Spider-Woman: Origin

4. Spider-Woman: Bowling

My gaze was fixed on the subway window as the scenery rushed by. I gripped the guardrails to keep myself steady, the rhythmic clattering of the subway fading into the background.

Jordyn and her friends were a few feet away, deep in conversation, but I felt disconnected. It wasn't until I heard my name that I turned to see Yessenia and Lucas looking at me expectantly, while Jordyn wore an irritated expression.

"Huh?" I raised my eyebrows, absentmindedly brushing my fingers along my neck for comfort against their intense stares.

"What was it like?" Yessenia asked, her curiosity palpable.

My confusion lingered, and Jordyn sighed, rolling her eyes. "Maybe she's not ready to talk about it."

Lucas ran a hand through his hair, clearly uncomfortable with the tension building between the two girls.

"Shouldn't she decide that for herself?" Yessenia shot back.

I pursed my lips, their argument momentarily distracting me from my own thoughts. Eventually, Jordyn relented, shaking her head and pushing her curls away from her face, but the anger still flickered in her eyes.

"Fine!" she said, directing her frustration at Yessenia. "Just ask her, then."

I swallowed hard, unsure of what to say.

"What was it like? Snapping away, I mean," Yessenia pressed again.

"I—" My voice faltered. I opened my mouth, but the words wouldn't come. Her question caught me off guard. As I searched for something to say, my mind went blank.

Suddenly, the world outside blurred, and I was back in that restaurant. I felt my heart race as I remembered the terror in my family's eyes. My own vision started to swim with tears as I recalled the moment my hand began to disappear. Panic washed over me, a visceral reminder of how desperately I wanted to hold my father again.

"Jess?"

I snapped back to the present, the sounds of the subway flooding back in. I blinked, fighting to keep the tears at bay.

"I told you she's not—"

"It's fine," I interrupted, looking at Jordyn with an attempt at a reassuring smile. I took a deep, shaky breath, steeling myself to share something I wished I could forget.

"It all happened so fast. One minute, the restaurant staff was singing happy birthday, and the next, I was watching myself disappear. We were trying to run for the doors, and I was holding my dad's hand, but then I felt him slip away. When I looked down, my hand was fading." I formed a fist, wiping away a stray tear.

"Physically, I didn't feel a thing. When I disappeared, everything just turned dark. The scariest part was thinking I'd never see my family again."

Silence settled over us as I finished. I searched their faces, seeing the sadness reflected in their expressions. Yessenia crossed her arms, adjusting her bag on her shoulder with a sigh.

The subway slowed to a stop, and people shifted to exit, but we stayed where we were. The doors closed, and we moved again. I glanced at the other passengers, wondering if any of them had shared a similar fate.

"I'm sorry for making you talk about it," Yessenia finally said.

I furrowed my brows as I turned to her. "It's fine."

Her lips curved into a small smile, and she nudged Jordyn playfully, who rolled her eyes. "What was that you were saying?" she teased.

"Shut up."

Lucas, who had been silent, let out a snicker along with Yessenia, and I felt the weight on my chest begin to lift. Talking about it had been tough, but maybe it was good to share.