Wait for Me
Clark entered his mother's apartment, after returning from his "Fortress of Solitude". He had found it was his favorite place, when things were taking a turn for the worse. He always found a comfort and warmth in that frozen "palace" that reminded him of his birth mother.
As he walked in he found his mother sleeping in the couch. He smiled and went over there to cover her, trying to be as quiet as he could. However he was unsuccessful. No sooner had he approached her than she opened her eyes.
"Sorry mom… I didn't mean to wake you." Said Clark with a sheepish smile.
His mom smiled weakly. "It's ok sweetie… besides I wanted to talk to you before I went to sleep today."
Clark looked at his mother, and he noticed that she looked very tired. "Mom… you look beat… you better get some sleep… we'll talk tomorrow…"
"Hush your mouth Clark and sit down to talk to your mother." Said Martha with a smile.
Clark sat beside his mother and held her hand.
"So what's wrong?" said his mother, looking at him intently.
"What do you mean?" asked Clark.
"You went to that place again, so something is definitely not right."
"Same old mom… same old…"
"Clark… you have to get past all this. You can't worry that you'll end up alone, and behave the way you are. You have to loosen up and open up to people. Let people in, otherwise how can you hope to have anyone in your life."
"But that's the thing mom… It's not like I'm not trying. In fact just today I tried again with Lana, and she practically walked out on me again… what can I do… if she doesn't want to have anything to do with me… I can't force her to…"
"I wasn't talking about just Lana… I meant people in general… You have to live life Clark… I thought that you would have learnt your lesson by now, but it seems that I was wrong… You can't do what you're doing alone Clark…"
"I know that mom… I mean… didn't I prove it? I married Lois… I work in a newspaper… I have friends... well… some at least…" said Clark defensively.
"But look at what has happened Clark? You messed up your marriage with Lois, you both did of course… and most of your friends have lives of their own. Clark please… I will leave this earth someday and I want to be certain that you will be alright…" said Martha with real concern in her voice.
Clark smiled and hugged his mother. "You're not going anywhere and you don't have to worry about me… I will find my way mom… I promise…"
"As for Lana… I think that you never really understood what it was for her Clark"
"What do you mean?"
"Have you ever really tried to put yourself in her place? I mean… you can't do that… but at least have you tried to think things from her perspective? I remember you always did things your way… You would do what you thought was right, regardless of what other people thought… Stubborn like your father… But Cark… you never let her make any choices regarding the both of you… you always thought you knew what had to be done, and went through with it… you almost never gave her a choice…" said his mother softly.
Clark looked at his mother hurt. "You really believe that?"
Martha smiled. "It's not that I believe it Clark, it's a fact." Martha couldn't bear to look at Clark's aching face. "Oh sweetie… I know you always meant good… but I just want you to know that what is "good", isn't something everyone agrees upon. Before you go to sleep, think about what she must have thought all these years before going to sleep, and you'll know what I'm talking about Clark." She then leaned in and hugged Clark really tightly. "I didn't want to upset you Clark… But you needed to hear some stuff… Just remember… I'm proud of you. You have helped more people than I ever thought possible, it's just time you helped yourself for once… You'll always be my son, and I will always love you."
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18 years old
Oh God I miss him… Especially now… Living in his house… with Martha… I … Why did this have to happen now… This should have been the best year… We would finally be rid of all the crap that was keeping us apart, and we could really enjoy being together, going to college. Now he is gone, his father died and he didn't even see him… He doesn't even know it yet… He will be heartbroken… I just hope I can be there for him… ease his pain any way I can… Where could he be now? I hope he is fine… Why hasn't he contacted home yet? Let him return soon…
19 years old
Martha is right… I can't keep putting my life on hold… I have to think of my future… Making a fresh start would be the best thing for me now… I mean… I would like going back to Europe and studying there… Making a fresh start… It doesn't mean I have to let go of him does it? …I mean… if he returned we could still find a way to be together… why hasn't he come back? Has he forgotten about me? Does he still feel the same about me? … I hope he is alright… Where are you Clark? I love you…
20 years old
Milan is so beautiful. I'm so glad I decided to come here. The school and the people are great. … I could really live here… Clark would also like it here… Not that any farms true… but it has it's own charms… It has already been 2 years since he left… He still hasn't contacted home… I hope he is alright… Has he forgotten about me? … Oh God why can't I get over him… I mean… this is really not healthy… I must at least try… but what if he returns… Be safe Clark…
21 years old
I can't believe this… he returned… and he didn't contact me… I mean… when I saw that article about him in the paper… there was no doubt in my mind that he was this Superman they keep talking about… And Martha confirmed it… Why didn't he come? … Martha said he asked about me… Why didn't he come then? Why didn't he at least try to contact me? … don't be stupid Lana… he's probably got so many things in his mind now… I mean… according to that article he has already saved so many people… he has a responsibility to the whole world… that's why I love him… he is always thinking of others first… But I just want to see him and speak to him… even for a while…
22 years old
