[6/50 of the 50Shuffle Challenge! Sequel to 'Alias' [originally part of the same piece, but I split them mwaha~ Title from 'All My Friends' by My American Heart :3 Short as well, but enjoy! :D]

"I said I'd live our lives for the both of us."

I'm your living legacy, you told me; but oh, how I abused that honour. Now, as I stand here on this cursed hill overlooking the city you struggled so damn hard to reach, the words I speak sound so empty. Are you really there to hear anyway? Can I really believe that no matter how alone I feel, how torn and discarded I am, you will be close by?

Do I want that at all?

Can I think of you standing by helplessly, shining eyes dulled by undue anxiety for me, unable to do anything to help? The idea breaks me; the thought of you tethered to this hideous world by the shackles of my pathetic dependence on you, even now when you should be free to soar with angels, free to leave behind the existence that never deserved you anyway.

"Easy to make that promise."

Words again, ridiculous, lying words, designed to alleviate my devastating sorrow. Words, like 'I'm fine', 'I'll be okay', 'It's all right'; all lies, deceits, selfish misleadings to try to put them off the scent.

Them. My friends.

Yes, Zack, I have friends now – people who would lay down their lives for me because they believe in me, something I'm never able to do. They've followed me to the ends of the earth, battled unnatural beings from beyond the grave – what a change from the timid little cadet you knew, it would seem.

But though they've done all this, they still don't understand. They can't see how I depended on you; all they see is the meaningless platitudes I feed them to give them the illusion I can move on.

But I can't move on from you, Zack. You're my one and only, dearly departed soul, flying away into the dawn.

You always said you wanted wings.