The Night Gwen Stacy Lived

Reliving the Past

My life has never been ordinary. Nothing is ever normal when your dad is the captain of the NYPD. It makes it even less normal when your dad is all you have left. I can still remember the first time she took me to ballet. I was no older than 5 at the time, even with 5-year-old me I was a perfectionist and I remember getting so mad that I started crying when I couldn't do a simple plié. It was at that moment that I wanted to just quit and go home because I wouldn't ever get it. I was done and wanted to give up. I can still remember her calmly pulling me aside and hugging me and I could still smell a hint of her perfume from earlier in the day. At that moment I felt loved and believed I could do it. With some parting words from her telling me to never give up and that I can do it I went on and was able to do it not perfectly, but it was a start. The joy that moment brought me was unlike any I have ever experienced and maybe it was the first time I can remember when someone believed in me and with that, I believed in me.

I have some moments just like that that help me push through the tough days. They remind me she's always in my corner even on dark days. I haven't touched ballet since she passed however, it seemed like whatever love I had for it just died with her. It helped keep me in shape and it eventually helped me have an amazing balance. Since then though it has been hard to find another thing, I was passionate about. That was until I met Peter who shared an interest in science like me, he also had an interest in music. One time he brought up the idea of starting a band even though it would be kind of ridiculous for Peter since I couldn't ever picture him with a guitar in hand, but the idea stuck. I always loved the beat and rhythm that a drummer was able to demonstrate with the skills they had. I didn't realize it at the time, but I may have found my new passion. Eventually, after weeks of debate with my dad, I was able to convince my dad to buy my first drum set.

Now before we get too far into this to say I wasn't great was an understatement, but I eventually learned and to say I got good would be an understatement. I've thought of trying to join a band but there weren't many bands nearby that fit what I was interested in. The drums are in a way my way of expressing my art. There is no other feeling than making a beat and turning it into your own. You can add some flare as you play but it also transports me into a world where all my problems can disappear.

The one thing that helped me the most was Peter. He at the time became my rock in a way since he was willing to listen, and he was a lot like me. He was a loner at the time and grew more as the years went by. Part of that was easily the fact of how smart he was but it was weird that after his uncle died, he quit trying to socialize and he eventually even distanced himself from me. It hurt because my best friend was drifting away but eventually, I realized that he needed someone to listen to, and I made sure I was there for him. In some ways, I helped him through his tough time since I know what it's like. But I knew he was still hiding something, but I didn't want him to avoid me, so I let him have his secrets. Eventually, I learned the secret but not in the way she expected. He showed up on her fire escape in a spider suit ripped across his body. At the time I had to try and hide my criminal best friend from my police captain father who was across the hallway. On top of that, I just learned the biggest secret ever. I eventually was able to clean him up to a certain extent at least stitched up enough that he wouldn't bleed out on me. To say the least, it was awkward the other times the same situation happened, and my dad walked in while said superhero was above his head. Thank goodness he never looked up, but the worst was having to tell Dad about the "cramps" I was having as he was trying to be a good dad. I felt bad for snapping at him that time, but he could not be in the room then to say I was worried about Peter was an understatement. Thankfully spider powers include enhanced healing, and he was fine by the time school started the next day or at least as good as it could be for him.

I finally awoke to blinding lights that hurt my vision and an exceptionally quiet room.

With a croak, I call out softly.

"Peter"