Three Simple Words

by evilestguyever

Cloud was lost, lost to himself, to the world. He had no idea who he was, and the world seemed dark and bleak, except fot that one bright light. The light that gave him the strength to go on, that made his world right. Cloud and Aerith.

Evilestguyever: Don't own anything yet.

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Three Simple Words

Cloud paced back and forth in the hallway, eyes averted, occasionally glancing up to stare at a plain wooden door marked 301. He had shouldered the burden of saving the world even when he didn't know how to save himself. So why was it so hard? So hard to go up to her and just tell her? Tell her that he can't stop thinking about her. That every time she smiled, his heart skipped a beat, that every time she laughed, the world seemed to melt away. That her very presence gave him the strength, the courage, to keep going on. That in a world that seemed so dark and oppressive and just wrong, she was the only light? That he craved her presence more than he cared for water, food, air? Why was it so hard to tell her that?

"Cloud? Is something bothering you?" He jumped. When did she come out?

"What? Oh, I mean yes, well, no, I mean no, I – He was cut off by bright peals of laughter.

"Cloud, you're so silly," Aerith said, poking him in the chest. "So what's bothering you?"

"I – I can do this. I can do this. I can do this. I can't do this! Damn it! It's too hard!

"Aw, come on, Cloud. You can tell me." She pouted, and against his will, he found himself telling her.

"I – I – Aerith, I love you." He averted his eyes to the ground immediately. I did it. I told her. That was easy, right? Three simple words. I don't know why that was so hard. More importantly, what does she think? What'll she say? What'll she do?

"Silly." What? What does she mean? What's silly? Me? Is she saying that I'm sillly? Or that what I said is silly? I… what was I expecting anyway? An "I love you too"? Or a rejection? I never had much hope in the beginning, did I? I don't know what I was doing, telling her. "Hey," she leaned over to look into his eyes, smiling. She's smiling? What? Why's she smiling? Is this going to be one of those situations where I end up as just a friend? She poked him in the forehead, "Silly." What does she mean? I… I can't take this anymore. I need to know. I… need to know if I have anything left to hold on to… I… I… He could feel his heart wavering, his will crumbling, his world being engulfed by the darkness of his past again. "I love you too." Three simple words. His world righted itself and the light flooded back in.

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Evilestguyever: This is for the one person that makes my world right again.