Drabble #66: Spring
Summary: New beginnings happen now, but love never dies.
Disclaimer: I do not own anything. Characters and places belong to SquareEnix
The flowers were growing beautifully, their colorful petals outstretched to the sunlight that streamed through the large hole in the roof of the Church.
Sometimes, an odd butterfly or ladybird could be seen investigating the stems as they looked for their meal. But other than that, the only other living thing there was a tall, blonde man, who was sitting by the flowerbed and pulling out the weeds from the soil.
Occasionally, his bright blue eyes would glance around him, as if expecting someone to appear suddenly. Then, once satisfied, he would return to the job in hand, his blonde brows furrowing in concentration as he worked around the flowers.
"Tifa and Rufus have made a happy couple," he said suddenly even though nobody else was in the Church. "The big day is in a few days," he continued and a sudden look of sadness crossed his face. He put the trowel down and sighed as he wiped his brow. Tifa and Rufus' wedding day was the twenty-first of March, the first day of Spring.
Normally, trivial things like dates meant nothing to the man but this one meant a lot. The first day of spring was the day he fell through the roof of this Church and opened his eyes to stare into the deepest pools of emerald green he had ever seen. Spring was a season for new beginnings and for the start of new life. A symbol of the changes life brings.
"Aerith, can you hear me?" he asked softly.
After a moment, the water in the holder glimmered. "Yes," said a small feminine voice. A moment later, a spirit of a pink clad girl appeared in front of him. "What's wrong Cloud?"
For most people, seeing a ghost appear in front of them would terrify them beyond belief. Cloud however, was used to the woman accompanying him.
"I don't want to go to the wedding," he sighed. She tilted her head to the side.
"Why?" she asked gently.
He looked up into her eyes. "Because I'll think of how it could have been us?"
Her eyes softened as she kneeled in front of him and gently cupped his cheeks in her hands, forcing him to keep looking at her. He gasped as he felt her hands on his skin. They felt so real.
"Cloud, I know spring is the time for moving on, making new beginnings," she whispered. "But I'll always be with you." She laid her hand on his chest, feeling his heart pounding against her palm. She locked eyes with him and gave a small smile, leaning forward to bring their lips closer.
"Love never dies," she added softly before pressing her lips to his gently. He responded instantly but all too soon, she broke away. Cloud reached out his arms for her but she was fading before his eyes. She looked at him one last time, smiling radiantly.
"I'm with you, remember," she said as she disappeared. Cloud sat in silence for a moment, his fingers playing with the flowers underneath him before an unusual sight of a smile graced his lips.
"Always," he replied.