chapter thirty-five:
❛ forgotten memories ❜

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im so sorry for all the notifications but please stop being a ghost reader!!!! us writers work hard on these chapters. i know i ask this a lot, but i really don't like ghost readers because i work super hard on these chapters so when i see views going up bt votes not its hard for my motivation!

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The high school science lab buzzed with urgency as the three Peter Parkers leaned over their workstations, each of them engrossed in solving the seemingly impossible. Beakers clinked, the soft hum of electrical equipment filled the air, and hastily scribbled notes lay scattered across every available surface. The stakes were impossibly high-if they couldn't create cures for each of the villains terrorizing their timelines, there was no telling how much damage could be done.

Peter-1, the MCU's Spider-Man, pushed his hair out of his face as he squinted at a vial of green liquid, carefully adding drops of a stabilizing compound. Beside him, Peter-2, the more seasoned Peter from Tobey Maguire's universe, flipped through a notebook filled with formulas he'd scratched down over the years. Peter-3, the quick-witted Andrew Garfield variant, was working on a diagram on the whiteboard, explaining his ideas as he went.

"This serum for Dr. Connors should neutralize the lizard DNA," Peter-1 said, his voice steady but tinged with exhaustion. "But it has to be stable, or it'll just revert him back."

Peter-2 nodded, his tone calm and deliberate. "Last time I tried something like this, it didn't hold. We'll need a binding agent. Something stronger than what we used before."

Peter-3 tapped his marker against the board, gesturing at a formula he had written. "What about this? It's risky, but it could work to suppress the cellular mutation without affecting his other DNA."

As they debated the finer points of chemistry and biology, their collaboration felt seamless, almost instinctual, despite their different experiences and methods. Each of them brought their unique perspective to the table, creating a dynamic that was as productive as it was surreal.

Across the room, the two Gwen Stacys stood by another workstation, focused intently on their own challenge: finding a cure for the Vulture.

MCU Gwen-Gwen-1-brushed a strand of her blond hair behind her ear as she sketched out a blueprint on the whiteboard. "The Vulture's suit is powered by stolen Stark tech. That makes this a whole different ballgame."

Beside her, Gwen-2 crouched next to a dismantled drone they had scavenged, examining its wiring with meticulous care. "If we can isolate his power source's frequency, we could use an EMP to shut it down temporarily," she suggested, her voice steady but tinged with urgency.

Gwen-1 nodded, jotting down notes as her mind raced. "Yeah, but we need something portable. Something we can deliver without having to get too close."

Gwen-2 stood, stretching her arms as she surveyed the tools they had to work with. "We could rig the EMP to one of his suit's existing systems. Override it from the inside."

"That's genius." Gwen-1 grinned, grabbing a screwdriver and handing it to Gwen-2. "Let's get to work."

The two Gwens moved with the same determination as the Peters, exchanging tools and ideas with the kind of synchronicity born from shared experience. Despite their focus, Gwen-1 occasionally glanced toward Peter-1, her boyfriend, as he worked. A flicker of worry crossed her face, but she quickly pushed it aside, knowing they didn't have time for hesitation.

Peter-1 caught one of her glances and gave her a small, reassuring smile. Even in the chaos of their mission, he couldn't help but feel a swell of gratitude that Gwen was there with him. She always had his back, and he wasn't sure what he'd do without her.

"How's it going over there?" Peter-1 called out to the Gwens as he capped a vial of serum.

Gwen-1 looked up, a spark of excitement in her eyes. "We're making progress! Might even finish before you guys."

Peter-2 chuckled, glancing at Peter-3. "Oh, it's a competition now?"

Peter-3 smirked. "Guess we better step it up."

Despite the gravity of the situation, a sense of camaraderie filled the lab. They were strangers from different universes, yet they worked together as if they had known each other for years. The banter was light, but the determination behind their words was unshakable.

As the hours ticked by, the lab became a testament to their combined efforts. Vials of glowing serums lined the tables, prototypes of devices lay scattered, and notes covered every inch of the whiteboards.

Gwen-1 wiped her hands on her jeans and leaned against the table, watching Peter-1 with a fond expression. She couldn't help but admire how hard he worked, even when the odds seemed impossible. Peter-1 glanced up, catching her gaze, and they shared a small, private smile.

