"I thought that the Lifestream brings peace to those who enter it... but... I don't feel it... why not...?"
An endless void of black, with only green waves guiding him... where was he going? He held up a hand to shield his eyes from the blinding light. He knew this was the Lifestream, but why was he here? He couldn't remember...
...and he thought he saw the Goddess Minerva up ahead. Was this all a dream? Was it actually happening? Reality and illusion were blurred.
"So... you brought yourself here? You sound like you have regrets..." The voice was female, one he didn't recognise. He slowly turned to face the speaker, blue eyes focusing on a woman wearing a long light pink dress with a hot pink denim jacket.
"I was so depressed... but now... being here depresses me..." He hadn't even been there long. The woman before him frowned in thought.
"Would you make amends? If you were given a second chance?" She took a step closer to him.
He nodded enthusiastically. "I would."
"Then... maybe the Goddess might give you another chance. But... will you promise me something?"
"What...?"
"Promise me... that if you do get given a second chance... that you'll visit my Church in the Sector 5 Slums?"
"Of course... but... I didn't catch your name."
The woman clasped her hands behind her back and leaned forward with a smile. "Aerith. Aerith Gainsborough. And you are...?"
His lips curved into a soft smirk. "Genesis Rhapsodos. It's a pleasure, Aerith."
"A short pleasure. Well, Genesis... I have to go now." Aerith waved to him. "I'll see you again... hopefully in the Church." She vanished in a ball of pure white light. He blinked and shook his head. It all came back to him. In his depressed state he'd taken his own life, then when he'd arrived at the Lifestream, he had his regrets.
Then he heard his name being called. He turned around and blinked again. It looked like the Goddess...
He took a few hesitant steps forward and stretched out his hand. "Goddess...? Is that...?" He saw a hand reach out to him, beckoning him ever closer. Slowly he reached towards that hand, taking it, his world dissolving into bright white light before he felt himself falling... falling into blackness...
