Nova_Writes wrote this amazing and moving story which conveys a brilliant storyline in a short amount of words. I was blown away (no pun intended) by this, and it shows a great sense of creativity.

Author's Note: This story was based on this image.

Despite that the note was written in code, the message had been clear as day: get the threat as far away from the civilian as possible and defuse the bomb.

He watched as the world around him divided in panic and the authorities lost their hold on sanity. The tiny ball in front of one of the most important buildings in the world just sat there and stared as the smartest brains in the world scramble in frustration. To try to figure out the damage that such a tiny bomb could cause. To figure out a way to dismantle it without a death toll of any kind.

But it was never possible, was it?
The bomb was designed to take as many people as possible and cause unspeakable destruction. The bomb sat there counting down from 24 hours as the brightest minds scrambled in vain to stop it.

Only Chris knew exactly what had to be done. That one person had to make a costly sacrifice to save the majority of the world.

He'd walked right past the police tape around the environment and stepped up to the director. Announced the hard truth that everyone else refused to admit.

From the outside, everyone could see the lenient director in a heated argument with the scrawny new recruit that never spoke unless he needed to. They could also see the director giving in even, more and more every second.
Eventually, the director allowed him to do what he had to do, the only choice. it was, wasn't it?

Gasps escaped people mouths as everyone stared open-mouthed as he approached the ticking time bomb and picked it up as if it were a child's toy. The path was clear as he walked directly to the car that sat in front of the White House.

The car ride was nerve-wracking. So, this was how it felt to know that you were going to die, to know-that you had nothing left to do and be satisfied with it. It was a feeling of content; to know that you were sacrificing yourself for the greater good.

Finally, he reached the ocean, his final resting place. It was the place that would have the least impact, the place where the bomb would go off but have minimal damage.

The bomb couldn't get to the middle of the ocean on its own and of course, he couldn't use a boat that had an engine or something that could make an even bigger explosion. Paddleboard, it was. He strapped himself tightly into the life jacket even though it wouldn't be useful in the end.

He paddled with all his strength into the middle of the ocean and looked down at the bomb.

One minute

This seemed fitting. He'd joined the FBI to save lives and make a difference. Even if he was never recognized for it, it would still be worth it.

Forty-five seconds.

He'd never really thought that this was how he was going to go. But sometimes the spontaneous decision is the most important one.

Thirty seconds.

He remembered standing there in front of the crowd that day as he said the pledge, "I, Chris Willis, do solemnly swear that I will support and defend the Constitution of the United States against all enemies, foreign and domestic; that will bear true faith and allegiance to the same; that I take this obligation freely, without any mental reservation or purpose of evasion; and that I will well and faithfully discharge the duties of the office on which I am about to enter, So help me God."

Despite the oath, he'd never thought that he'd have to die and sacrifice himself to discharge his duties.

Five seconds.

He sat there, arms wrapped tightly around his skinny frame bracing himself for the impact.

And then boom!