The clock struck eight and a mysterious melody sounded from the bar down the hall. Tifa sat at the edge of her bed swinging her feet in thought. She held a small star-shaped pendant attached to a tattered flowing ribbon. She gingerly fingered it as her mind raced to a distant memory; a memory of her childhood…

Tifa sat at the edge of the well, one leg crossed over the other. She slightly motioned her foot in harmony with the passing seconds. She glanced up at the twinkling patterns of stars that seemed to stretch on for eternity. A gust of autumn winds blew and the girl shuddered and clutched her shoulders. A voice whispered softly from behind her.

"Sorry I'm late." Cloud walked around the well and sat next to Tifa.

"Cloud! I was starting to wonder whether you would show up or not."

"Well, I'm here. What did you want to tell me?"

"You're…going to join SOLDIER…right?"

Cloud nodded. "Yeah, I'm probably going to be gone for a long time."

"…I see…" Tifa took a long pause before continuing. "Then…make a promise with me."

"What?" Cloud asked, questioningly. He turned to face Tifa.

"If you become rich and famous and I'm ever in trouble…promise to come rescue me. I want to know what it feels like. To be saved by my hero."

Cloud looked down at his feet. "I…can't. I can't keep that promise. I'm not even sure I'll be able to make it into SOLDIER."

"Just promise me."

"…Okay, I promise…"

The stars above began to lose their glow, but one star still shone brightly as hit shot across the sky.

Tifa stood up and walked over to her dresser. She set her pendant down in front of an old black-and-white picture of her and Cloud in their hometown, which she miraculously saved from the Sector 7 ruins. She picked up the frame and stared deeply into it.

All these years, Cloud was the one whom she had the strongest feelings for, but she could not let him know, in fear of him breaking her heart. Her feelings for him welled up over the years and now, she felt that she was ready to burst. She sat back down on her bed and pulled her knee up closely to her head. Water droplets glistened in her eyes. She could not cry, she mustn't. She would have to deal with these feelings, at least for a few more years.

She rocked back and forth, still clutching her leg to her lips. Footsteps echoed down the hall. She could hear them growing louder. Please don't be Cloud, please don't be Cloud. The footsteps finally stopped. She looked over at the doorway. Cloud stood there staring into her eyes, trying to read her mind. She looked away and, instead, focused on the window.

"Tifa…" Cloud spoke so suddenly that it startled her. He walked over to her and rested his hand on her shoulder. "What's wrong, Tifa."

Tifa couldn't hold her feelings back. Her emotions burst, tears pouring down her face.

"…Cloud."