Hold On Hope

Chapter 26

The sky was gold. That shiny, blueish gold, just before the sunset turns cliché. Gwen had hired a camera crew to film Peter's speech, and she smiled to herself. He should be starting any time soon. Once he began a huge crowd would gather, but for now she was practically alone, standing infront of the bridge. The bridge where he told the world he loved her. Flying to New York for Christmas break would be worth it just for this. Gwen tucked her hair behind her ears and smoothed her skirt down in the wind. Just as she was starting to worry where he was, she saw it. In web on the bridge, cutting through the skyline. 'Thank you, New York'.

Peter cleared his throat. The combination of the skin-tight Spiderman suit and his nerves complicated his breathing. You'll be fine, he told himself. He was just worried people would be angry. Or let down. That'd be the worst. Just start, Peter, he muttered. Trust yourself.

'Hi, I'm Spiderman.' Hundreds of people turned to look at him, perched on the bridge. 'I believe in protecting innocent people, and in fighting for what matters to you. I've realized something lately, something else I believe in. I believe in following your heart.' Gwen looked at him, her eyes lit up, and Peter swallowed. 'And right now, my heart is telling me to live my life. So I'm...I'm leaving New York in the more than capable hands of your police force.' He was thinking of Gwen's father and she knew it. 'Don't think of it as forever. But till then, be your own superheroes. Like my uncle once told me, "you owe the world your gifts, you just have to figure out how to use them." There are people who need you, whoever you are. I need you, right now especially. I need you to respect my choice, and I need you to look out for this city. Study, if that's what you do, or write, or make art, or just smile at people. Do whatever you want, to be a superhero in your own way. It's not that hard. I'm just a dorky teenage boy who skateboards and likes to take photos. And who happens to be Spiderman. You can be Spiderman too. Just believe in yourself, and follow your heart, okay? I'll see you around.'

The mass of people below him erupted into cheers. There were some what-the-hells and a few he-can't-do-thats, but the applause outweighed them. Spiderman swung down the bridge for the last foreseeable time, just as the sunset became truly unlikely and Peter's heart felt too much like a sixteen year old's for him to notice.