War Dreams- Steve Rogers/Captain America

part 5- innocent kid

Anna looks at me, and I see something in her eyes. With skock, I realise it is a tear, waiting to escape the eye of the young soul next to me. I feel the sudden urge to hug her and tell her everything will be fine, but look at me a few days ago, I didn't even try anymore. I touch her shoulder softly. 'What can I do for you?'

When she realizes I want to help her, her eyes widen and she smiles, her face lightening up.  Then she remembers what the problem is and she instantly becomes grim. 'It's my mother. As I said,she has horrible nightmares. When she was a young child, her parents tried to get rid of her by moving away while she was at school. Next year, I'm going to a new school, and only the thought of it brings back all the memories. But if you visit her, maybe once a weekend, she will have company and you could help her. I know it's a big thing, but I can't watch her suffer anymore. Please, your life will have a purpose again.' I shudder. No child should go through this much at such a young age, and I mean both Anna and her mother. The poor  woman. I want to help her. I look at Anna, who is staring at me with a hopeful expression on her young face. 'Yes. I want to help.'

Anna and I enter the apartment, and I see a woman sitting on the floor,holding her head in her hands, crying. She looks up when she hears us and with big eyes, runs towards Anna and holds her tight in a hug. Anna pets her back and whispers soft words. She is dressed in a floral pink dress and her hair is brown, and messy. She has bags under her eyes, wich are swollen and red. On her feet are slippers, and when I look around I see thousands of empty coffee mugs laying around, taking in most of the free space in this tiny living room. There are paintings on the wall, probably made by Anna's mother, because Anna is on some of them. Anna's mother isn't insane, she is just scared. Then she notices me, standing akwardly in the doorway, and looks confused. 'I'm Steve Rogers, ma'am. You may know me as Captain America. I want to help you and Anna. She ran to me, because she saw me from her bedroom. She recognised me and thought I could help. I have nightmares too, I know what they're like.' I smile faintly. She looks at Anna, then at me and walks towards me. 'Steve? It's you! You saved a family member of mine during the war! I never exected this, I'm thankful to finally meet you.' She grabs my shoulders, and smiles. I smile back, she is a very kind lady.

When we sit down to talk, Anna explains what happened earlier. She doesn't tell her mom about my sudden meltdown, but she tells her enough. During the whole conversation Anna's mother looks at me with a curious look. She knows the nightmares, but she also knows I want to help and that I lived in another century. After a while, Anna goes to bed and her mother and I talk about their problems. We agree on meeting here every weekend and we give each other our numbers. I wish they had cellphones like this when Peggy was still young, that would have cost us a lot of time. Peggy. The thought of her face delivers me a stabbing pain in the heart, and I flinch, but thankfully Anna's mother doesn't notice.

 I walk home, but this time I have the feeling I might actually sleep. God has given me a new chance.