White snow covered the leaves of the rose
White snow covered the leaves of the rose. Her eyes could not turn away from the sight. So she watched, waited until the flower had vanished under a blanket of snow. Along with the name on the stone and the rest of the graveyard. She wished she could burry her grieve underneath it as well. Hidden under the soft, but cold snow it would freeze and the pain would fade. Along with the unwanted memories that had destroyed her hopes.
"I am at your side."
As she whispers the affectionate words, her warm breath turns into damp. She was at his side, but he no longer on hers. He had vanished.
At first Catherina had received some letters of his hand. Then only the reports of people seeing him came in. As even those grew scarce, AX-members had tried to locate him. Or Ion, as the Methuselah was supposed to be with him. By the time they gave up, no living soul had seen either of them for six years. Catherina had desperately ordered one last search. Again they returned with no information whatsoever. Esther closed her eyes, only to see once more the look on the faces of her friends when they had decided. That day, they had decided Abel Nightroad and Ion Fortuna were dead. Either fallen in battle or soon after one. They held a simple ceremony to honor their friends and on Catherina's order a memorial was erected in one of the Vatican gardens. Two empty graves were dug, as a symbol of their last resting place.
His grave was simple and sober. He probably would have liked it. She opened her eyes again, still finding it very hard to divert her eyes from the gravestone.
"Esther-san."
Startled she looked up. At first only able to see flocks of pure white snow. Then her gaze sharpened. It looked like him. His hair, his clothes, the way he turned. His light blue, almost grey eyes. The manner he spread his arms, his hands gloved and silver hair dancing on the wind. Silent tears ran past her cheeks as she heared his unspoken words.
"I am still at your side, I will always be at your side."