Steve Rogers' adulthood has turned even more upside down which he couldn't believe what was happening his life after college. He couldn't find a job for the past several days when he ended up being rejected. Secondly, his mother got admitted at the hospital which he never realized she was very ill. Anxiety and fear had come to visit him in the past days.

From the first day, he found out his mother had tuberculosis from the doctor. Steve felt sorry for her and saw her lying down inside the iron lung. He spent several days in the hospital taking care of her, but still he had no job to search for.

Just in the wee hours of the morning, Steve was inside the room and watching his mother sleeping. He sadly sighed and looked at her. Suddenly, he heard a knock at the door and opened it. It was a tall dark haired man wearing a white lab coat. Steve recognized him when he was younger. It was Paul Williams who bullied him. This time, he never wanted to speak and confront him. Paul looked at Steve with a concern which he was the one who attended his mother.

" Hi, " he greeted and sincerely smiled. " Do you mind if we have to talk outside? "

Steve looked nervous to confront him and still remembered what his former bully did to him. Now, Paul was the one who helped Mrs. Rogers in taking her to the hospital. The crippled gentleman nodded no furiously and followed him going outside the room, closing the door.

" Paul, I didn't know you're a doctor..." Steve answered and smiled.

" Medical Intern, but soon to be one, " Paul said. " I'm sorry if I did horrible things to you in the past. "

" Hey, it's all right, Bud. I'm glad you just brought my mother here. I wonder how you became like that? I don't expect you to be a doctor in training. "

" It's a long story to tell that made me to be one. Anyway, that means you forgive me? "

" Yeah, " Steve nodded. " It's a thing in the past now. "

" Right. "

" But still, I don't know how I could live with this. Mom's sick and she's the only family I have. My dad had already gone. I don't want to lose her. Then, I can't find a job and get some money to pay off those bills and her medicines, " Steve sadly sighed. " I just don't know how I could start over with my life like this. "

Paul understood what the crippled man meant and felt sorry for him. He looked at Sarah Rogers who remained sleeping peacefully and turned to Steve.

" Hey, you know what I can help to deal with those hospital bills. My uncle works at the bank. He might lend you so money for the meantime in paying off. "

" Thanks, I'm not so sure..." Steve slightly smiled and felt ashamed.

" Hey, I'm doing this as a giving you back some kindness, " Paul smiled back and gently patted his friend's back.

" I guess so, but let me think about it first. "

" Right. "

" Hold on, Paul..." Steve paused and turned to his room. " I have to check on her first. "

" Sure, " he nodded.

Steve returned to the room and sat beside his room. He intently eyed on his mother's body when she was no longer breathing. He instantly took her wrists and felt no pulse. Widening his eyes in shock and watering his eyes down to his face, Steve burst and wailed for the sudden passing of his mother. Paul looked at his friend and called the nurses and the attending doctor.

" Somebody help me, Please!! " Steve loudly cried and wept. " She can't leave me like this!! Please bring her back! "

The doctor took out his torch and pointed at the deceased mother's pupils as they were no longer responding to the bright light. He sadly bowed his head and sighed, " I'm sorry she couldn't make it. "

Steve bitterly wept when his friend Paul hugged him. The nurses covered the body of the late Sarah Rogers with a white blanket. It was death and sadness which they had visited at this darkest moment.

(Three Days Later)

The dark cumulunimbus clouds heavily showered the Earth in this gloomy morning. The rest of Steve's family and friends had gathered for the internment of the late Sarah Rogers. The sea of people with black umbrellas watched the wooden coffin being descended in six feet into the ground. Steve couldn't help in seeing his mother's remains buried into the ground. Everyone greeted and gave him the sincerest condolences to his late mother.

An hour later, Steve was the only one who remained and held his umbrella. He walked over at the burial mound where the tombstone was recently placed. He took a paper from his coat and began to read aloud.

Dear Mom,

I'm sorry I haven't told you a lot of things I have been grateful for. You have been helping me since I was a little boy.

When you found that I had polio, you and dad's life had turned upside down. It was not my fault why I got crippled. Instead, you tried your best in taking care and teaching me what I need to live as a normal person. When dad had already gone to heaven, you were too strong to be a single parent. You never gave up to maintain a family with two people. I knew how supportive were you. When I got bullied and beaten-up, you would dare to mend my wounds.

You were there with me until I finished college. Now, I felt helpless and weak that I couldn't even get a job. I'm so sorry I wasn't able to give back and help you.

Thank you for being with me until the end. I will never forget you and always love you.

Your Son,

Steve

Steve bitterly wept after reading the letter and placed it under the moist soil. He left and headed on his way home.

(Two Weeks Later)

Steve walked around the streets, after he got rejected from his job interview. He headed on the way home when a group of thugs cornered him at the alley. The blonde crippled one got pushed down to the ground. They loudly laughed at him. Steve took a garbage can cover to defend himself from them and grabbed his belongings near him.

" Give me your money! " the man took out his knife and sternly spoke.

" No, I won't! " he indignantly spoke. " I'm not gonna give you my money! "

" Oh, really... " the other hoodlum chuckled and grinned. " Are you trying to play rough?! If you don't give it to us, we'll give you black and blue until you die, Punk! "

" Well, I can do this all day..."

" No, you can't crippled."

Steve tried to stand up without his crutches and enticed to fight back, however his legs weren't strong and steady enough. He was about to throw the cover of the garbage can, but the other hoodlum instantly made an uppercut blow into his face. Steve instantly fell down and bled his nos when the thugs loudly yelped at him.

" Take his things away and steal his money! " the man ordered.

" Got it, boss, " his minions nodded.

" Oh, no. You don't, " a male stern

voice echoed.

The hoodlums got hindered and startled in seeing a tall brunette and well-built man appeared to be dressed in a US Army uniform. Steve couldn't recognize the newcomer and intently looked at him. The rest dared to fight the man. The soldier instantly grabbed the hoodlum's collar with his right hand and gave him lower cut blow into his gut. The other one with a knife was ready to pin him down. The soldier instantly took it and punched at the man's face, ending him nosebleeding profusely. The others ran away in fear when the soldier indignantly glared at them.

Steve recalled the day when his best friend rescued him. The soldier walked over to the crippled one and helped me stand up. The blonde one got surprised in seeing him and recognized his face.

" Bucky, is that you? " he curiously raised his tone.

" Yep, " Bucky Barnes nodded and gave his childhood friend a warm smile. " Have you gotten into trouble lately? "

" No, I was a looking for a job, then you showed up! " Steve happily exclaimed. " Man, this is a coincidence that we meet again for a long time! Look at you! Wow, you are a soldier! "

" Yep, we have a lot to talk about, " Bucky chuckled and gently patted his best friend's back. " How about we can go to the diner have dinner together. It's my treat! How's that sound? "

" Sounds cool, Thanks! "

" Sure, punk! "

" Yeah, thanks for saving me again, Dork. "

" Well, that's why I can't forget you. "

" Right! "