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Peter Parker stopped and sat cross-legged in front of the headstone. He took off his beanie and swept a hand through his hair, the way she always did for him.
“You wouldn’t believe the day I had.” he said, rubbing his hands on his pants to wipe the sweat. “Can you believe the multiverse exists?”
Peter laughed. “I met two other me’s! It’s unbelievable!”
Peter wiped his nose. “I- I want to tell you all about them – all I learned at least.”
He raised his head, looking pensive.
“One of them was older than me, more experienced and lighthearted. His webs were natural! They literally came out of his wrists – how does that happen?! He wouldn’t tell me, said it was embarrassing.” His phone rang the “Spider-Man is needed” sound, but he ignored it and silenced it. He took one hour out of his day for this, everything else could wait.
“The other was younger. I had never seen someone so… broken. His world crumbled around him that day – he lost aunt May. I- I- I don’t know if I could go on if…” he trailed off, not wanting to even imagine it.
“They both had something in common though – something I… don’t. They have their MJs – their Gwens.” He directed his teary gaze to the plate labeled “Gwendolyn Stacy”.
He stared at the ground, his throat feeling like it was being squeezed by Connors again.
“The younger one’s MJ fell, you know? From the – the Statue of Liberty. He tried to catch her but- but he was hit and couldn’t and I…”
He choked, forcing the words out of his mouth.
“I caught her. I caught her Gwen, I–” a sob tore itself from him, his tears finally falling in twin lines down his cheeks.
“I caught her. I didn’t make the s-same mistake, I–” his shoulders shook, “I’m still so, so sorry!”
He finally let himself cry, curling up and shaking like a child.
“I know it’s not right but– but I was so envious!” he stood up, fists tight in anger.
“WHY?! Why was I… why was I the only one to lose the person I loved the most! You helped me get over uncle Ben, and just when I thought life was– life was getting better, you–” another sob, this time he didn’t try to hold it in, “You slipped through my fingers like… like sand.”
He curled himself up against the stone, trying to calm down. Peter laughed brokenly.
“You know, there might even be a Universe where you are Spider-Woman or something and I am the one who–” he stopped himself.
“No, I– I could never accept you… feeling like I’m feeling. I’d take this pain a thousand times over rather than have you endure even a fraction of it.”
A warm breeze slipped through the cold winter air and caressed his cheek, almost as if–
He gazed lovingly at the name plate. “Thank you, Gwen.”
Rationally, he knew it couldn’t be her. But the multiverse existed, so why not the afterlife?
He stood up, getting his beanie out of his pocket and putting it on. Before he left, ready to wear his costume, he whispered softly to the breeze, like it was a secret. A secret between Peter Benjamin Parker and Gwendolyn Stacy.
“I love you.”