The Parker House — Morning
A new day begins at the Parker house. The first rays of the summer sun filter through the windows, gently bathing every room in a warm, comforting light.
Yet that peaceful atmosphere doesn't feel the same for everyone. While Aunt May fully enjoys the start of the morning, Gwen is unable to appreciate the calm. Her mind remains trapped by the events of the previous day, torn between the ever-growing tension with Peter and her conversation with Eddie.
Standing in front of her window, the young woman quietly watched the neighborhood slowly come to life. The trees swayed gently in the warm summer breeze, and the atmosphere was particularly pleasant.
Despite all that serenity, however, she couldn't find the slightest bit of inner peace. Memories of the previous day quickly resurfaced, and without even realizing it, her expression darkened, revealing a harder, almost cold look.
She then picked up her phone and instinctively checked whether Peter had finally sent her a message—or at the very least replied to the ones she had left him.
Once again... nothing. Not a single response. She let out a quiet sigh before setting her phone back down.
Knowing Peter still hadn't come home, she didn't even bother knocking on his bedroom door. Instead, she simply headed downstairs to the living room, where she found Aunt May already awake, a steaming cup of coffee in her hands.
Their eyes met, and warm, genuine smiles naturally appeared on both of their faces.
— "Good morning, Aunt May."
— "Oh, good morning, Gwen. Did you sleep well?"
— "...I'm okay. What about you?"
Her reply was brief, almost whispered. Her voice lacked confidence, and her eyes avoided Aunt May's, timidly dropping toward the floor as though answering such a simple question already required effort.
The lady of the house immediately noticed that something was wrong, but chose not to say anything. Maybe Gwen was simply going through a difficult time... or perhaps pressing the issue would only make her even more uncomfortable.
So she naturally changed the subject.
— "By the way... were you able to talk to Peter?"
— "U-Uh... why?"
— "I sent him a few messages asking when he planned to come home, but he still hasn't replied."
She let out a soft sigh before smiling shyly, almost amused by her own behavior. She knew she sometimes worried a little too much when it came to Peter, but she simply couldn't help it.
— "I know I shouldn't worry, but I'd still like to know he's okay."
She paused briefly before continuing, still with the same gentle warmth that defined her.
— "He hasn't texted you either?"
— "No... but don't worry. I'm sure he's just busy. You know how Peter is."
She forced herself to smile reassuringly, hoping not to worry Aunt May any further. Aunt May seemed satisfied with that explanation and naturally moved on.
Gwen, however, couldn't.
Behind that reassuring smile, questions continued racing through her mind. The longer Peter remained silent, the less she understood his behavior, and the situation was beginning to eat away at her from the inside.
— "Yes, that's true. You're right."
She let out a small laugh before comfortably settling onto the couch, her coffee cup still in her hands. As she absentmindedly watched the television, she occasionally took careful sips, making sure not to burn herself.
Meanwhile, Gwen walked into the kitchen, poured herself a glass of orange juice, and slowly drank it, almost mechanically savoring each sip without truly paying attention.
Several peaceful minutes passed.
It wasn't the kind of silence that makes people uncomfortable. Gwen and Aunt May were close enough to share the same room without feeling the need to fill every moment with conversation.
Yet while that quiet felt perfectly natural to Aunt May, Gwen experienced it very differently. Already burdened by everything weighing on her mind over the past several days, she felt as though the silence only amplified her thoughts until they became almost overwhelming.
Eventually, Aunt May gently set her cup down on the coffee table before speaking again.
— "Say, Gwen..."
— "Yes, Aunt May?"
Aunt May took a few seconds before continuing, as though she were carefully choosing how to phrase her request.
— "Wouldn't you like... to invite your friends over? Yours and Peter's?"
The question completely caught Gwen off guard.
— "You want... our friends to come over?"
Aunt May enthusiastically nodded her head.
— "But... why?"
— "Peter is always busy, and you have your own things going on too... So sometimes... I feel like..."
She paused for a moment, searching for the right words.
— "Well... I think the house feels a little empty sometimes."
Her expression darkened ever so slightly for a brief moment before her usual smile quickly returned, gently hiding what she didn't truly want to reveal.
— "And I thought it might be nice if your friends came over every now and then. Especially since it's summer vacation. Besides, Harry's the only one I know. I'd really like to meet the other young people you both spend time with."
As Gwen listened, she felt her heart tighten. It suddenly seemed so obvious...And yet she had never truly thought about it. Since her accident, Aunt May had spent most of her days inside the house.
She was feeling much better now, of course, but she rarely saw anyone besides Peter, Gwen, or occasionally Yuri. Meanwhile, the two of them kept going out, working, enjoying their summer break, and spending time with their friends.
How had she never realized how lonely Aunt May must sometimes feel? As though she were afraid her idea might sound silly, Aunt May timidly spoke again, wearing an almost childlike expression.
— "Do you think... it would be a good idea?"
Seeing such a vulnerable side of the woman she considered her adoptive mother deeply moved Gwen. She had always seen Aunt May as an incredibly strong woman, someone capable of overcoming anything life threw at her.
Yet she had just been reminded of something essential. For all her strength...She was still only human. And like everyone else, she needed companionship, affection, and moments shared with the people who mattered to her.
It wasn't just something she wanted...Sometimes, it was something she truly needed. A warm smile lit up Gwen's face as she instinctively tried to reassure her.
— "Yes... of course, Aunt May. I'll talk to them about it, and I'm sure they'll be really happy to meet you."
Those few words were enough to brighten Aunt May's face. Clearly touched, she answered with complete sincerity.
— "...Thank you, Gwen."
At that very moment, the television interrupted its regular programming with a special news report. Both women instinctively turned toward the screen, where footage of the aftermath at Fisk Tower was being broadcast.
The cameras showed an office that had been completely devastated, its floor stained with blood...Yet strangely empty. No bodies. No trace of those responsible.
The report then moved on to footage of the airplane that had crashed into the ocean, the numerous bodies recovered from the wreckage, and finally the helicopter that had crashed in the heart of Central Park.
TO BE CONTINUED.