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🕑 Added 2025-06-27 16:47:37 +0000 UTCChapter 1542: Burning Out Like a Candle
"You've got what you wanted," Mary Jane said, "Let me go now." Doctor Octopus replied, "I can't let you go, you'll call the police. Now that Spider-Man is dead, no one can stop me." Mary Jane paused, "...He's not dead. I don't believe you." Doctor Octopus said, "Believe it."
Doctor Octopus didn't pay any more attention to Mary Jane. He turned and opened the protective shield, then put the tritium inside, and the nuclear fusion started again. Suddenly, Doctor Octopus sharply detected some movement. He tilted his head slightly to listen, a faint smile playing on his lips, a look of understanding. Mary Jane was still lost in thought, her eyes showing a mix of hesitation and sadness, staring blankly.
"Surprise!" A voice came from overhead. Mary Jane looked up and saw Spider-Man. Her face broke into a full smile. Mary Jane glanced at Doctor Octopus and quickly controlled her expression. Spider-Man was telling her, "Once you're untied..." His words were cut off as Doctor Octopus's tentacles flew over and landed between Mary Jane and Spider-Man, interrupting their conversation.
Doctor Octopus turned around, furious, "I knew Osborn didn't have the guts to kill you." Spider-Man urged, "Turn it off, or you'll kill more people." Doctor Octopus chuckled, "I'm willing to take that risk." Spider-Man looked at the plug connection and retorted, "But I'm not!"
The fight was on! They clashed! Doctor Octopus found an opening and threw Spider-Man away, but Spider-Man came flying back like a boomerang, crashing into Doctor Octopus and sending them both into the Hudson River.
They exchanged blow after blow in the water. Meanwhile, the nuclear fusion was losing control again, trying to break free from the protective shield. The situation instantly worsened, and metal from all directions was sucked into the energy storm. Including Mary Jane. Doctor Octopus had wrapped chains around Mary Jane, and now she was helplessly being pulled in.
She was teetering on the edge, about to be sucked into the energy storm. At the critical moment, Spider-Man abandoned Doctor Octopus, turned, and shot a web to grab Mary Jane. The chains wrapped around Mary Jane were slowly being pulled into the energy storm, and finally, Mary Jane successfully broke free from the chains. Spider-Man yanked, sending Mary Jane back to a safe spot behind him, "Run!"
He didn't expect Doctor Octopus to seize the opportunity, attacking from behind. He instantly grabbed Spider-Man's weak spot and launched a barrage of fierce attacks, slamming Spider-Man into the dusty ruins over and over again.
Watching this, Mary Jane couldn't just turn and leave. Mary Jane picked up a steel rebar and stealthily circled around from behind, preparing to sneak attack. However, she was detected by Doctor Octopus's tentacles. They snatched the rebar away and, with a fierce swing, directly knocked Mary Jane flying.
Doctor Octopus grabbed Spider-Man by the ankles, hanging him upside down. Spikes extended from his tentacles, "Let's see where you run this time." With brutal force, the spikes were aimed at Spider-Man's heart!
Spider-Man remained calm. Taking advantage of the instant Doctor Octopus put force into the attack, he shot a web and grabbed a large electrical cable on the ground. The spikes plunged into the cable, and a powerful current instantly surged through Doctor Octopus's body. Spider-Man seized the chance to break free. Without hesitation, he swung towards the power outlet, trying to pull the massive cable out and cut the power!
Finally, after great effort, Spider-Man pulled out the cable. Doctor Octopus and he were both thrown back by the massive electrical storm. But! The energy storm didn't stop! The nuclear fusion had lost control; it didn't need electrical support anymore. The energy it released itself was enough to keep it going. The energy storm was evolving into a huge fireball, growing larger and larger like an avalanche, completely out of control. This scene left Spider-Man completely stunned.
"Now what?"
