Needless to say, having four people that didn't really trust me run tests on me like a science experiment was pretty scary. But I let them do it. For Spider-Man. For Me.
Aw heck, it was really just for me right?
Well, I flew over to the bed and laid there for a few minutes while they got the test ready.
I wasn't nervous. They wouldn't do anything to hurt me, really. If it was dangerous, they'd tell me, right? Hell I hope so.
"We're going to test for radiation levels," Sue said with a smile. She looked like a surgeon, with the mask and the gloves and the sterilized white scrubs and everything.
"Then we're going to see if there's...well, in a nonscientific, fourth grade form, we're going to check if there's something in your body that there shouldn't be."
I nodded.
"You're going to be out for a while, and this gas is different than that from the hospitals. You're going to dream, Jimmy. It will seem so real, that when you wake up, you'll be unable to know what is a fantasy. I want you to remember that, okay? Remember this conversation."
And in five minutes, I was out. I love sleeping gas.
There was a blur of colors, and everything was spinning. Then it calmed down. I was in my old house. I was in my old bedroom. It was big, and there was my bed. It seemed I hadn't slept in it for years.
Josh was home, too. He was smiling. He was waiting for me...where were we going? That's right! Mommy and Step-Daddy were going to meet us at my softball game!
I ran down the stairs, my kleets scraping at the wood. We raced out the door together, Josh holding a cigarette.
We ran all the way there. It was so dark out. I loved night games. It seemed I was only a kid...like five or even younger...but no. Josh was here. Happy to have my company. He was actually here. And happy.
We got there soon, Josh let me win. He acted like he didn't, but there's no way I could outrun him. My coach said to warm up. Josh threw the ball around with me. It was fun, watching him purposely mess up so I could act grown up and show him the right way.
Mommy's car wasn't here yet, and the game was about to start. The coach put me in right away. I played center field. That was good, because I wasn't the best catcher in the world.
The first batter came up on the opposite team, The Bears. I got ready, focusing on the ball. The batter swung, and the ball zoomed right. It was an easy catch, an easy out.
This went on for God knows how long. Mommy was running late. I'd been up to bat five times already. Mommy wasn't here.
Then I was at center field again. There were two outs on the board. It was the sixth inning. It was dark outside. I was huffing and puffing. Mommy wasn't here yet. Where could Mommy be? She knew about it, she knew it was the championship. It was the big World Series for me. Where was she?
The ball was popped up. It flew high over the pitcher's head. Straight for me. Oh God no! I can't catch that good! I can't catch it! I can't! I'll let my team down! No!
But I should try...
I stuck out my glove. I squinted my eyes and looked for the ball in the air. I dove left, not breaking eye contact with it. It landed in my mitt.
Everyone cheered. Everyone screamed and cried out my name. I caught it! Me! I held the ball up high and paraded around the field.
That's when I saw Mommy's car.
I waved my arm, showing her the ball.
She was about to pull into the parking lot.
That's when the other car hit hers.
The cars flipped and tilted and rolled. It was the most violent thing I've ever seen. The sounds of metal clashing and scraping, and cries and gasps and screams filled the air.
I couldn't think. Couldn't move.
Mommy's car was upside-down and crushed. I ran over, tears streaming from my eyes.
"Mommy!" My voice seemed echo throughout the planet. "Mommy!"
When I reached her car, her arm was lying on the street out of the broken window. It was covered in bloody cuts. I kneeled down and saw my Mommy in her car. Her eyes met mine.
"Kimmy..." She whispered.
Then her eyes closed.
And they never opened again.