Bruised But Not Broken - Irondad/spiderson

Come Back

Shadows from the moonlight beam down shapes into my cluttered room. They dance along the walls, twisting and turning with every gentle breeze that flutters through the half-open window. Each silhouette tells a story of the day gone by, a whisper of memories wrapped in darkness.

As I sit quietly, the soft glow casts familiar outlines of forgotten books and scattered dreams, reminding me of the chaos surrounding my thoughts. The moon, a solitary guardian, illuminates the corners where dust settles, transforming the mundane into something almost magical. I close my eyes, and for a moment, I'm lost in the reverie of night's embrace, wandering through the shadows of my imagination. For a small moment my mind filled with bliss, normality, what once was. Though thoughts quickly raced into my current issues that I can't seem to stop making.

As I drift into silence, I can feel the day's weight begin to lift. My mind, which had been racing with concerns and uncertainties, starts to quiet down. Shadows dance behind my eyelids, forming shapes that remind me of dreams I can never quite grasp. Time stretches as I lose myself in this cocoon of stillness. The darkness feels like a comforting embrace, a gentle reminder that it's okay to pause, breathe, and simply be.

A field of flowers comes to light, familiar. Two figures have their arms outstretched for me, waiting for me. I know this is a dream, but god, it feels good to see them. As I walk closer, the colours of the flowers seem to dance in the gentle breeze, vibrant and alive. My heart races with anticipation, a warm ache of nostalgia flooding over me. Their smiles are radiant, and I can almost hear their laughter mingling with the sweet scent of blossoms. I take another step forward, the soft earth beneath my feet grounding me in this ephemeral moment. Every instinct tells me this isn't real, yet every fiber of my being longs to embrace them. I reach out my hands, the distance between us closing, and I can hardly remember why I ever felt lost. In this place, everything feels right, and I want to hold on to this dream just a little longer.

"Hi, Mum, Dad." I choke out.

"I miss you"

My knees buckle at those words, falling into the grassy meadow. The field was alive with the sounds of rustling leaves and distant laughter, but all I could hear was the thundering echo of that phrase in my mind. "I miss you." It wove through my thoughts like a haunting melody, pulling at the corners of my heart.

The sun dipped low in the sky, casting a golden hue over the patchwork of wildflowers around me. I let my fingers graze the soft petals, their vibrant colours a stark contrast to the dull ache settling deep within my chest. It felt like a part of me was still intertwined with whoever had uttered those words, a fragment left behind in a world that felt increasingly distant. I hear their footsteps approaching, brushing through the long grass. The oncoming tears start welling in my eyes. Not ready to face them again, I collapse my head into my hands, letting out muffled sobs.

"Why does missing someone hurt so much?" I whispered to the breeze, hoping for an answer that wouldn't come.

I feel a kind hand on my shoulder, filling my body with goosebumps.

"It will always hurt, honey, but life moves forward. You move forward." My Mum whispered out to me while rubbing my back, soothing me for the first time in what felt like forever. 

I take a deep breath, savouring this moment; even if it was just a dream, it still meant the world to me. Finally, building up the courage to look up, I only see the outline of my parents' shadowy figure standing above me, looking down. The setting sun shining into my eyes not allowing me to see the figures one last time.

"You can do this, Pete." My Dad hummed out as their figures swept away in the wind, like a kid wishing on a dandelion. 

As the wind picked up, carrying with it the sweet scent of blossoms, I envisioned their face—eyes bright with laughter, voice warm and inviting. Surrounded by nature's beauty, I felt a pang of envy for the simple joy that had once filled our days together. I remembered the time we spent lying here, hands intertwined, making promises under a sky blanketed with stars.

But now, those moments were just echoes, leaving behind a bittersweet taste. I closed my eyes, letting the memories wash over me, a complex tapestry of love and loss. "I miss you," I repeated softly as the world around me disappeared. A loud thud jolted me awake.

"May, May... Is he here? I saw blood. Is he okay?" A muffled voice called from the front of the apartment. I heard a creak echo down the hall; Aunt May must have opened the door. My heart raced, frozen in bed, not able to move, waiting to hear what conversation could follow. Aunt Mays shaky voice confirmed I was okay,

"He's resting. I think he had a panic attack, an extreme one at that. I'm not sure what got him so worked up, but I do know he was scared to face you." I could hear the falter in her tone. My thoughts raced back for a brief moment; Mr Stark wanted to talk with me about something severe, The broken window. I fell.

I stayed frozen in my bed, my mind racing, thinking about all the possibilities of what might happen next.

"Where is he?" Mr Stark asked, concern filling his voice. A slight shuffle, then three footsteps, and he was in the apartment. My heart quickened its pace. My eyes glued shut.

"Tony, he's resting. His healing was barely taking effect; he needed to rest." May retorted, worried.

I could feel the tension in the room as silence lingered for a moment. I imagined Mr. Stark processing the news, and I felt a sense of failure fill my body.

"May, can I... Can I see him?" Mr. Stark finally asked, his voice softening.

"Don't wake him," she warned in a hushed tone. My body stiffened, and I quickly turned my head away from the door in a panic.

A light spilled through the opening crack in my door. Then, it paused. My body was frozen in time, not even allowing myself to breathe.