Metal from all directions was being sucked into the energy storm. The entire world was collapsing and further fueling the energy storm. Not just inside the apartment building, but vehicles on the street, lampposts, etc., were all being pulled in. A massive storm was growing unstoppably.
At this moment, Professor Octavius finally came to his senses. The immense electrical energy had temporarily disabled the mechanical tentacles, and his controlled brain slowly awoke. Spider-Man turned his head and saw those tired but gradually clearing eyes, "Professor Octavius!"
Professor Octavius looked at Spider-Man blankly, unsure what was happening. But there was no time. Professor Octavius might not recognize Spider-Man, but he should recognize Peter Parker. So, Peter took off his mask, "We have to shut it down. Please tell me how."
Professor Octavius looked confused, "Peter Parker?" He remembered, "'Brilliant but lazy.'" Professor Octavius even managed a smile; he remembered his evaluation of Peter. Peter had no time for pleasantries, "Professor, look at what's happening! We have to destroy it." Only then did Professor Octavius finally realize the utterly out-of-control nuclear fusion energy storm. A hint of bitterness crossed his smiling lips, "I can't destroy it."
"I won't!" The mechanical tentacles, submerged in water, rose up again, instantly grabbing Peter by the throat. They glowed with malice, bloody killing intent emanating from their eyes. Peter... didn't resist.
"Professor, you once taught me about the importance of intelligence. You said it must be used for the good of humanity," Peter squeezed the difficult words out from his throat. Those clear blue eyes, bright and unwavering, remained calm in the raging energy storm, watching the professor. Professor Octavius finally remembered, "It's a privilege."
Peter said, "These tentacles are turning you into a monster. Don't listen to them." The mechanical tentacles twitched like cobras, targeting Peter. Professor Octavius said desperately and urgently, "That was my dream!"
Peter said with difficulty, "Sometimes, for justice, we have to sacrifice our own needs, give up the things we cherish most." "Even our dreams." Word by word, although trembling and difficult, Peter didn't look away. He looked Professor Octavius squarely in the eyes. In that deep blue gaze, you could see a universe of stars. For a brief moment, time seemed to stand still in his eyes.
Professor Octavius stared at Peter blankly, as if he had been struck hard in the chest. Something in his eyes shattered, and his shoulders relaxed. He forgot to breathe. The mechanical tentacles again whispered near Professor Octavius's ear, causing him to close his eyes. Taking a deep breath, when he opened his eyes again, Professor Octavius showed a hint of sadness, "You are right."
The mechanical tentacles began to turn their "guns" on Professor Octavius. But this time, Professor Octavius didn't look away. Instead, he looked at the mechanical tentacles, "He is right." "Listen." "Listen to me..." "Listen to me." One phrase after another, Professor Octavius gasped for air, his face contorted, "Listen to me!"
Finally, the mechanical arms gripping Peter's throat released him. Professor Octavius had successfully regained control of his brain, and the mechanical tentacles all became docile. Peter asked, "Professor, tell me how to destroy it." A trace of pain flickered in Professor Octavius's eyes. He gently shook his head, "It can't be stopped anymore."
Sadness, despair, pain, and confusion. Professor Octavius looked at Peter, his soul shattering piece by piece.
Chapter 1543: All Broken
It was brilliant, thrilling, impact after impact, full of twists and turns, reaching peak after peak, like a rollercoaster, firmly pressing the audience into their seats.
However, the ending was slightly different.
In Hollywood films—not just superhero ones, but action, sci-fi, adventure, and disaster movies too—they rarely show the protagonist's vulnerability and battered state, especially during a direct confrontation with the villain. Even if the protagonist is losing, the good-versus-evil struggle often results in a brief stalemate, with the villain escaping to await the final battle.
This time, it was different.
The Radio City Music Hall audience saw not just Spider-Man's battered state, but also Peter Parker returning to the true appearance of an ordinary person, stripped of his almost divine aura.
