Flight Through Darkness

Saying Goodbye

Tifa's P.O.V

It's raining.

That's the first thing that I think when I get out of the car to stand at the church entrance. The second thing I think of is, why? Aerith was a sunny kind of person. Rain doesn't seem to fit her, but, somehow, today, it does.

I guess you couldn't really call it rain. More like a shower. Something refreshing, cleansing. This I can accept. She always had that effect on us. There's a whole sea of black surging up the church steps, where she waits silently. She isn't ever going to speak again. Not here, on this earth. I wish I could laugh it off, like what I always do around Lilly and her. Except this time, neither of them is here to laugh with me.

It's odd. Cloud is here beside me, squeezing my arm and asking every five minutes if I'm okay. God, I love him. There's Zack, fighting back tears, looking so somber and unusual in a black T-shirt and jeans, but I'm glad to see him here. Those two...shared a lot together. She made him smile, and I always saw that when he was around, she was always happier than normal. They could light up anyone's day, no matter how bad it was.

Genesis and Angeal are standing together at the side, Genesis sniffing and glaring at anyone who stares at him, Angeal patting him on the back while wiping his eyes occasionally. The redhead gives me a brief nod by way of greeting, which I return, too miserable to go up and shake hands.

It's like a huge part of my life has been ripped out. Aerith, Lilly and I have been friends since we were mere toddlers. We met each phase in life together and laughed it off together when they passed. And now Aerith is gone, just like that. Lilly isn't here yet. Still isn't here. What happened to us always being there for each other?

Cloud senses my tension and opens his mouth to ask what's wrong for the hundredth time. I interrupt coldly.

"Where is she?"

He looks confused, so I clarify myself for him. "Where is Lilly?"

He shrugs and says he hasn't got a clue. Tch. It's not like her to be late. My heart is constricting with the pain, I need Lilly with me now. She always understood how I felt. Is she running away now? My mind flies back to the wild accusation I hit her with in the hospital. Maybe there's some truth in that. Why else would she stay away?

" I flung her into that bear, now she's dead because of that...I'm sorry."

Lilly's own words. But I don't understand. What exactly happened during that moment? I wish I knew.

The priest starts talking. "Aerith Gainsborough was a lovely girl. Sweet as sugar. I'm sure many of you remember her. A bear killed her, and now she's in God's hands now. We can't see her spirit, but I know that she is probably smiling down at you all now. She wouldn't want you to mourn for her. She-"

"Shut up! You don't know her at all." Her father stands, tall in person, but shrunken and stooped from grief. Maybe he's cried so much until he's withering. That's how I feel. The congregation murmurs, I can't catch what they say. But he storms up to the podium and starts talking, the priest having long fled.

"Aerith was my daughter. She was kind to everyone. She loved animals. She helped anyone in need. She was sweet and obedient. What better daughter could we want? I know that almost everyone in this town knows her. She might've said hello, asked you how was your day. She might've babysat your kids. She might've held open the door for you before. She did so much for anyone she could. She might've sat and listened to you talk about your crappy boss.

But first and foremost, she was my daughter. Our daughter," he adds, looking at his red-eyed wife. "We won't forget her. I don't believe it was her time to die. But it happened. Now we have to live with it."

It's enough to make the whole congregation echo with sniffles, muffled sobs and the occasional coughing fit. Me, my eyes are already red, have been the whole day. But I feel the twitches of a small sob start at the back of my throat, tickling its way up towards my mouth, nose and eyes. My shoulders tense, hunch forward as I bury my head in my sweaty palms and cry. Someone whispers a suggestion to take me out for some fresh air, but Cloud wraps his arm around me and firmly refuses. I hear Angeal backing him up, then Genesis, and even Zack.

Sephiroth isn't here. Neither is Lilly. Where are they? I can't believe she's not here to send our best friend off with me. Sephiroth has already left the country for Singapore. But Lilly doesn't have an excuse. It only makes me cry harder with all the unfairness that I have to bear this burden alone now.

On cue, as if he's reading my mind, Zack softly taps my arm and whispers, "Maybe we can go over and accompany Aer- her parents at their house? The rest of the guys are for it. Might do you some good."

I can't stop my tears, but I hold them back long enough to give a shaky nod.

Then my world goes black as I squeeze my eyes shut.

I don't want to see a world without Aerith in it.