It's been twenty-four hours since spider-verse defeated the Spot, and it's also been twenty-four hours since Gwen died in Miles' arms.
He can't get over it.
He can't accept that the girl he was about to confess his warm feelings for her - the love he'd felt for her for almost two years -
- is gone.
Miles would never hear her ringing voice again, never look into her bright blue eyes full of warmth. Never to touch the silky
blonde hair that always smelled like lavender. Mmm..
He'd let her fall.
Hadn't enough time to save her.
It seemed that if Miles had managed to shoot from his web shooters at least for a couple of seconds sooner - Gwen might still be alive.
Miles sat on the edge of the bed, looking at the sketchbook in front of him - filled with drawings of her everywhere - cheerful and happy.
Every corner of the room reminded him of Gwen. The bed where she had forgotten her cardigan. The figure she had ripped the package out - not knowing it was
collectible and valuable.
Touching the figurine, in an attempt to feel Gwen's presence again, her voice echoed in his head. The image of Stacy slowly dissapeared like smoke in the air.
Words of comfort and support from his family sounded senselessly.
Memories and dreams with a happy, alive Gwen intertwined with sorrow, making his heart clench with pain, guilt and emptiness. It was all his fault.
Every minute without Gwen was a hellish torture. Every thought of her caused both mental and physical pain - Gwen's last words echoed in his head,
like a curse.
"-I'm so sorry, Miles.."
Tears streamed down Miles's face, and he didn't even try to wipe them. After all, it was the only thing that connected him to Gwen now.
The only thing that has been left from Gwen.
***
The Gwen's funeral came.
It didn't seem real. It seemed like a terrible nightmare that Miles couldn't wake up from.
Miles looked around. He noticed a couple of familiar faces - without even looking at them. Because he didn't care.
He still couldn't quite believe the reality of what was happening. He was about to wake up and find that Gwen was alive. But no.
Suddenly, he felt someone put a hand on his shoulder. It was George Stacy, Gwen's father.
- Miles. - George said quietly.
- Can we talk?
- Yes, of course we can.. - Miles's voice was broken, more like a whisper.
They stepped aside, away from the crowd.
- I know you two were very close. Gwen told me a lot about you. And..you both meant a lot to each other.
Miles nodded, unable to utter a word. There was a lump in his throat.
- I think Gwen would have wanted you to have that thing. She kept it where she kept the most personal and important things in her life: her suit, and..
a picture of you two together. - inside the drum kit.
George silently held out a small, neat personal diary to Miles, making eye contact wih him. Miles, with trembling hands, took it.
- Thank you. I'll keep it safe. I'll do my best not to let her down. Again. - Miles could barely get a word out.
Tears were coming, but he held back, clutching Gwen's journal tighter in his hands.
Captain Stacy nodded understandingly, a flicker of reassurance in his eyes that the diary was in the right hands.
- I believe you. And Gwen believed in you, too.
The day flew by very quickly. Miles was already lying on the bed, the journal beside him.
Feeling tears streaming down his face again, Miles opened the diary, starting to read the first lines, written in Gwen's aesthetic, beautiful handwriting.
Familiar and familiar handwriting. He felt the warm memories blossom within him again.
On one of the pages, Miles noticed his own name and began to read each of the elegantly inscribed letters.
"I saw Miles again. Every time he's around, I can feel my heart beating faster and faster. It's like..
my world gets brighter, like everything inside of me turns bright bright pink.
I've even noticed that the colors of our universes blend together when we're around each other!
Every time i look at him I'm catching myself on these thoughts like..
wanting to hug him, to touch his beautiful, and probably very soft curls, and to listen to his
heartbeat. I feel real, alive around him. I am convinced that we met for a reason. I'm convinced it's fate.
I'm convinced he's the one.
Every day I look forward to our next meeting more and more. I realized that Miles is more than just a friend to me.
I think I love him. Really love him.."
Miles closed the diary anxiously. His hands trembled. The words she had written pierced his heart and soul like the sharpest blade in the world.
A pain so intense clenched in his chest that it became difficult to breathe.
Tears flowed in streams.
The words stuck in his head:
"I am convinced that we did not meet by chance. I'm convinced it's fate.
I'm convinced he's the one.
Every day I look forward to our next meeting more and more. I've realized that Miles is more than just a friend to me.
I think I love him. Really love him.."
"Why didn't I confess to her?" - That thought was pounding in Miles' head. He was pained by the realization that she loved him back, but neither of them had
could have ever imagined.
Now it was too late.
The cold evening air was chilly, but there was nothing colder than the emptiness inside Miles.
Miles had never been able to cope with the loss of Gwen. Maybe, they could meet now.