That impact, from the visual to the psychological level, surged over them powerfully. The entire hall was silent.
Just like the passengers inside the subway car on the big screen, they watched the figure lying on the ground with apprehension, worry, reverence, and admiration.
Hearts pounded fiercely against chests.
Superman is from another planet; Wonder Woman is from the gods; Batman is a billionaire. They are always high above, far removed from ordinary people's lives, not to mention their invulnerable and omnipotent superpowers. Spider-Man, however, is different. He only has trivial superpowers. He struggles with making ends meet just like all ordinary people, and even faces the emotional turmoil of adolescence.
That kind of realism, deconstructing the superhero, brought an unprecedented impact.
Unconsciously, everyone held their breath, allowing all sorts of emotions to swirl and surge in their minds: moved, shocked, bitter, admiring, regretful, and so on and so forth.
The entire hall was utterly silent, both inside the screen and outside it.
Then.
Finally, Peter's handsome eyebrows furrowed slightly, a hint of pain showing in his expression, and he slowly and with difficulty opened his eyes.
Those eyes gradually widened, and you could even clearly see the tiny reflections of people's heads in his clear blue pupils. Peter instinctively reached up to touch his cheek—
The mask was gone.
Peter abruptly sat up, looking at the crowd before him, but not knowing what to do, momentarily stunned.
An older man knelt down, looked directly into Peter's eyes, and gently patted his knee. "It's alright."
Behind him, the crowd parted, and two children walked forward, looking at Peter with bright eyes. "We found this."
The children handed the Spider-Man mask to Peter.
Peter hesitated before taking it back, still unsure what to do. He looked uncertainly at the surrounding people. The child gave a shy smile and said, "We won't tell anyone."
Everyone nodded in agreement.
Peter was completely stunned, his eyes glistening with tears. A smile crept onto his lips, but when he turned away, he couldn't help but feel shy again, looking at his mask, slightly hesitant—
He had never "transformed" in front of others before.
But in the end, Peter put on the mask.
The child shyly said, "It's good that you're back, Spider-Man."
This made Peter pause slightly. He involuntarily held his breath, and after a moment, he gently let out a breath, supporting himself with his hands to try and stand up.
However, it was clearly too difficult; his whole body felt like it was falling apart. Everyone rushed to help Peter stand up. His knees trembled slightly as he struggled to remain upright. He hadn't even fully stabilized when an explosion sounded behind him. The train door was ripped open, and Doctor Octopus's tentacles appeared first.
Doctor Octopus had returned.
More accurately, he hadn't left at all, because he hadn't forgotten his deal with Harry.
Doctor Octopus declared, "He's mine!"
Despite their fear, someone in the train car stepped forward, standing in front of Peter, shielding him behind them. "If you want to get him, you'll have to go through me first."
One stepped forward, giving courage to the others.
"And me."
"And me!"
One after another, the people in the train car stood before Peter, intercepting Doctor Octopus's cruel gaze.
A wicked smile appeared on Doctor Octopus's face. "Splendid."
The metal tentacles behind him shot forward, piercing into the crowd, instantly straightening and pushing aside the teeming, surging mass of people, exposing Peter once again.
Although the people still held firmly around Peter, Peter knew they couldn't stop Doctor Octopus. He gently patted the arms resting on him, turned and nodded in acknowledgment, then tried to stand again using his own strength, taking a shaky little step forward.
Doctor Octopus was merciless. A direct, heavy punch from a tentacle connected squarely, instantly "KO'ing" Peter.
Peter fell unconscious.
When Peter woke up again, Doctor Octopus had tied him up securely and placed him on the sofa in Harry's living room. Harry took the tritium element from the safe and left without a second thought, leaving only Peter and Harry in the room.
Harry drew the dagger from the tabletop and slowly approached, a twisted, savage light flickering in his eyes.
"I want you to suffer as much as I have."
