It all began one afternoon.
I was thinking about the events that led up to the present state of the planet. About Sephiroth, Jenova, Shinra, the countless lives that were lost in the battles, and Geostigma…
I was brought back to the world when Denzel asked "Well, Marlene, how does it look?" I looked towards him and saw that the bandage covering Geostigma had fallen off Denzel's head, revealing it. Denzel's Geostigma was a huge black patch on his forehead. The Geostigma was spreading rapidly in Denzel's body. I was so afraid that Denzel would go back to the Lifestream soon. I silently prayed that the Lifestream would not take Denzel away, at least not so soon.
Tifa, Denzel and I were alone in the house. A few days ago, Cloud left us so that he could live alone for no apparent reason. Tifa was washing the dishes in the bar, Seventh Heaven. Suddenly, the phone rang. We, the kids, were not allowed to answer the phone because the adults were afraid that the person on the phone might be a baddie. Denzel and I heard Tifa say something, but we could not hear it clearly. Denzel said "Cloud, where are you?" I think that would be what he wanted to say to Cloud if he was the one who called. Tifa walked slowly up the stairs.
"Hello, Strife delivery service…" Tifa went
"May I ask who is calling?'
"Yep, I remember you."
Tifa talked for another few more minutes.
"Do you want to leave a message for Cloud?"
"Ok, I'll call him"
I heard Tifa put down the phone and calling another person. She was probably calling Cloud.
"Git…" I heard her mutter. Cloud probably turned off his phone again.
She said to the messaging service "You got a call from Reno. He's in Healin. Says he's got work for you…" She paused "Cloud, how have you been?"
Then I heard her slam the phone down angrily and curse, "Son of a Bitch!" In a moment, she was in Denzel's room. She looked kinda guilty. She probably was hoping that we didn't hear her curse, but she yelled it out so loudly that probably the neighbours could hear it too.
"Cloud, didn't pick up his phone?"
Tifa shook her head, answering my question.
She went back downstairs to the bar. This time, I followed her. She sat down, on a chair nearing the table and starting tearing. I didn't know if they were tears of anger or sorrow. I wrapped my arms around her.
"Tifa, Don't cry…"
Tifa held me tight and cried into my shoulder. I have never seen Tifa cry before, and definitely not into somebody's shoulder.
The phone rang again. This time, Tifa ran up the stairs and picked it up.
"Hello, you're Reno right?"
"Ok Ok, I'll pass the message."
She hung up the phone on Reno. Then, she called Cloud again.
"Again?" (Cloud's phone was still turned off)
"Reno called again. He says to hurry, but he sounded kind of strange…Be careful, ok?"
She put down the phone and came downstairs again. Out of curiosity, I asked "Do you know where Cloud is?"
"Maybe I do…"
Then she asked me if I wanted to go to the church in the slums. I
nodded in earnest. I haven't been to the church since the time Papa
Brought me there when I was three.
"Ok." Tifa said. Then she yelled.
"Denzel, I'm bringing Marlene out. Take care of yourself, ok?"