"Almost there," he said softly, his voice filled with quiet determination.

"Almost," Gwen-1 echoed, stepping closer to him. She reached out and gently squeezed his hand, a silent reminder that they were in this together.

The sunset outside the lab windows cast a warm glow over the group as they prepared for the battles ahead. Though they were exhausted, their resolve burned brighter than ever. Together, they were ready to face whatever came next, knowing that no matter what, they weren't alone.

The science lab was buzzing with the quiet hum of machines and the soft rustle of papers, but Peter-1 barely noticed. He sat at his workstation, hunched over a small vial of serum he was working on. His face was drawn, his eyes fixed on the table, but it was clear his mind was elsewhere.

Gwen-1 had been watching him from across the room, her arms crossed as she leaned against the counter. She had seen Peter like this before, consumed by guilt and self-doubt, and it never got easier. With a sigh, she pushed off the counter and walked over to him, her footsteps light but purposeful.

Sliding into the chair beside him, she tilted her head, her blonde hair spilling over her shoulder. "Hey," she said softly, her voice cutting through the thick tension in the air. "You okay?"

Peter-1 startled slightly, looking up as if he hadn't even realized she was there. His lips curved into a small, unconvincing smile. "Yeah, I'm fine. Are you okay?"

Gwen hummed in response, leaning closer and resting her elbows on the table. "You don't look fine," she said gently, her eyes scanning his face. She noticed the dark circles under his eyes, the cut on his cheek, and the weight of something unspoken hanging between them.

Peter exhaled shakily, his fingers gripping the edge of the table. "You don't deserve this," he blurted, his voice cracking. "I wish you hadn't seen my notebook that day. If you hadn't-" He paused, his hands gesturing helplessly. "You'd be safe. You wouldn't be here, in danger, dealing with all of this. You could be-"

"Peter," Gwen interrupted firmly, her voice cutting through his spiraling thoughts. She reached out and grabbed his face, turning it so he was looking directly at her. His breath hitched at the intensity in her eyes, but before he could say anything, she leaned in and kissed him.

Her lips were soft against his, and the kiss was filled with a quiet desperation that made Peter's heart ache. For a moment, he froze, caught off guard, but then he melted into the kiss, his hands finding their way to her waist. The world around them seemed to fade, and for just a few seconds, it was only the two of them.

When Gwen pulled back, she kept her hands on his face, her thumbs brushing over his cheeks. "Look at me," she said, her voice low but steady. "I'm here. I chose this. I chose you. And I'm not going anywhere."

Peter stared at her, his chest tightening with emotion. His hands rested lightly on her hips, and his fingers trembled slightly as he tried to find the right words.

"But I-" he began, but Gwen cut him off again.

"No 'buts,' Peter," she said firmly, her blue eyes locked onto his. "You don't get to decide what I deserve. I'm here because I want to be. We're in this together."

She reached up, brushing her thumb gently over the cut on his cheek. Her touch was light, but it carried a warmth that made Peter's throat tighten.

"We're gonna get through this," she continued, her voice soft but filled with conviction. "Together."

Peter nodded slowly, swallowing hard as her words sank in. "Together," he echoed, his voice barely above a whisper.

Gwen smiled softly, leaning her forehead against his. They stayed like that for a moment, their breaths mingling as they took in the comfort of each other's presence. For the first time in what felt like forever, Peter felt the weight of his guilt begin to lift, if only slightly.

"Thank you," he murmured, his voice raw with emotion.

Gwen leaned back just enough to look at him, her lips quirking into a small smile. "You don't have to thank me," she said. "I'm your partner, remember? We face everything together."

Peter managed a weak smile, his hands tightening slightly on her waist. With Gwen by his side, he felt a flicker of hope. No matter how chaotic things had become, she was his anchor, and as long as she was there, he knew he could face whatever came next.

As Peter-1 and Gwen-1 leaned into each other, a loud voice cut through the tender moment.

"Peter!" Ned called from across the lab, waving his arms enthusiastically. He stood next to MJ, who was organizing a tray of tools and muttering something about needing more focus and less chaos.

"Yeah?" All three responded. "Oh, sorry. Did you mean?"

"Peter-Peter."

"We're all Peter."

"Peter Parker." Ned looked confused.

"Same thing. We're all Peter Parker."

Ned sighed. "The computer."