"First, let me reveal your true face! Then, I'll stare into your eyes and watch you die in agony!"
Harry stared distortedly at the mask, grabbed it, and pulled with all his might.
Outside, lightning flashed and thunder roared, and Peter's face appeared before Harry.
Harry froze, uncontrollably stumbling backward. He even dropped the dagger, barely able to stand steady. He looked down at the mask in his hand, fear gripping his heart tightly.
"Peter?"
Harry threw the mask away as if it burned him, his legs giving out, and he slumped down.
"No. No no no."
Harry murmured in pain and shock, grabbing his hair, his face full of sorrow.
"No, this is impossible."
Peter looked down at the metal wires binding him, abruptly sat up straight, took a deep breath, struggled violently, and shook off all the wires.
But at this moment, Peter didn't have time to explain. "Harry, where is she? Where did he hide her?"
Harry looked confused.
Peter said, "He's got Mary Jane."
Harry mumbled, "No, he needs the tritium."
Peter said, "Tritium?" Thinking for a moment, Peter understood. "He's building a nuclear fusion machine. When it's finished, she'll die, and the whole of New York will be destroyed along with her. Where is he now?"
Harry still hadn't recovered. "Peter, you killed my father."
A pang hit Peter's chest, and a hint of struggle showed in his eyes. That pain and despair were tearing him apart fiercely.
Peter's lips trembled slightly. He wanted to say that he hadn't.
But the denial stopped on his tongue. Although he hadn't stained his hands with Norman's blood, he couldn't completely deny that he had indirectly caused Norman's death.
More importantly, he didn't know how to explain to Harry that Norman was the Green Goblin.
His words ultimately stopped on his tongue, and the sadness in his eyes slowly flowed out.
Taking a deep breath, Peter bit his tongue slightly. "Harry, something more important than you or I is happening right now."
"Please, Harry, I have to stop him."
Those blue eyes were slightly red, looking at Harry with helplessness and urgency, a hint of strength showing through his vulnerability. Their gazes remained fixed like that.
Boom. Boom boom boom.
Lightning flashed and thunder roared!
Doctor Octopus, in his former laboratory, now a ruin, inserted the fist-sized tritium element into the machine.
"Hey!"
Someone called out from behind him.
"Hey!"
But Doctor Octopus completely ignored her. It was clearly a trapped Mary Jane, and this angered her.
She whistled, "Hey! I'm talking to you!"
Finally, Doctor Octopus heard her.
"It's already unstoppable."
The energy storm continued, continuously attracting all sorts of metal objects. They seemed to be at the very center of the maelstrom.
However, all that noise, all that chaos, all that surging energy was temporarily put aside. Professor Octavius and Peter Parker stared blankly at each other.
A hint of desperate struggle was in Professor Octavius's voice.
"It's indestructible now."
Peter gently shook his head, his voice hoarse as he yelled, trying to reach Professor Octavius's reason, "Think!"
Professor Octavius paused. "Unless..."
Professor Octavius slowly became clear-headed under Peter's resolute and determined gaze. "The Hudson River!"
"Sink it."
Peter turned, ready to step forward, but a mechanical arm grabbed his wrist. Peter looked at Professor Octavius with surprise on his face.
Professor Octavius took a deep breath. "Let me do it."
With firm resolve, a touch of tragedy showed on Professor Octavius's face. The mechanical arms began to move again, supporting him as he moved towards the energy storm.
Standing in front of the energy storm, Professor Octavius turned to look at Peter, a hint of complex emotion in his eyes.
Peter slightly raised his head to look at Professor Octavius. In his clear eyes, he could see that tall figure standing resolute in the raging fire—
In a daze, they were back to when they first met. Professor Octavius was still Peter's idol, at the forefront of scientific research. Peter aspired to be like Professor Octavius, and Professor Octavius sincerely hoped to use his talent to contribute to humanity.
Now, he still had a chance.
