May Parker
A messy bouquet of hand picked flowers and weeds touches a familiar headstone with “When you help someone, you help everyone” written in the epitaph. Slightly trembling hands reach out to dust a few stray leaves that have fallen around the headstone. He kneels and continues cleaning the surroundings in silence.
He finally sits in front of the head stone and a familiar smile comes to him at the name ‘May Parker’. He briefly glances at the flowers he placed, slightly ashamed because of all the extravagant ones beside it.
“I’m sorry for the flowers May. I am having a bit of a rough time right now.” He reaches out and plucks a leaf that has fallen off to the side.
“I tried applying for the job. The part time assistant job in F.E.A.S.T you know, for the shelter. It-” He pauses to take a deep breath.
“I had to start all over again May. I am undocumented right now. I have no IDs, no records, no proof of existence. I was able to find a place a few blocks from where we used to live. I’m grateful that the owner let me pay the rent monthly. He just told me to make sure I don’t stick my head through trouble.” He fidgets with his hands.
“You know, I tried applying for more jobs this week.” He tilts his head to the side and gives out a humorless laugh.
“None of them would take me, but it was good anyway because I still have the night patrols and those jobs would take all my time. I still have the GED exams to take care of.”
“I guess I never really knew how much you took care of me when you were there. I haven’t checked if my GED result can get me admitted to MIT because I- you know, that I really want to go there, vut the cost of going there is way too much. I can’t afford it May. And- I am trying to stay at the top of my game in all of the things that I do. I’m trying.”
He tries to distract himself a bit by patting the dirt away from his jeans.
“How did you raise me all on your own? It must have been exhausting taking care of a teenager like that. Must have been more worrying to take care of Spiderman.” He lets out another dry laugh.
“You still asked for nothing in return. You still helped everyone that you met.”
He looks back up at the name, wishing it was her face staring back at him.
“You deserved so much more May. You are too good for this world and everyday, I try to live by your words and deeds. Everyday.”
“With great power comes great responsibility.”
He pauses and just stares at the headstone, like he’s seeing more than just stone.
“I know the consequences. I know the burden that comes with this. The battles I must choose to save those I want to. To protect those I love.”
“I am trying to help so many people like how you helped so much in your time. Although now, I have to also take care of myself because you’re not here to patch me up anymore.”
“I also learned which of my clothes has a lot of dye in it. My yellow shirt now has blue spots in it. I can make a few dishes now too but I get why you were always having a hard time with cooking. I am getting better at it though, which was nice.”
“I’ll be okay May. I promise. I know I will be because you raised me well.”
He says to reassure a ghost of her as he stands up, hearing the familiar sound of an engine approaching, the only other man who would be visiting his aunt.
“I just miss you. A lot. I'll see you on thursday.” He smiles, trying to look decent for both himself and his aunt.
He pats her tombstone one last time and walks away before Happy could catch him again. He’d been visiting way too often to be in a casual friendly relationship. He’d rather not risk Happy again.
He smiles as he walks off, he can almost hear the faint sound of her voice.
“I larb you too.”