Peter-1 sighed, giving Gwen a sheepish smile. "Duty calls," he said softly, brushing a strand of hair from her face.

Gwen smiled back, her hand resting briefly on his arm. "Go," she said. "I'll be here."

Peter-1 hesitated for a moment, as if he didn't want to leave her side, but then nodded and stood. He jogged over to join Peter-2 and Peter-3, who were already huddled near Ned and MJ, discussing their progress on the cures.

Gwen watched him go, her heart swelling with both pride and worry. As she turned back to her workstation, she noticed Gwen-2 standing nearby, tinkering with some components for the Vulture's cure.

The other Gwen glanced up and caught Gwen-1's gaze. She offered a small smile and gestured for her to come over.

"So," Gwen-2 said, her voice casual but kind as Gwen-1 approached, "how are you holding up?"

Gwen-1 shrugged, leaning against the counter. "I'm managing," she said. "Barely. This whole thing is... a lot."

Gwen-2 nodded knowingly. "Yeah, I get that. Multiverse chaos, villains everywhere, your boyfriend blaming himself for everything..." She gave a wry smile. "It's a lot to handle."

Gwen-1 sighed, running a hand through her hair. "Peter-1... he carries so much guilt. I try to be there for him, but sometimes I feel like I'm not enough."

Gwen-2 tilted her head, her expression softening. "You're more than enough," she said. "Trust me, I've been where you are. Peter-any Peter-needs someone who can remind him he's not alone. Someone who sees the good in him, even when he can't see it himself."

Gwen-1 looked at her, a flicker of hope in her eyes. "But how do you do it? How do you keep him from shutting you out?"

Gwen-2 smiled, her voice gentle. "You don't let him. You call him out when he's being too hard on himself. You remind him that he doesn't have to do everything alone. And you don't give up, even when it feels like he might." She hesitated, her gaze growing distant. "My Peter... he pushed me away before what happened with my version of Peter. So don't let him."

Gwen-1 nodded slowly, her heart swelling with gratitude. "Thanks," she said. "I needed to hear that."

Gwen-2 reached out and gave her a reassuring squeeze on the arm. "Anytime," she said with a small grin. "We Gwens have to stick together, right?"

Gwen-1 chuckled softly. "Right."

They stood there for a moment, a quiet understanding passing between them. Then, Gwen-1 glanced over at Peter-1, who was animatedly explaining something to the other two Peters. She felt a surge of affection and determination.

"You've got this," Gwen-2 said, as if reading her mind.

Gwen-1 smiled and nodded, her resolve stronger than ever. "Yeah," she said. "I do."

As the two Gwens returned to their tasks, the lab continued to buzz with energy. The weight of the world-and the multiverse-still loomed over them, but for the first time, Gwen-1 felt a little less alone. She wasn't just fighting for Peter; she was fighting alongside him. Together, they could face anything.

Both Gwens turned their attention to the group when Peter-3's voice broke through the steady hum of preparation.

"So," Peter-3 began, turning to Peter-2 with a teasing smirk, "are you gonna go into battle dressed like a cool youth pastor, or do you actually have your suit?"

Peter-2 blinked, momentarily confused. Then, realizing what Peter-3 meant, he chuckled and reached for the collar of his shirt, pulling it down slightly to reveal the familiar red-and-blue fabric of his Spider-Man suit beneath.

Peter-3 nodded in approval, his smirk widening. "Okay, okay, nice."

Nearby, Ned approached Peter-1 and Gwen-1, holding out a small tray with two sets of web cartridges. "Here's your web cartridges," Ned said, offering them up.

"Thanks!" Gwen-1 exclaimed, taking hers with a grateful smile.

"Thanks, man," Peter-1 added, quickly grabbing his own.

Peter-2, who had been watching the interaction, tilted his head curiously. "What's that for?" he asked, nodding toward the cartridges as Gwen-1 and Peter-1 began loading them into their web shooters.

"It's our web fluid," Peter-1 explained. "We put it into our web shooters so we can, you know, do the whole web-slinging thing."

Gwen-1 nodded as she clicked her web shooter into place. "Yeah, it's kind of a whole process."

Peter-2 and Gwen-2 exchanged an amused glance before, almost in unison, they raised their wrists and casually shot out webs, the organic silk spiraling effortlessly through the air.

