shattered before his eyes. He couldn't do anything, it was like he was up there just so he could watch. Everything he valued, everything he looked forward to, every hope, every inspiration, gone. Just gone. And he couldn't see how that would ever change. He didn't see how happiness would ever be possible now.

But he could see the graves. And he still kept seeing them fall, over, and over, and over again. He could see the police cruiser at the foot of the hill when he looked back over his shoulder, and the shiny black mercedes next to could see the police commissioner, a man in a suit and another, older man in a different suit. But for all the things he could see, there was just blackness when he tried to picture a future for himself. Until the young man in the suit knelt down in front of him.

"Hello Richard, my name is Bruce Wayne. I understand that you might need some time to think about this but, I was going to ask you if you would come stay with me in my home. I live in a big house, not to far from here, and I could really use someone to liven the place up."

Dick looked at the man in the eyes as he spoke, trying to gauge the man through all of the strange numbness that he had been living in. Then he remembered the detention center that he was living in now and he felt tears beginning to form. He just knew there was nothing for him there. He couldn't have a future there. Maybe...maybe going with this man would help him see it again. Maybe his life didn't have to end here with his parents.

Dick nodded, quickly and meaningful. He did want to go with this man. He wanted to see again. Dick stood when Mr. Wayne stood and followed him to his car. Maybe he couldn't see it yet, but he knew he wasn't stuck here anymore, he wasn't stuck in this painful yet numb blindness. He could keep looking forward and hope things would come into focus.