Professor Octavius no longer hesitated, turning and taking a step forward.
Peter only then remembered and turned to look around for Mary Jane.
Mary Jane stared blankly at Peter, letting out a surprised gasp, unable to believe her eyes. A smile played on her lips, but her eyes were filled with tears.
Peter looked a little shy and awkward, also slightly helpless. His eyes flickered slightly, and his mouth moved, but he didn't know what to say.
Just then, before the two could exchange any words, the entire wall of the building collapsed. Steel bars and wooden beams rained down like a storm.
"No!"
Peter screamed heartbrokenly, flashing forward, shouldering the collapsing wall to support it. He held the entire wall up by a thread just before it completely covered Mary Jane.
Mary Jane was still pinned down by a piece of wood, and Peter was using every ounce of his strength just to stand, his face bright red, veins bulging, almost unable to breathe.
However, Peter still clenched his jaw tightly, managing a small smile, trying to sound casual. "Hi."
Mary Jane looked at Peter before her through teary eyes, a complex look in her gaze. "...Hi."
Peter tried to stay relaxed, but his whole body was straining. "This is really heavy. Really."
Doctor Octopus arrived below the shield and used his mechanical arms to destroy the shield's supports, attempting to force the energy storm to sink to the bottom of the Hudson River.
Peter struggled to hold on, but his energy was draining. His knees could no longer support him, and he sank to one knee, biting down hard on his teeth, using his remaining strength to barely hold on.
"Mary Jane," Peter said, "If we die..."
Mary Jane didn't need Peter to say any more. She saw her reflection in his bright eyes. A smile gently lifted through her tears. "You do love me."
Peter's whole body trembled. "...I do."
Mary Jane asked, "Even though you kept denying it?"
Peter's face was flushed, almost ready to explode. It wasn't cool or suave; on the contrary, he looked battered and drenched in sweat. But he still clenched his jaw tightly. "Since I was six years old, when you moved in and became my neighbor."
Suddenly, Mary Jane was stunned.
There was no worse place in the world for a confession, but at the same time, there were no more romantic words of confession in the world. From the first movie two years ago, when Peter looked at Mary Jane's back and mumbled his confession to himself, it had finally been spoken aloud, and no longer just to the air.
The entire Radio City Music Hall was full of tears, but no one dared make a sound. They even forgot to silently wipe away their tears, frozen in place, watching Peter on the big screen try to squeeze out a smile but fail, his face full of struggle and pain. They were all sobbing uncontrollably.
Doctor Octopus looked at the energy storm, also biting down hard on his teeth, a hint of determination in his eyes. "I will not die a monster."
It was tragic, heroic.
Doctor Octopus dragged the energy storm down into the water with him. The entire building collapsed with a roar, silently tumbling into the water.
Including the wall resting on Peter's shoulders.
Peter felt the force dragging the wall forward as it rolled down. He followed the momentum and pushed forward. Ah! Ahhh!
Giving it everything he had!
Peter pushed the wall out with the momentum, completely getting rid of it.
Afterwards, Peter moved the piece of wood that was pressing down on Mary Jane. Peter helped Mary Jane stand up. He couldn't help but look towards where Professor Octavius and the energy storm had been, a trace of sadness and struggle in his eyes. He instinctively leaned forward, trying to save the professor.
However, it was too late.
The sinking of the entire building created a massive whirlpool, like a black hole, dragging in surrounding buildings, bridges, and metal objects. A powerful wave of air rushed from behind. Turning around, you could see a dark, dense wave of metal, surging and crashing towards them.
In the nick of time, Peter grabbed Mary Jane, jumped, and soared into the air, grabbing onto a building near the pier, barely escaping the black hole vortex.
Flying high above, Peter looked back at the Hudson River with a sad expression, a hint of unwillingness in his eyes. But ultimately, he withdrew his gaze, truly saying goodbye to Professor Octavius.
Perhaps, this was the best ending.
