Till the End of the Line Vol. 5

Chapter 3 - Sofia's Guilt/ Bucky's Surprise

Sometime late in Central Park, Sofia hears her phone going off. She picks up the phone and says, "Hey, Loki. How are you?"

"I'm good; how are you?" Loki asks on the other end of the line.

"I'm good, thank you. Are you and Becca back in New York?"

"Yeah, since Becca's been a little down lately, I thought seeing James and spending more time with Sarah would be good for her."

"Well, that is very sweet of you. I'm sure she appreciates it very much." Sofia takes a sip of her water.

"Hey, mind if I ask you a question?"

"Sure."

"How are you two doing? How's James holding up?"

A lump is in Sofia's throat. She then looks away as she feels tears about to fall on her cheek. "It has its ups and downs."

HOTEL

Loki sighs with a sympathetic expression as he continues to listen to Sofia. "On the good days, it's good. But some days and lately, Bucky would sleep on the floor, and I would hear him screaming."

"Because of his nightmares?" Loki asks.

CENTRAL PARK

"Yes, I noticed that in his book, he crosses off names of those that he hurt, but there's one that I recognized, and that was circled," Sofia replied.

"Who's?" Loki asks.

"Nakajima. I kept wanting to ask Bucky who it was, but I didn't want to push him. But when I went to Izzy's today, I met a Mr. Nakajima, and so I realized that -"

"James, hurt Mr. Nakajima? How?"

"Before I left, I used my magic and heard him talking about his son. Then I saw Bucky's face. How sad he was."

"So, so far, he's made amends to everyone except him?"

"I think so, and it's because he doesn't know how to."

HOTEL

"Well, I'm sure one day he will," Loki implied. They pause for a moment. "Now you said something about your nightmares. Are they the same as before?"

"Yes, but..." Sofia replies. "...they've been getting worse.

CENTRAL PARK

"When I wake up, I see Bucky lying next to me—telling me that I was screaming, which would make me cry," said Sofia. "He then would stay with me."

Loki apologizes, "Oh, Sofia, I'm so sorry. The things you, James, and Becca went through haven't been easy to overcome, and I know it still isn't. But the pain will heal in time. I promise. Have you told him about it?"

"No."

"Why?"

"I'm afraid of what he'll say. But Loki, losing him in the blip, broke me just as I know when he lost me briefly when I tried to stop Thanos from using the stones again. And when Becca and I committed horrible acts of violence for revenge, I knew it was wrong, but I just wanted the pain to go away."

"Sofia, you can never lose James. He loves you just as much as you love him. When Becca told me what had happened, she was afraid I wouldn't love her anymore, but I didn't see it that way. Her telling me what you two did was hard, and she wanted to feel peace again. I promised her I would be supportive and love her no matter what." Sofia sheds more tears as she listens to Loki. "I know it may seem hard, but sooner or later, you will have to tell him. And the sooner you tell him, the better you will feel." Sofia exhales deeply.