PREVIOUSLY: After Peter Parker revealed his secret identity as Spider-Man to the world, an attempt was made on his life...and the bullet intended for Peter struck his elderly Aunt May instead. Comatose, she now barely clings to life.

Peter is determined not to let his aunt die, but there is little hope. And Peter fears that this would be the most devastating loss he's ever had to confront…more so than the death of his girlfriend Gwen Stacy...even more so than the death of his beloved Uncle Ben, which taught Peter all too well that with great power comes great responsibility, and set him on the path to becoming the sensational Spider-Man.

At County Memorial Hospital, Peter stands vigil at his Aunt May's bedside. Lost in thoughts, he does not hear Mary Jane walk in the room. She asks if he is okay, as she heard him talk to himself just a few seconds earlier. Peter replies that he is not okay, all things considered, and tells MJ that he's off to blow off some steam, to hurt something. He takes off.

Minutes later, we find Peter taking out his anger on a dumpster inside a dark alley. While there, he is accosted by a man badly disfigured who offers to buy him a burger and talk about what is going on with his life. Peter thinks the man is trying to pull some kind of scam on him until the man calls him by name. For a second, Peter wonders how the man knew his name but then realizes that his face has been plastered all over the place since revealing his identity to the world. The man points to Peter's hands and mentions that they're pretty messed up. Peter tells the man not to worry about it, as he heals fast. The man closes his eyes and utters the words "You're welcome, Peter.". Perplexed, Peter asks what he is talking about, until he realizes that the wounds on his hands are completely healed. As Peter asks the man who he is, the man starts to emit a glowing light around himself, and Peter suddenly figures out that he is talking to God.

Peter and God have lunch but Peter doesn't eat much. He asks God if Aunt May dying is all part of his cosmic scheme, his grand design. God replies by asking Peter what he would do if he were to told him. Peter answers that he would beg him to save her and that he would be willing to give up anything to save her. God asks if he would be willing to give up being Spider-Man. Peter replies that he would give up his powers in a heartbeat. He then asks God if he has the power to rewrite his life so that the spider bites someone else and thus spares all the deaths he's had to experience over the years. At first, God remains silent and then tells Peter he wants to show him something.

Moments later, they are at Robert Moses Beach, which coincidently is where Peter used to come with his Aunt May and Uncle Ben when he was younger. God instructs Peter to walk with him, down the boardwalk. Peter acquiesces. As they walk along the boardwalk, Peter asks God if being Spider-Man is some kind of punishment for something wrong he committed in a past life. God responds that it is not. Peter then asks if it is a test. God replies that he is not a test either. It just...is. Peter asks if God can explain it, at least, so he can help him understand. God answers that human suffering is one of the mysteries of life and that it happens for no good reason. The people who endure it don’t always come out of it better; it usually makes them worse. Peter asks what the point of anything is, if it is beyond understanding. God answers that "they" are some of the points. As he says that, he points to a portion of the beach that is occupied by thousands of people, young and old, rich and poor. God reveals that those are only a fragment of the thousands upon thousands of people he's saved over the years. Peter admits that the whole thing is weird. He is only realizing now that the lives of those he's saved over the years continue on after he's swung away. They go back to their jobs, their homes, their families. God tells Peter that it is all thanks to him that they are able to continue on with their lives. Having said that, he tells Peter to follow him once again.

As they look into the ocean, Peter thanks God for having been given that opportunity. God admits that it probably does not help him much to bear the suffering; however, that is all part of life. Fortunately or unfortunately, Peter's role, his purpose in life, is being Spider-Man. Trying to cheer Peter up, God tells him that he has asked a lot more from people much closer to him than Peter (i.e. the Apostles). Peter responds by making a weird analogy about humans being but pieces of plankton adrift in the ocean, at the mercy of uncontrollable forces. His eyes welled up in tears, Peter begs God to not let his Aunt May die. God tells Peter to have faith and disappears. When Peter turns around, he is back in the dark alley where he was beating on the dumpster.

The story ends with a glimpse at a possible future for Peter Parker / Spider-Man. He has grown old and white-haired alongside the woman he loves. He has two kids, Benjamin and Mary.

The end...for now.