saudade
(n.) a nostalgic longing to be near again to something or someone that is distant or that has been loved then lost; "the love that remains"
Beatrice Prior.
The girl who turned his life around. The small fragile girl who grew up to be one of the strongest and bravest fighters out there.
She flew in his life the moment she became the first jumper. He knew she wouldn't ever leave. As the weeks went by, he fell for her every second. From the way she talked to the way she fought. A shimmering start that shone so bright nothing could stop her.
They fought together, they loved each other.
Beatrice Prior and Tobias Eaton.
What a pair.
From the their first kiss in the chasm, to the last kiss they ever shared outside the fence before she left from him forever.
She was a blessing in his world of darkness.
It was odd, having to wake up every morning, knowing that the one you loved wasn't with you anymore. He was so used to Tris's presence that without her, he didn't know what to do. She was his oxygen and he was choking. Christina prevented him from taking the memory serum, a way to get rid of the heartache and pain.
It wasn't supposed to end like this. She wasn't supposed to leave him. They were supposed to live the rest of their life together in calamity and peace. Build a life together after the hardships of the experiments and war.
There was a space in his heart that could never be filled. It would remain empty for however long he lived. Every day without her was where a piece of him slowly went missing.
Two years later he threw her ashes while riding the zip line. Forgetting his fear of heights just for her. He would do anything for her, even when she was gone.
He still would grieve.
Three years later he sat in the corner of his apartment and stared at the wall. Raking his hand through his hair, remembering all the fights, kisses, conversations, laughter and time they shared together.
Forever being plagued by the ghost of her.
Twenty years later, when he's thirty-five, married with children, he's still being haunted. Seeing her reflection in the mirror as he brushed his teeth and tried to get through the day. After all this time she would never leave.
Forty years later, finally laying on his death bed. He knew wouldn't last that long after all. Tobias Eaton reached into his pocket and grabbed a folded up piece of paper. There on the paper were poorly drawn birds flying. He clutched the paper in his hand and stared out the window in his hospital bed. It was the 65th anniversary of Tris's death. He promised he would be brave for her, and brave has he been.
Suddenly before him was the image of Tris from the last time he saw her. Still as beautiful as ever.
"I promised I'd come back. Didn't I?" She said, giving him one of her glorious smiles that he hasn't seen in ages. One that was full of life and love.
"You die, I die too," He responded, slowly closing his eyes as he faded away from life.