"Whoa!" Gwen-1 exclaimed, her eyes widening as she watched the webline retract back into Peter-2's wrist.

Peter-1 froze mid-movement, staring at the scene. "That... that came out of you," he said, his voice tinged with both awe and disbelief.

Ned leaned forward, pointing at Peter-2. "Wait, hold up. You can't do that?"

Peter-2 looked mildly surprised. "You guys can't?"

"No!" Gwen-1 exclaimed, shaking her head emphatically.

"No," Peter-1 echoed, still staring. "We've gotta make our web fluid. It doesn't just... come out of us."

"That's wild," Gwen-2 chimed in, clearly intrigued. "I always thought that was just standard. Like, you're Spider-Man, so of course you can make webs."

Peter-3, standing slightly off to the side, furrowed his brow and muttered to himself, "How on earth does that even...?"

Peter-2 shrugged nonchalantly. "Guess we're just built different."

"Okay," Peter-1 interrupted, shaking himself out of his stupor. "We're getting sidetracked." He turned his laptop around to display a detailed map of a construction site. "This is where we're gonna do this. It's isolated, so no one else should get hurt."

The room fell quiet as everyone studied the plan.

Gwen-2 tapped Gwen-1 on the shoulder. "C'mon. They've got their villains, but we've got ours to take down."

Gwen-1 hesitated, glancing at Peter-1. She stepped close and kissed his cheek lightly. "Be careful, okay?"

Peter-1 smiled softly, his eyes meeting hers. "You too."

Gwen-1 pulled her mask over her face, the fabric molding to her features as she turned toward Gwen-2. Together, they headed for the exit, ready to face their own battle.

The night hung heavy over the city, a suffocating darkness broken only by scattered streetlights and the faint hum of distant traffic. On an abandoned rooftop, Gwen-1 and Gwen-2 waited in tense silence. Gwen-1's brunette hair, streaked with blonde highlights, was tied back under her mask, her hands clenching and unclenching in anticipation. Beside her, Gwen-2-her platinum blonde counterpart-stood still, her gaze fixed on the horizon.

"You ready for this?" Gwen-2 asked, her voice steady but carrying an edge of concern.

"As ready as I'll ever be," Gwen-1 replied, though the weight of the moment pressed down on her chest.

Minutes ticked by, the air growing colder. Then, the silence was broken by a low hum, the unmistakable sound of mechanical wings slicing through the air. The Vulture emerged from the shadows, his massive wings glinting ominously under the dim light.

"There he is," Gwen-2 whispered, her tone sharpening.

Gwen-1's heart sank as she squinted to see who the Vulture was carrying. Suspended in his claw-like grip was a figure struggling faintly-a woman with dark hair and familiar features.

"No," Gwen-1 breathed, her blood turning cold. Her voice rose to a panicked shout. "No! Mom!"

The Vulture's cruel laughter echoed as he hovered above them. "Ah, Spider-Girl. Guess who came to see the show?"

Gwen-1 lunged forward, firing webs toward him, her mind consumed by fear and rage. "Let her go!" she screamed, her voice cracking.

"Stay calm!" Gwen-2 called, swinging after her. "We'll get her! Just don't lose focus!"

But Gwen-1 was already in full panic mode, her movements erratic as she fired web after web, trying desperately to ensnare the Vulture.

"Keep up, little spiders," the Vulture taunted, swooping low and then veering sharply upward.

Gwen-2 managed to latch onto one of his wings, tugging hard to destabilize him. "I've got his wing!" she yelled. "Get your mom out of there!"

The Vulture retaliated, shaking Gwen-2 off and diving toward Gwen-1, talons slashing through the air. Gwen-1 dodged and fired another web, this time latching onto his foot.

"Mom! I'm coming!" Gwen-1 shouted as she swung closer.

Linda Stacy's terrified face turned toward her daughter. "Gwen, don't-"

Before she could finish, the Vulture flung Linda into the air with brutal force.

"NO!" Gwen-1 screamed, diving after her mother. She extended her arms, firing a web that wrapped around Linda and slowed her descent just in time.

They landed hard on a nearby rooftop, Gwen-1 shielding her mother's body as debris rained down around them.

"You're okay," Gwen-1 panted, cradling her mother. "I've got you. You're okay."