The giant whirlpool sucked the surging current down. All the surrounding metal and buildings slowly sank into the water, descending in the clear river water.
Also sinking was Professor Octavius, looking ready to die. He didn't struggle or try to escape. His mechanical tentacles held tightly onto the shield, pushing the energy storm generated by the nuclear fusion to continue sinking.
Everything was silent, without any noise. The entire world instantly became quiet. The whole process of sinking was like watching a scene in slow motion.
Grand and romantic, silent and sorrowful.
Slowly, just like that, slowly, it sank to the bottom.
Finally, it exploded.
Golden flames rolled beneath the deep blue surface of the water. The Hudson River surged violently like an ocean. The dazzling colors were comparable to the sun.
But ultimately, it didn't break the surface, completely contained by that deep blue. The golden light gradually dimmed, little by little, until everything returned to peace.
Witnessing death also meant witnessing sacrifice, just like the scene of the Titanic sinking to the bottom of the sea.
The entire Radio City Music Hall was completely silent. Doctor Octopus, who was supposed to be the villain, the big bad guy everyone should hate, now watching this scene, felt a complex bitterness on their tongues. Confused emotions pulled at their minds, drawn into the world of the big screen.
Chapter 1544: Moths to the Flame
In the end, Professor Octavius, along with the research he'd poured his life's work into, sank to the riverbed, shattering into pieces, turning to dust and smoke, completely erased from existence.
Just like the Green Goblin in the first film, Norman Osborn was a villain, yes, but he was also someone understanding and caring, a father figure to Peter. He was also a unique businessman who poured all his energy into scientific research, only to lose his way down that path. When he died, Norman's mind cleared, and the only thing he cared about... was Harry. That's also why Peter could never bring himself to tell Harry the truth.
Everything, just like Peter Parker himself –
The life of a superhero isn't necessarily smooth sailing, romantic, or happy. And the world of villains isn't always purely evil or deserving of death. The world is never simply black and white.
Watching Professor Octavius's back as he generously sacrificed himself to atone for his sins, for a moment, all the noise, just like on the big screen, went completely silent. All eyes were fixed on the surface of the Hudson River, watching the churning waters calm down completely, all the light disappear, until it was perfectly still, the last ripple gone. Only the moonlight, and the audience's chaotic thoughts quieted down too.
Clearly, "Spider-Man 2" isn't like other movies. The end of the final battle doesn't just mean good triumphs over evil, or justice beats wickedness – it's not that simple. The disaster was over, New York had a narrow escape and quieted down slightly, but the surging ripples left deep in the audience's hearts were still slowly spreading.
Under the moonlight, Peter wove a web above the pier, securing Mary Jane. His back remained turned toward where Professor Octavius had sunk, watching everything calm down. Only then did he swing over along the web, stopping beside Mary Jane and looking at her with deep affection.
Mary Jane looked back at Peter intensely, a hint of shyness mixed with excitement and nervousness on her face. "I think... I've always known... your real identity."
Peter stared at Mary Jane without blinking. "Then you know why we can't be together." "Spider-Man will always have enemies; I can't put you in danger." Looking into Mary Jane's sad eyes, Peter could barely continue. He swallowed hard, his eyes flickered slightly, and he spoke the cruel words with immense difficulty. "I'll always... always be Spider-Man. You and I won't work out."
Mary Jane fell into despair, her eyes filled with heartbreak.
Peter took a deep breath, forcing a bright smile – sad but happy. His clear blue eyes were silently saying goodbye.
Then, Peter used his web to lower Mary Jane to the ground. The NYPD had already arrived, and her fiancé, John, was the first to reach the scene. John hugged Mary Jane tightly, but she couldn't help looking toward Peter standing in the darkness. Even just his silhouette, she couldn't bear to look away.
Peter stood up, put his mask back on, and turned away with determination.
Equally heartbroken was Harry.
