❝ never take advice from someone who's falling apart ❞
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002. mural
𝐈𝐍𝐆𝐑𝐈𝐃 𝐒𝐓𝐄𝐏𝐏𝐄𝐃 𝐈𝐍𝐓𝐎 𝐓𝐇𝐄 𝐂𝐇𝐀𝐑𝐈𝐓𝐘 𝐄𝐕𝐄𝐍𝐓, her heart pounding softly against her ribs, each beat echoing the nerves she refused to acknowledge. The elegant lighting made the room seem warm, inviting, but Ingrid felt none of it. She moved through the crowd, slipping unnoticed into a seat at the back. Finally, she exhaled, the tightness in her chest loosening, if only a little. Being out of sight meant fewer eyes on her, and right now, that was all she needed.
Around her, the hum of conversation buzzed like static, blending into the background as May’s voice cut through, pulling everyone’s attention to the stage.
"When— when I blipped back to my apartment, the family living there was very confused." May’s words drifted through the air, earning soft chuckles from the audience. "The wife thought I was a mistress."
The laughter grew, though Ingrid barely registered it. She tried to focus, but her thoughts were a tangled mess, pulling her deeper into herself.
"The grandma thought I was a ghost," May added with a laugh, but the sound felt distant to Ingrid. The humor of the moment couldn’t break through the storm brewing inside her head. Her fingers curled into fists in her lap, nails digging into her palms in a vain attempt to ground herself. She shifted, her muscles tense, her jaw clenched tight as she fought to stay present. It wasn’t working.
May’s voice, however, continued to fill the room, light and full of gratitude. "It was really a mess. Thank you for coming out to support those displaced by the Blip. And, of course, thanks to our very own Spider-Man!" She gestured toward Peter, who was standing beside her on the stage, clad in his familiar suit.
The applause that followed was thunderous, but it was the sight of Peter that finally broke through the fog in Ingrid’s mind. Despite the weight she carried, seeing him there, standing in front of everyone, gave her a flicker of warmth. She joined in the clapping, her eyes never leaving him, as if his presence alone could keep her steady.
"Thank you, Miss Parker, for having me," Peter started, his voice tinged with the familiar awkwardness that was so uniquely him. "And thank you, guys, for having me," he added, giving a nervous thumbs-up to the crowd, earning more laughter and applause.
Ingrid’s lips quirked into a small smile, though the effort it took to maintain it felt monumental. She watched as Peter fidgeted beside May, clearly out of his element, but still trying his best.
"And thank you, Spider-Man," May finished, her voice full of pride as she gestured for Peter to follow her offstage. "He’ll be right back out to take photos and videos. Thank you!"
