VII miles from Midgar
The wind had been hot, and it stung my skin as we looked out at the open plains that surrounded Midgar. The landscape seemed to stretch into infinity as we scanned the horizon for a destination for our ragtag group.
I glanced behind me. Aeris, Tifa and Barret were staring at the horizon in silence. The common theme seemed to be of concern. Red XIII had already begun sniffing around and any questions of what he was thinking would have fallen on deaf ears. Tifa looked concerned, but she quickly changed her expression when I approached her.
"Nervous?"
"Not really, although I wonder where we should go from here…" Tifa's voice trailed off uncertainly.
Barret yelled the answer to us. "Kalm. It's the only place we can make it to on foot from here!"
"Shall we leave then?" Red XIII asked coldly.
"I suppose so."
And with that, we had gathered our effects and started the walk to Kalm. I remember that Barret was yelling and bouncing around, declaring himself the leader of the expedition… group…whatever you could call us, and having his dreams unapologetically shattered as Tifa and Aeris cheerfully suggested that I lead us to Kalm. I remember the hesitation of being in charge of everyone, but I had already had hesitations about involving them in my journey to being with. But it was, as I only realized later, too late for that.
As I watched Tifa, Barret, and Red XIII walking away from me, I noticed that Aeris was still standing at my side.
"What's wrong?" She had obviously noticed the expression on my face.
"It's nothing; let's get moving or we'll be left behind."
She stopped for a second and just looked at me. As she stared into my eyes, that second seemed to last for an eternity. That moment has always stuck with me, and fills me with equal happiness and sorrow. That perfect moment will forever remain only a memory.
"As long as I have my faithful bodyguard, it won't matter what happens, right?"
"Sure… I'll make sure I'll always be there to protect you."
She smiled, just as she always did, leaned up and kissed me on the cheek, and quickly turned and began walking to catch up with the others. I stood there for a moment, slightly dazed by the soft kiss that had briefly graced my cheek.
"Hurry up, Cloud!"
The shout abruptly woke me from the spell; I quickly grabbed my equipment and walked toward them.
Looking back on that time now, I wish that I had savored that moment more. I wish that I had reached out and stopped Aeris, pulled her in to kiss her and hold her, just for a moment longer. I wish that I had said more or done more with the time I had had with her, but at least she will always remain in my memories, smiling.