PARTING OF THE WAYS

Perpetual Estrangement

Once there were no two hearts so open, no feelings so in harmony. But now we are strangers. No, worse than strangers, for we may never become acquainted. It is perpetual estrangement.

Jane Austen, Persuasion

So the day finally came. Annie had fought to not be here, at the pier. But she lost. Reiner went ahead to Paradis without her, and Pieck hurt her foot and was limping without a cane. I fell down the stairs, she exclaimed. Thus, Annie had to go to Paradis as a representative of Marley for the third time.

But that was not the problem. She liked Paradis well enough. There was something charming about that rural, backward nation. Annie chalked it up to its people. Hundreds of years of being mind-wiped, they were honestly great. Especially her friends like Hitch whom she had missed so much. And Mikasa. Thinking about Mikasa always made her heart heavy. She cried a few times thinking about her. She felt so bad for her. And of course thinking about Mikasa led her to think about the one person she had wanted to forget.

The taxi dropped her off at the pier. There were not many people. Annie was glad. She wanted to make it a very hush hush affair. But of course, if 'he' was involved, that was just a wish to the wind.

There was a crowd of people by the ship that was going to Paradis. Some newspaper reporters, Annie could guess by the way they were dressed and the camera flashes. They were interviewing somebody. As Annie came closer to the crowd, a lady waved at her from afar. Jemma.

The secretary to the Foreign Affair Minister. Of course any peace talk was under that ministry. Annie smiled to Jemma. Jemma was a plump lady with beautiful raven hair and genuine smile. She felt so much at ease with her. Jemma was a pure Marleyan but her heart was so good. Jemma didn't care about the stupid war between Eldian and Marley. Like her, she cared that there must be peace for everybody now and the future.

Jemma hugged Annie and held her hand as they walked to the pier and to the crowd. There she introduced Annie to the crowd with her position in the entourage. And suddenly Annie was shoved aside and she almost fell when a strong hand gripped her and pulled her up. She recognised the touch. As if mesmerised, she saw his golden hair, but his face was rendered dark as the sun was shining behind him, creating some kind of a halo. But Annie knew who he was, like how she knew the back of her hand.

The crowd went ballistic. Jemma was fussing about her. Then a reporter asked, very loudly, "is what happened between you and Ms Leonhardt would affect the peace talk, Mr Arlert?"

Armin gave them his best smile and answered, "we are committed to make this peace talk last and we will be very professional in our capacity as the peace ambassadors to Paradis. I can assure you Ms Leonhardt and I are on the best of terms. What has passed is past and the present and future are to come and we hope to bring the best deal for both nations"

Annie just looked at Armin, all smiling. She refused to comment further as Jemma thanked the crowd and reporters. They were led into the ship. Both she and Armin didn't speak a word. As the stood on the port of the ship, they watched the crowd at the pier, Armin still waving, as they faded from view.

"Are you ok Annie?" Armin asked, softly. His question was like a lyric to a song. That was the first time he spoke to her since their divorce. Annie said yes without bothering to look at his face. If she had turned to look, she would see how sad Armin's smile was.

"I'm sorry about Pieck. And Jean went off first with Reiner without telling me. Connie, well, couldn't be found so you're saddled with me..."

Annie still didn't turn to look at him.

"Don't worry, I will not bother you. I will not get in your way any longer. This is maybe our last duty together. Thank you for helping out." Her voice was laced with pain that Annie couldn't help but to turn around and look at him. But Armin had turned around and walked towards the middle of the ship where the rooms were.