Disclaimer: I do NOT own characters other than my beloved OC
Cloud had woken up in the middle of the night. Slowly, he reached for the small bundle of clothes which he had put under his pillow the night before. He carefully got up from the bed, trying not to make to much noise or movement so as not to wake up Tifa.
As he set his foot onto the ground, the wooden floorboards creaked and he was momentarily frozen. He searched Tifa's face for any indication of having been disturbed, but she slept on soundly. Cloud watched her beautiful body, which lay still, on the mattress. She finally slept soundly, the first night she did since the nightmares began.
He tore his eyes away from the sleeping body. He was afraid of not being able to let go again. He turned to his daughter, sleeping in the cot. He stroked her hair softly. He didn't want to leave her ever. It was like leaving behind a piece of him, and it hurt like someone had used a knife and stabbed him. No, it hurt even more. But goodbyes had to be said somehow. He picked up his daughter and kissed her ever so gently on the cheek.
He stuck a note onto the refrigerator, one that he had already written weeks ago. It hurt him to write it, and it hurt him more to stick it on the fridge, knowing that it would cause his lover heartbreak as she read it.
"I'm sorry that I couldn't take care of you"
"I'm sorry that couldn't take responsibility for you and our daughter"
"I'm sorry that I won't be there to watch Fait grow up"
"I'm sorry that I won't be there with you to go through hard times"
"I'm sorry that I'm leaving you"
"I'm sorry, Tifa"
"I'm sorry'
Cloud
Then, he left
As Tifa woke up from a good night's sleep. She just had a pleasant dream that night, a respite from the many nightmares that she had gone through the last few days. She was surprised to feel an unexplained absence at where Cloud usually slept on their bed. Yet, she was not really worried. "He may have just gone on a delivery and forgot to tell me…"
As she lumbered off the bed, she walked sleepily towards the cot, where her baby, Fait, was sleeping. Her little buttoned eyes never opened, she did not awake from her sweet slumber, even as Tifa picked her up and cradled her lovingly. Tifa was instantly reminded of Cloud every time she looked at her. Fait was growing to become more and more like her father with every waking moment.
Tifa placed her baby back into the cot again, as she went into the kitchen for a glass of water. As she drank, she read the note which Cloud had left on the refrigerator
Tears formed in her eyes as the glass of water fell onto the floor. Then, she crumpled into a heap on the linoleum flooring as she let the tears fall.
She couldn't believe Cloud was gone.
A/N: So how did you like this? Please review!