But the Vulture wasn't finished. He swooped down, claws outstretched, aiming for both of them.

"Not today!" Gwen-2 shouted, intercepting him mid-air and firing webs at his wings to tangle them.

Gwen-1 helped Linda to her feet, her hands shaking. "Stay here, Mom. Don't move."

But as Gwen-1 turned back to face the fight, the Vulture released a small explosive device. It detonated near them, sending Gwen-1 and Linda sprawling.

When the smoke cleared, Gwen-1 stumbled to her feet, coughing. Her eyes darted frantically, searching for her mother.

"Mom?" she called, her voice trembling.

She found Linda lying a few feet away, motionless. Blood stained her clothes, and her wide, unseeing eyes stared at the night sky.

"No," Gwen-1 whispered, falling to her knees. "No, no, no! Mom, please!"

She cradled Linda's body, her sobs tearing through the air. "Please, wake up! I'm so sorry! Please!"

Gwen-2 landed beside her, her own face pale with shock. "Gwen..." she started softly.

But Gwen-1 didn't hear her. The grief morphed into rage as she gently laid her mother's body down and stood, her fists clenched.

"You," she snarled, her voice shaking with fury as she turned to the Vulture. "You took her from me."

The Vulture smirked, his mechanical wings sparking. "That's what happens when you play hero."

Blinded by anger, Gwen-1 launched herself at him, her attacks wild and unrelenting. She webbed his wings, slamming him into the ground with enough force to crack the concrete.

"Gwen, stop!" Gwen-2 shouted, running toward them.

But Gwen-1 wasn't listening. She pinned the Vulture down, her fist raised to deliver a fatal blow.

"Let me go!" Gwen-1 screamed, tears streaming down her face.

"This isn't you!" Gwen-2 said, grabbing her arm. Her voice was firm but kind. "Your mom wouldn't want this. Don't become something you're not."

Gwen-1 froze, her chest heaving as her sobs broke through. She stumbled back, her fists trembling. The sun began to rise, casting a faint purple glow across the sky.

The Vulture groaned, his wings damaged and sparking.

Gwen-1 took a shaky step back, her voice hoarse. "Have fun back in your world," she muttered bitterly as the purple glow in the sky intensified, signaling the arrival of the portals.

She turned to Gwen-2, her face pale and tear-streaked.

"Goodbye," she whispered, her voice barely audible.

Gwen-2's eyes filled with tears as she reached out to her. "Gwen..."

But Gwen-1 didn't look back. She turned and walked away, her silhouette bathed in the rising sun, her heart shattered beyond repair.

The sky was beginning to brighten as Peter-1 swung across the city, his mind racing. The portals above flickered ominously, sending strange pulses of energy rippling through the air. He needed to find Gwen.

When he reached the rooftop where the fight with the Vulture had taken place, his breath caught. There she was, kneeling on the cold concrete, cradling her mother's lifeless body. Her mask had been discarded, and her tear-streaked face was pressed against Linda Stacy's still chest.

"Gwen..." Peter whispered, his voice cracking as he approached cautiously.

Gwen didn't look up. Her entire body trembled as sobs racked her frame. "She's gone, Peter," she choked out. "I couldn't save her. I tried, but I couldn't save her."

Peter knelt beside her, his heart breaking at the sight of her grief. Gently, he placed a hand on her shoulder, squeezing it reassuringly. "Gwen, I'm so sorry," he said softly, his own voice thick with emotion.

She finally looked at him, her eyes red and swollen. "It's my fault. If I hadn't-if she hadn't known who I was..." Her voice faltered, and fresh tears spilled down her cheeks.

"Hey, no," Peter interrupted gently, shaking his head. "This isn't your fault. You did everything you could, Gwen. You're a hero. And your mom... she'd be so proud of you."

"I don't feel like a hero," she whispered, her gaze falling back to her mother's lifeless form.

Peter hesitated, his heart heavy with what he had to say next. "Gwen," he started slowly, his voice trembling. "There's... something I need to tell you."

She frowned, sensing the shift in his tone. "What is it?"

Peter took a deep breath, glancing at the sky as the purple cracks grew wider. "The spell Doctor Strange cast-it's breaking apart. If we don't fix it, everyone from the other universes is going to stay here, and this world... it won't survive."

