THE TEN-MINUTE STANDING OVATION
The instant the crowd saw him—
They exploded into applause.
Every being stood.
Children cried openly.
Elders pressed both hands to their hearts.
Commanders saluted.
Healers wept silently.
It was overwhelming.
The ovation continued…
and continued…
and continued.
Ten minutes.
Grandpa’s chest shook.
Tears fell.
The more he cried,
the louder the ovation grew.
They weren’t just honoring his survival—
they were honoring the years he fought alone
to keep an entire galaxy’s hope alive.
He whispered under his breath:
“…you saw me…
all along…”
Then he stepped to the podium.