Opening Their Hearts

Steve felt conflicted when he heard this, but looking at the note in his hand, he decided he still had to go see the woman he had loved in the past.

After becoming Captain America, he had unleashed extraordinary power with the Super Serum, stopping villains who had tried to harm the country and the world.

So he did not believe he had failed Captain America or his country.

The only person he felt he had let down was Peggy, the woman he had made a promise to all those years ago but failed to keep.

Steve immediately left and headed for the address written on the note.

The greatest benefit of modern times was that every intersection had clear signs, letting people know exactly where they were.

It took him only a little over an hour. After asking for directions nearby, Steve arrived before a small villa.

"Hello, is this Peggy Carter’s home?"

Steve knocked on the door. When a young, beautiful woman answered it, he nervously asked his question.

"Yes, this is my aunt Peggy Carter’s home…"

Upon seeing the handsome, broad-built man and hearing his question, the woman immediately replied.

However, after examining his face more closely, her eyes filled with disbelief.

"Are you Steve Rogers?"

She covered her mouth and asked in disbelief.

"I didn’t expect you to recognize me."

"May I come in and see Peggy?"

Seeing that she recognized him, Steve spoke.

"Hello, I’m Sharon Carter, Peggy Carter’s niece."

"Of course I recognize you. There are photographs of you in my aunt’s house."

"But weren’t you… dead?"

"I don’t mean any offense, and it isn’t that I wanted you to be dead."

"It’s just that the books, movies, museum records about you, and even Aunt Peggy all said that you had died."

After receiving confirmation, the young, beautiful woman hurriedly introduced herself. Her disbelief left her unable to calm down.

"I know you didn’t mean any offense, but it’s a long story… After I see Peggy."

"How about we find a time to talk about it slowly?"

When Steve heard that Peggy kept photographs of him in her home, the guilt in his heart deepened. He spoke softly.

"Okay, okay, please come in."

"I’ll take you to my aunt’s room."

Hearing this, Sharon Carter hurriedly said.

Before long, Sharon Carter led Steve to the door of a room.

"Sharon, weren’t you going out to buy groceries?"

The ninety-year-old woman lying in bed spoke weakly when she heard the door open.

Steve had thought he was mentally prepared to see Peggy, but the moment he heard her voice, fear and guilt surged into his heart, and he did not dare to enter.

"Aunt Peggy, someone has come to see you."

Sharon answered, then gestured for Steve, who was standing outside the door and afraid to enter, to hurry up.

"Who would come looking for an old woman like me?"

Hearing her niece’s words, Peggy’s aged, wrinkled face revealed a faint smile as she spoke softly.

Many of her comrades from her younger days had died in the war. Later, after helping establish S.H.I.E.L.D., she had met many people.

But after she retired, almost no one came to see her.

The person she saw most often was her niece, Sharon.

"It’s the person you’ve dreamed of and longed for."

Hearing her aunt’s self-mocking words, Sharon looked at Steve, who still did not dare to enter, and reached out with both hands to push him inside.

But how could her strength possibly move Steve?

"The person I’ve longed for?"

Hearing her niece’s words, Peggy Carter’s eyes, no longer bright as they had been in her youth but clouded with age, showed a thoughtful look.

"Steve Rogers, hurry up and go in!"

Hearing her aunt’s murmur, Sharon anxiously urged him.

The moment the name Steve Rogers was spoken, Peggy Carter’s eyes brightened. At the same time, disbelief appeared on her face.

"Steve, is that really you?"

Peggy Carter turned her head toward the bedroom door. Seeing the tall shadow reflected on the floor, her voice was full of disbelief and faint anticipation.

Though Steve was overwhelmed with nervousness and guilt, he stepped into the room when he heard those words.

"Peggy."

"I’m so sorry. I came back too late."

Looking at the elderly woman over ninety, frail and skeletal, only able to lie in bed, Steve’s gaze trembled as he called out to her.

"Steve…"

Seeing the handsome figure whose appearance was exactly the same as in her memories and hearing that familiar voice, Peggy’s voice was filled with disbelief.

"Yes."

Steve came to Peggy’s bedside, took her hand, and nodded.

"You’re alive… You came back…"

Feeling his broad palm and looking at Steve, whose appearance had not changed in the slightest, Peggy’s voice choked with emotion.

"Yes, Peggy. I came back."

Seeing Peggy like this, Steve’s guilt deepened. A faint smile appeared on his face as he replied.

"You were gone for too long… Far too long…"

Tears welled up in Peggy’s eyes, and her voice carried both sobs and a trace of resentment.

"I would never just leave behind my best girl."

"You still owe me a dance."

Hearing her words and seeing Peggy weep, Steve comforted her softly.

"I remember that promise… But no one can go back to the past."

Hearing Steve’s words, Peggy nodded faintly to show that she had remembered it all along, regret lingering in her voice.

She had also hoped to spend her life with her beloved Steve, but that was no longer possible.

"I’m sorry. Maybe we can’t go back to the past, but I’m still here."

Seeing Peggy cry as her emotions poured out, Steve spoke with incomparable gentleness, comforting her.

Sharon closed the door, happy for her aunt.

Though time could not return to the past, seeing the man she had longed for in her old age still fulfilled one of her wishes.

Steve stayed by Peggy’s side like that, speaking of the longing he had carried all these years, until Peggy grew tired and fell asleep.

Only then did Steve quietly leave the room, his heart filled with complicated emotions.

He had thought that Peggy, like Howard, had long since died with the passing of time.

He never imagined that he would still be able to see the aged Peggy and listen to her speak of the regrets and longing she had carried over the years.

If he could, Steve dearly wanted to make it up to Peggy, but he also knew that time could not be turned back.

Even if he wanted to make it up to Peggy now and dance with her, Peggy’s age and physical condition would not allow it.

This left Steve feeling utterly helpless.

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