Gwen furrowed her brow, confusion and worry flashing across her face. "What do you mean? How do we fix it?"

"I asked him to cast another spell," Peter admitted, his voice barely above a whisper. "This one will make everyone forget who I am. My secret identity-Peter Parker-it'll be erased from everyone's memory. No one will remember me. Not even you."

Gwen's eyes widened, horror spreading across her face. "What? No, Peter, you can't do that!" She stood, her grief momentarily overshadowed by her disbelief. "You're saying I'm going to forget you? After everything we've been through? No!"

Peter stood as well, his own tears threatening to fall. "Gwen, it's the only way. If people don't know who I am, they'll stop coming for me. For us. You'll be safe. I need you to be safe."

"What about me?" she demanded, her voice breaking. "Everyone knows I'm the White Spider! How do I go back to being safe when the world already knows who I am?"

"We'll figure it out," Peter promised, his voice desperate. "You're strong, Gwen. You're so much stronger than you know. And I'm-I'm so sorry. I don't want this, but I don't have a choice."

Gwen's hands clenched into fists at her sides as tears streamed down her face. "No, Peter. I can't forget you. I love you!"

Peter's heart shattered at her words, but he forced himself to stay strong. He reached out, gently cupping her face with trembling hands. "I love you too, Gwen. More than anything. That's why I have to do this. I have to let you go."

She shook her head, her hands covering his as if trying to hold onto him. "Please don't do this," she whispered. "Please don't leave me."

Peter pressed his forehead against hers, closing his eyes as tears slipped down his cheeks. "You're never going to be alone, Gwen. Even if you don't remember me, I'll always be with you. I'll always love you."

The purple glow in the sky intensified, and the ground beneath them began to tremble. Gwen's vision blurred as everything around her started to fade.

"Peter!" she cried, her voice laced with desperation.

"I'm so sorry," Peter whispered, his voice echoing as the world dissolved into darkness.

The last thing Gwen saw was Peter's tear-streaked face and the heartbreak in his eyes. Then, everything went black.

Gwen woke up in her bed, the faint morning light streaming through her apartment window. Her head ached, and everything felt... off. She sat up slowly, pressing her palms against her temples. Her memories felt like scattered fragments, pieces of a puzzle she couldn't quite put together.

How did I get here? she thought, frowning. Her suit was gone, replaced by one of her old t-shirts and pajama shorts. She didn't remember changing. She didn't remember coming home. All she knew was a heaviness in her chest and a strange sense that something was missing.

Voices drifted in from the living room-muffled and filled with sorrow. Gwen swung her legs over the side of the bed and stood, the fuzzy feeling in her head persisting as she made her way out of her room.

She froze when she saw her stepdad, Enzo, sitting on the couch with his head in his hands, his broad shoulders shaking with quiet sobs. Two police officers stood in the corner of the room, their faces grim as they spoke softly to him.

"What's going on?" Gwen asked, her voice hoarse as if she hadn't spoken in days.

Enzo looked up, his tear-streaked face twisting with fresh grief as he saw her. "Gwen..." he choked out, his voice breaking.

Before Gwen could process his expression, a small figure barreled into her. Max, her thirteen-year-old stepbrother, wrapped his arms around her waist and buried his face in her stomach. "Gwen!" he cried, his voice muffled.

Gwen automatically hugged him back, her heart sinking as she felt him shaking. "Max, what's wrong?" she asked softly, looking over his head at Enzo.

Melina, Enzo's daughter, was sitting on the floor nearby, her knees pulled to her chest as tears streamed down her face. She was clutching a framed photo of Linda Stacy-their mom, Gwen's mom.

Gwen's breath caught. "Mom?" she whispered, her voice trembling.

Enzo stood, his hands shaking as he tried to steady himself. "Gwen," he said again, his voice thick with emotion. "I... I'm so sorry."

"Sorry for what?" Gwen asked, her eyes darting between the police officers and the grief-stricken faces of her family.

One of the officers stepped forward, his hat in hand. "Miss Stacy," he said gently, "we regret to inform you that your mother... Linda Stacy... passed away last night."

The words hit Gwen like a freight train. She staggered back, clutching Max tighter as her knees threatened to give out. "What?" she whispered, her voice barely audible.

"We're still investigating the circumstances," the officer continued. "But it appears she was caught in a... violent incident. We're truly sorry for your loss."

