Lightning jumps off the pier, and the reason lies in the last 13 days of her life.

Ok a note- So not to confuse you, this is the last day in the story. The upcoming chapters will explain what happened up until this point. Some details are intentionally hazy, some, I was just lazy, like the color of their hair or what they were wearing. And no one's going to call her Lightning. I'm going to use Claire the entire time.

October 17th

Claire walked down the boulevard. The sun was setting, casting beautifully ominous shadows across the leaf-spattered boardwalk. There were few people left on the street, as stores were closing and people coming home from work, from going on errands, from whatever their lives were taking them. She thought, how many destinies were intertwined with her life? How many lives could possibly get tangled in this mess? But before she could answer herself, the soft crunch of a golden leaf underfoot brought her back to reality. She walked far enough out of the downtown area to find herself lost at the abandoned pier. Perhaps, lost was not the best word to describe where she was. She was exactly where she wanted to be, at this moment, where everything seemed perfect. This is where it all began, and it would be fitting for it to end right here.

Claire stepped onto the first plank. She pulled off her hood, as her hair was tugged by the wind. Every step Claire took made the old pier creak and groan quietly. Step by step, the steps took her even closer to where her life changed. Her steely composure cracked for a split second. She had met someone here who had shown her the way through life, someone who had stayed by her side for her sake, someone who swore never to hurt her. Claire sat down on the edge of the pier, patted down her faded jeans, tied her scarf a little tighter, slid her hands in the pockets of her jacket and reminisced.

There he was, standing in the pier. It was just 4 years ago, and Claire remembered she stormed out after a feud with her sister, Serah. Serah wasn't the problem; it was her idiot of a fiancé. Claire knew fully well that Serah was almost 21, and she could do what she wanted. She was just a little protective of her only family left.

But before that day, she never knew about the pier behind the woods. Luckily, as if drawn by fate, someone decided to visit the pier that day. Naturally, neither of them could have thought that they would meet like this. But eventually, this man became the best of friends with her. That man that was-

He was standing right behind her.

"Hey, why are you all the way out here? It's getting dark out, we should get going."

Claire gave a little cracked smile.

"Hey, Cloud. Have a seat; I just want to talk for a bit."

Cloud looked at her oddly, even though he knew fully well she couldn't see him. He sat down next to Claire. She didn't say word to him. Although they were the best of friends, he felt awkward, and fiddled with his tie and straightened his vest as she stared out into the horizon.

"The sunset sure looks beautiful."

"You've never been one to appreciate the little things in life, Claire. What's changed?"

"Interesting, that's quite the complex question. I've been…thinking."

"Really? What about?"

"I guess, a lot of things."

"Claire… You can tell me anything, you know that."

Cloud ran his hand through his hair, concernedly. Claire had a slight hitch in her voice and it scared him. Something was seriously wrong. It wasn't that she couldn't show any emotion, it was the weakness in her voice. She sounded the part of a woman who lived well past a thousand years in solitude, in pain.

"Claire, can you please tell me the truth?" he pleaded, trying desperately to get to her before it was too late.

"I think my time is done, Cloud," she choked.

His fears were confirmed.

"I know what I need to do now."

"Claire, let's go."

He stood up and took a few steps. He already knew there was no changing her mind. He knew it was too late.

"Cloud…tell Serah that I'm sorry."

Claire got up and turned her back on the water.

"Claire, you don't need to go. Please, come home. Please. Don't do this. Please. Please, do it for me, do it for everyone,"

That was all he could say, all he could try to do.

It was already too late.

She pulled him into a final kiss. He held her tight, because he knew the moment he let go, she would be gone from the world. He held her, in hopes that she might not go tonight, that their love could pull her back through the ice. Cloud thought, if just maybe, if he held her for a few more moments, she could be saved. The kiss was gentle and played on their lips, as if naïve to the horror about to unfold. Claire pulled away. She looked at Cloud with a tear-stained smile. He gripped onto her hand, but she shook her head and drew away.

He knew it was too late.

"Goodbye, Cloud. I hope I can meet you again, in a different life, where we could fall in love all over again. I wish I could meet you in a whole different circumstance, where we didn't have to end this way. I'm finally at peace, Cloud. Thank you for everything."

All the memories that Cloud cherished of her flashed before his eyes. Everything they had every done, all the laughter, tears, arguments, all of it came coming back. Everyday they spent together came coming back. He couldn't let her go, he couldn't.

It's too late.

Claire smiled. She fell back onto the water, and away from all she ever knew. The soft, omnipresent wind enveloped her entire body. It glided across her skin, beneath her clothes and through her hair. It caressed her as she fell, her restless spirit being finally soothed. A tiny teardrop fell from her eye as she fell and fell and fell. She just slipped through his fingertips. And finally, the thin thread of a life was cut.

Cloud screamed at the water, but knew no one was there to answer him.

She's gone.

Sorry that that was a total crap-fest, ugh. This is my first thing I've posted to FF, so hang in there. I promise the next chapter will be less terrible. So in the meanwhile review and favorite, maybe.