He left again… it's happening all over again… just when I think I should get over him… I can't take this… but what is he thinking? He can't do this alone… he can't cut himself off from the rest of the world… but he was always so stubborn… He hasn't changed one bit… and I still love him for it… but he made it clear… he can't have anyone in his life… so this is it… can I let go of him now? … How do you let go of someone you love… Oh god please keep him safe and help him achieve all he wants…
23 years old
I have so much to do tomorrow… I dread waking up… Roberto was kind enough to offer to help me though… he is always trying to help me out… He is cute… Clark saved a ship full of people today again… he is turning out to be quite the hero… I never doubted it though… Where are you now Clark? I hope he is not feeling lonely…
24 years old
I have to consider their offer very carefully… as much as I hate the fact that Lex set me up with that interview… they are supposedly quite a big deal… and as an interior decorator I'll need all the connections I can find… I mean this is Milan we're talking about… Lex told me that he saw Clark yesterday in Metropolis… that is weird… why would Clark be in Metropolis as Clark… I just hope I didn't sound too surprised on the phone to Lex… I'd hate to cause Lex to be suspicious of Clark… But then again why would he be suspicious… I just hope that as Superman he keeps his distance from cameras and such… it won't be that difficult for people to recognize him, if they know who Clark Kent is… I think I saw him last week standing on top of the building opposite mine… I could be wrong… but then again… keep safe Clark
25 years old
I can't believe this… he is living in Metropolis… living as Clark Kent and he didn't tell me anything about it… I mean… the whole reason behind not being able to be with me was that he couldn't live a normal life… and now even Martha told me that he is living there and working and everything… How could he not tell me anything about it… Was it all lies… or did he change his mind… but if he did why wouldn't he tell me? … I'm so stupid… I'm lying here thinking about Clark Kent when he obviously did the smart thing by moving forward… Argh…. Why is it so hard for me to forget him… not forget him… just stop loving him… because I haven't found anyone who can compare with him… I have to… no… I won't cry … I won't cry again… I refuse to cry… I refuse… … sniff…
26 years old
oh… I'm so tired… (yawn)… I have to do… that… thing… (yawn)… tomorrow… I… I hate you Clark…
27 years old
That was just the worst day ever… Of all the planes in the world ours had to have an engine malfunction so that Superman would have to save us… Brilliant… I tried to avoid him when everyone was running towards him to thank him… but he must have seen me… and then coming over to see me… I mean… the nerve… He didn't even try to deny that he was now with Lois Lane… he has completely forgot about me… and all that crap he said about wanting to be part of my life again… who says I want you in my life Clark Kent… who am I kidding… I don't think I could have him in my life now… I wouldn't be able to handle it seeing him with Lois… Why the hell am I still acting like I'm in high school… I mean I should be able to take it as an adult, forget about him and act as if everything is fine… but I know it's not… I hate him… well… I only hate him cause I still love him… And Clive… he seems nice… he cares about me… why can't I love him… why couldn't I be the one for Clark? Why I am I being so selfish? Why … Clark…
28 years old
sniff … sniff … Married… He's getting married… despite everything that's happened I always believed that somehow in the end we'd end up together… sniff … I guess I was just kidding myself… And he called me about it himself… he is so totally over me… and I'm sitting here like a stupid school girl crying my eyes out… I mean I'm with Clive now… I shouldn't be acting like this… Married… He must really love her then… I didn't want to believe it… but I guess it's true… I couldn't possibly go through with this… I don't think I can handle this… Oh snap out of it Lana… I must behave as adult for once in my life… He was… is my friend and he wants me to be at his wedding… I must be there… it's not like he did me any wrong… he was honest with me at least… well most of the times… Come on Lana you're going to be there and take it like an adult…
A month later…
sniff … Oh God that was the worst experience in my life… Up to the last minute I didn't want to accept it… but it happened and it's true… He seemed so happy… Why can't I be happy for him… I mean he's found the one he wants to spend the rest of his life with… sniff … I should be happy for him… Oh God… I have to accept it… I really have to try and let go of him now… I don't know if I can… sniff … Good bye Clark… I love you…
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32 years old
Martha is sleeping comfortably in her bed and she is dreaming. She is walking back to the farm. Then she sees from afar Clark running around chasing a small boy.
"Jonathan Jr. come back here, your mother will be sad when she sees you didn't finish your food. Your nana will also be very upset."
The little boy just laughed and supersped even further from Clark, giggling excitedly. Clark smiled and chased after him.
Martha approached the house and she saw Lana with Laura in hand coming out from the house. "Boys… don't get all sweaty… we'll have to leave soon…"
Laura giggled and looked up to her mother. "Mom… can I go run with Jonathan and dad…"
Lana smiled and picked up her little daughter. "No, Laura… your brother and your dad will have to take a bath again when they come back… you don't want that do you?"
Laura squinted her little eyes. "No I just had a bath. I'm not a fish…"
Lana laughed and kissed her daughter.
Martha was so happy. Her son had finally the family he deserved. She then entered the house and she saw a familiar figure walking up towards her; Her husband Jonathan.
"Hey princess. I've been waiting for you." He hugged her tightly and kissed her tenderly on the lips. They remained there embraced for ever. Martha felt bliss. Complete and utter bliss. She was finally where she truly belonged; Home.
Martha Kent let her final breath, in her bed. She was smiling blissfully.
To be Continued…