Gwen's mind reeled, her thoughts spinning in all directions. She felt like she was sinking, drowning in confusion and despair. Her mom was gone? How? Why?

Max's sobs brought her back to the moment. She tightened her grip on him, her own tears welling up. But there was something else-a strange emptiness in her mind. Her memory felt fragmented, like someone had stolen pieces of it while she wasn't looking.

She stared at the floor, her breathing uneven. What had happened last night? She remembered fighting, she remembered... no, she didn't. The details were gone, blurred and unreachable.

"Gwen?" Enzo's voice was soft, worried.

She looked up at him, her eyes wide and searching. "I... I can't remember," she admitted, her voice trembling. "I don't know what happened. It's all... fuzzy."

Enzo moved closer, his arms outstretched as if to comfort her, but Gwen took a step back. "I-just give me a second," she stammered. Her chest felt tight, her mind racing with questions she couldn't answer.

Why couldn't she remember? Why did everything feel wrong? And why did she feel like something-or someone-was missing?

A month had passed, and Gwen was still struggling with the hole left in her memories. She had done her best to slip back into her normal life, but the sense that something was missing still haunted her, and everything felt slightly off. She'd gone back to school, but it wasn't the same. The loss of her mother weighed heavily on her, and the confusion in her mind seemed endless. But today, Gwen was trying to focus on something else-anything else.

MJ had managed to get Gwen a job at a local café. It wasn't glamorous, but it gave her something to occupy her time. MJ had been the one to suggest it, hoping the change in environment would help Gwen clear her head, even if just for a few hours a day. The café was quiet this afternoon, with only a few customers scattered around. Gwen sat at a corner table, absentmindedly scrolling through her phone, trying to push the nagging emptiness from her mind.

The door jingled as it opened, pulling her from her thoughts. She looked up and caught sight of a familiar face-someone she didn't recognize, but who looked strangely familiar. A young man, tall with messy brown hair and a confident, almost cocky posture, walked in. His presence immediately grabbed her attention, and their eyes locked across the room. For a brief moment, Gwen felt her heart flutter inexplicably. She had no idea who he was, but something about the way he looked at her stirred something deep inside.

He froze for a second as if he was struck by the same feeling. His expression shifted-surprised, cautious, as if he knew something she didn't. Gwen's breath caught in her throat, and her mind raced, trying to place him. She couldn't. She had no memory of ever meeting him before, but the look in his eyes-so familiar-made her feel like they shared something.

Then, just as quickly as he had paused, he seemed to snap out of it. Without another word, he looked away, his gaze flickering to the door. His footsteps quickened as he moved toward the exit, not glancing back, and before Gwen could even fully process what was happening, he was gone-out the door in a rush, leaving her staring after him in a daze.

Her mind spun with questions. Who was that? Why did he look at me like that?

MJ, who had been wiping down a counter nearby, noticed Gwen's distracted gaze and raised an eyebrow. "What's up? You look like you saw a ghost."

Gwen shook her head slowly, still processing what had just happened. "I... I don't know. I think I saw someone I used to know. Or someone who looked familiar."

MJ raised an eyebrow. "You sure you're not just imagining things? You've been a little out of it lately."

Gwen hesitated, her hand gripping the edge of her coffee cup. "I don't know. He... looked like he knew me. Or at least like he knew something about me."

"Did he talk to you?" MJ asked, her tone curious but skeptical.

"No," Gwen muttered. "He didn't even stay. Just looked at me and then ran out of here."

"That's weird," MJ remarked, shaking her head as she turned to tend to a customer. "Well, if he comes back, tell me. I'm curious now."

But as Gwen sat there, her mind racing with confusion, she couldn't shake the feeling that the man-the one who looked so familiar, so right-was more than just a random stranger. There was something about him that gnawed at her, and no matter how hard she tried to shake it, the nagging feeling refused to leave her.

Who was he?

ASH SPEAKS!!!

IM SO SAD THAT IM DONE WITH THIS FIC :(((

keep this book on your libraries cause i will be back for DOOMSDAY AND SPIDERMAN 4! see you guys next year :)

i will miss gwen :(

PLEASE DONT BE A GHOST READER!!!!
COMMENT AND VOTE! IT HELPS US WRITERS STAY MOTIVATED:)