Harry sat at home, looking at the mess on the floor, completely lost in thought. He faintly heard a sound in the house, a cackling laugh swirling above. He turned around and saw his father in the mirror. "Son, I'm here."
Harry was completely stunned. "Dad? I thought you..."
Norman shook his head. "No, I live in your heart, Harry. Now it's your turn."
As if hypnotized, Harry walked toward the mirror.
Norman, "You swore Spider-Man would pay, now make him pay!"
Harry, "Peter is my best friend."
Norman, "And I am your father. You're too weak. You've always been weak, unless you can truly take action. Now you've seen Peter's true face, you need to be strong, Harry, avenge me."
Harry looked at the mirror, his eyes teary, his expression broken. "...No!"
Norman roared, "Avenge me!"
Harry yelled back, "No!"
Instinctively, Harry threw a dagger at the mirror. The mirror shattered, revealing a hidden room behind it. Harry froze, slowly took a step, and found all of the Green Goblin's gear inside.
In that instant, Harry seemed to understand something, yet was also confused. He picked up the Green Goblin's serum, standing frozen before the Green Goblin suit. Without realizing it, Harry held his breath!
...
Harry looked at himself in the mirror and saw his father; while Mary Jane looked at herself in the mirror wearing a wedding dress, but couldn't find any smile. Only anxiety and unease. Only confusion and loss.
At the church, the big doors opened, the wedding march began playing, and everyone in the chapel looked toward the entrance, waiting for the bride to appear, including Harry in a suit. However, after a long wait, the bride didn't show up. The doorway was empty.
Finally, the bridesmaid appeared, holding a card, and handed it to John standing at the altar. After reading it, John's face was full of disappointment and pain as he let his right hand drop. Standing in the first row was the newspaper editor – also John's father – his face darkened. He lowered his voice and spoke to his wife, "Call Deborah."
Wife, "The chef?"
Editor, "Tell her not to open the caviar."
Wife: ???
In that moment, the entire audience burst out laughing. Even though it wasn't really the right moment to laugh, Radio City Music Hall couldn't help themselves. Amidst the sadness and heartbreak, they desperately needed a moment to breathe.
Then, Mary Jane lifted the hem of her wedding dress and ran wildly through a New York park. Pigeons flew up, and you could clearly see the blooming smile on her face. Wild and radiant.
In his messy apartment, Peter sat quietly, without a specific expression, his profile showing a hint of loss. His eyes, hidden in shadow, couldn't clearly show his emotions; he just stared blankly into the distance. With the romantic and touching wedding march playing, you could almost hear the sound of a heart breaking. But Peter remained unmoved.
That's what growing up is like – as a child, you'd fall and scrape your knee and cry your eyes out; but one day, you fall, and you don't even have time to tend to your wound, you just quickly get up, brush yourself off, and keep running. You don't even have the time or space to check the injury. Some say that's strength; but others say it's numbness. It's not because it doesn't hurt, but because you finally understand you have to take care of yourself. So, even if you carved a deep gash across your heart, you wouldn't seem to feel the pain.
Today, and only today, Peter allowed himself a brief moment of loss, to empty his mind, to completely zone out. This was the third time tonight the camera zoomed in on Peter's face in a close-up shot. No music, no editing, a freeze-frame, letting time flow slowly in silence, letting emotions gradually build and fill the entire space, breaking the screen barrier and letting the audience enter the frame and feel the surge of emotion.
A little lonely, a little bitter, a little sad. Involuntarily, Radio City Music Hall held its breath, quietly watching Peter Parker's clear blue eyes, reading the complexity within them. It wasn't just loss; Peter took a deep breath, lifted his lips, trying hard to pull himself together, to find happiness. Telling himself in this way that Mary Jane had found happiness, and he had found his mission, that it was all worth it, that he was ready, that this was the right choice.
That smile lingering at the corner of his mouth – that's the price of growing up.
