Disclaimer: Final Fantasy: Crisis Core and its' characters belong to Square Enix. This story belongs to me.

Letter Fifty-Two

Low hums of the busy streets and people in the slums is what filled Aerith's bedroom window with sound. She sat daintily on her floor with a pen in her hand and a notebook resting on her knees in her lap. Surrounded by her were crinkled pieces of paper of drafts she had written. Aerith hadn't heard from her SOLIDER in a few months. The last was that telephone conversation in which he promised her he'd call back at a better time.

He still hadn't.

He was rumored to be dead. Tseng, on one of his many visits to her in the church, stated he was missing in action, and was doing everything he possibly could to locate him. Zack hadn't contacted anyone in almost five months. It was summer when he left, now the first snowfall had already passed. Aerith clearly remembered when they parted. Warm air filled the church on a humid summer's day. The flower's aroma was potent mixing with Zack's sweet scent of sweat.

Zack,

She wrote his name carefully. Tseng had suggested she write letters to Zack and in his search for the SOLIDER he would deliver them. Aerith was on letter number fifty-two in the dead of winter during a leap year.

Hi, I haven't heard from you. Are you alright? Rumors are being tossed around that you are dead, but I don't believe it. I can feel when people pass into the lifestream.

"No, no, no," she said to herself erasing the last few sentences she wrote. That wasn't what she wanted to say to him.

Aerith paused for a moment twirling her fingers through her loose curls. She wondered what to write next. Expressing herself had never been so hard until now; she was at a loss for words when it came to marking the paper. As she pictured Zack in her head, the memories they shared formulated into feelings that she couldn't convey in words. It was enough to make her feel warm inside, enough to remind her how much she missed him.

The flowers and still blooming nicely despite the winter. I sold many of them around the slums, also the train station. I really think people are enjoying them.

Her lips curved a bittersweet smile; it was originally his idea.

The boy who had stolen your wallet this past summer was asking where you were. I told him you would be back soon.

She sighed heavily in frustration. Aerith knew that was a lie. It ached her heart that she didn't know where he was or if he would be returning. She had longed to hear his cheerful, carefree voice.

Aerith re-read her letter. The same phrase kept repeating over and over in her head. She furiously scribbled how she felt after her name.

Zack,

Hi, I haven't heard from you. Are you alright? Rumors are being tossed around that you are dead, but I don't believe it. I can feel when people pass into the lifestream. Anyway, where are you? I'm worried, I hope you are okay. You left in the summer and now its nearly winter. The first snow fall has passed already. I wish you had been here to see it with me. The flowers are still blooming nicely despite the winter. I sold many of them around the slums, also the train station. I really think people are enjoying them. Come home Zack. The boy who had stolen your wallet this past summer was asking where you were. I told him you would be back soon. I hope that's the case.

Aerith

PS: I need you so much closer.

-xx-

A/N: I had written this awhile ago, and finally got around to posting it.