The Only Hope | Captain America

Chapter Thirty : Road to Recovery & a Better Life

 This is the end, Hold your breath and count to ten.

 The feeling of death almost felt so foreign to Grace. But, the feeling of peace was something she could get used too. There she was, standing in a dreamy white environment, the kind of area you would see in those animated movies. Where the character would have to be judged to whether she can enter Heaven or down with the devil. There weren't any events Grace could recall that would have possibly brought her down. But, a question continued to stray in her mind, was she really dead?

 A simple bullet was shot through her left shoulder, as she lay motionless on the cold ground. The pain was almost like lightning striking itself against a tall building; just a simple bullet could do such damage. If she really was dead, how would Uncle Phil tell Sean, James, and Carly? Their hearts breaking in loss of their love one, Grace couldn't bear to picture Sean's crushed face. Their friendship was off to a steady start, with a little bump along the way. Steve, the man who had changed her life, how would he react to her death? This would be a flashback from the past, losing Peggy, and then losing Grace. Oh, how badly Grace wanted to cry out to Steve, tell him how sorry she was, and much she wanted to feel his lips and his love for her.

 She felt horrible, for not fighting her life, instead she let death come upon her. Or so, she thought. Grace continued to walk around the clouded area, replaying the precious memories of her life, wishing she could return to those that mattered.

 So overdue, I owe them. Swept away, I'm stolen.

 Just ahead of her were two blurred figures, both were wandering around the area. Grace walked toward them, her heart beating rapidly while her palms began to sweat. Could they be the people to tell Grace where she was headed? She feared the words of the devil's home, hoping she was worthy enough to enter into Heaven. The two figures looked distinctively familiar to Grace. The woman was almost alike to Grace, her features and the color of her brown hair. Alongside the woman, a man stood by, his nose and eyes almost the same as Carly's. At that realizing moment, Grace's heart stopped. The couple flashed a loving smile as they spread their open arms for Grace. Her emotions got ahead of her as she ran into their arms, wanting to feel the love and protection a parent would give to their child.

 Her mother stroked her tangled, brown hair while her father gave kisses to her many bruises. With tears dripping from her eyes, Grace looked upon the eyes of her parents, the memory of the night they have been taken away from her arms, disappeared into the mist. How lost she had felt when they were gone from her life, wondering if they continued to keep watch of Carly and herself.

 "Look, how big you've gotten, Grace." Her mother cooed softly.

 Her finger lightly wiping the tears from Grace's face, as she looked into her compassionate eyes. She stroked Grace's bruises softly, and each one, she gave a small kiss too. Her father smiled at her gesture, and called Grace a strong, young woman who followed good morals. Also, commenting on Uncle Phil's parenting, how marvelous he was at his job. They talked to each other for a couple minutes, Grace filling her parents in with the events that had happened in her life. All the series of the events that led up this moment, how a certain man named Steve Rogers changed her life. The struggles with Erik, forcing her to move to New York, and taking up her lifetime love for writing.

 "Those bruises are the signs of a strong woman. All of those events with Erik, those struggles, you were able to go through them. And having someone you truly love, at your side." Her mother commented.

 "I just, wished... I could have said goodbye. To be in Steve's arms again, I would do anything to return to them again." Grace cried.

 "My dear Grace, that moment isn't too far away." Her father added.