Two Ghosts

Chapter 30

I knock on my parents front door with red and swollen eyes, bloody knuckles and dirty clothes. I am a mess, my life is a mess. When the door opens, I get to see my mother in her sunday clothing: a simple pastel yellow dress, flat shoes and red lipsitck. She gasps when her eyes lay on me, and I assume my appearance only shocked her more.

-Hello, mother.-I sniff, and before I could react to her actions, her arms hold me against her body.
-My Jade.-she mutters. She drags me inside the house, where my dad is on his favorite chair next to the fire place.
-Dear God.-he stands up as my mom leads the way to the sofa, where I sit down with her next to me.-Child, what...?
-Let her breathe, Wes.-she takes my hand and squeezes it softly.
-I just came by to say goodbye.-I say with more tears filling my eyes.
-What?-mom frowns.-Where are you going? What is this? Is that Barnes, isn't it?
-What is he up to, Jay?-his face gets red out of rage, to which I smile dearly.-I never trusted that son of a bitch...
-Bucky is dead.-I spit, sniffing again. They both go silent, so I guess this is my time to talk.-He went to war, he was captured by the Nazis.-my mom's eyes tear up, which all things considered, is kind of sweet.-Steve saved him.
-I knew he was out there, too.-he snaps his fingers.-What got into that guy? He was tiny.
-Scientific experiment.-I shrug and he nods, as he understood it.-He died, too.-my dad sits in front of us and sighs. They can say all they want, but deep inside they cared for those two. They were always grateful Bucky and Steve never left my side, I always had friends because of them, even when I was the weirdo of my parents' community.
-Oh, dear.-my mom sobs, and so do I.-I'm so sorry.
-You know...-my dad starts, with his eyes lost into his memory.-...ever since your mother and I stopped calling you, your sisters gave us Hell.-he chuckles and shakes his head a little.-They said that James was a good man, that he was a catch, just like you.-I smile through the tears.
-But everyday that passed, we were more and more ashamed to reach out to you.-mom adds.
-They wouldn't stop insisting, those girls can be real pains in the ass.-he laughs but shuts up quickly.
-Well, they are your daughters.-she jokes, making me smile again.-You said you were here to say goodbye, Jade. What did you mean?-I exhale and close my eyes for two seconds, preparing for the news.
-I'm joining the organization that helped Steve become Captain America, and they will do something similar to me.-they both start yelling at me about how stupid I am being and how dangerous it is, and I just let them.-I just came here to let you know. I am going.
-But, child, it's...you're just...how are you even...?-he chokes with his own words.
-What your father means, dear, is that how do you expect us to just be okay with this?-mom stands up to feel bigger than me and, at some level, intimidante me. She has always done that.-You just said that Steve died, and you're going with the same guys who turned him into a freak?
-He was not a freak, mother. He was a hero-I fight back.-He did that to be at service, you know how many times the army rejected him.-she nods.
-Well, he was terribly skinny.-she says, lowering her voice.
-He decided to change to serve his country.-I stand, too.-And so will I.
-Jay, please, think about this.-mom insists, crying again.
-You still have a life to live, even without him.-dad sounds cold and cruel, but I know he means well. He has seldom been able to express himself properly.
-This is the life that I choose.-I put my foot down on this lifting my chin proudly.-I didn't come to ask for your permission.-I kiss my father's cheek and my mom's forehead and head for the door, but my dad's voice stops me.
-We are proud of you, child.-he says, bringing back the tears to my eyes. I give him a little nod and walk out of their house.

I was still able to visit them after I was enhanced, they we happier than ever when I returned. My sisters, too. I had to fight them, lose them, lose Bucky and turn into a super soldier so we could be a 'normal' family at last. We had never been closer. When my mom passed, she had white hair and red lipstick, and she told me to be brave in a world that was built to make me feel like a coward. I remember her words everyday, like an oath. My dad lived seven years without his wife, and he apologized to me until his last breath, saying that he was a fool for thinking that he could control the path of my life, and encouraging me to follow my heart like I always have. I miss their odd wisdom and crazy logic, specially when I feel alone and in the dark. They would know what to do right now, and they would tell me with no filters or pretty words or sugar coats of any kind. They were always honest with me, that I appreciate.