FLOWER GIRL'S DIARY
Cloud picked up his cell phone, reluctantly. What time was it? He took a quick glace at the time on the phone before answering it. It read 8:39 a.m. Cloud let out a sigh before returning to answering the call.
"Hello..." he said in a slightly annoyed tone.
"Cloud? Hey, it's me Tifa." the voice answered.
"Oh hey– " was his short response before she cut him off.
"Cloud, um, I've been worrying about you. Is there something bothering you lately?" Tifa asked in a concerned voice. Cloud didn't want Tifa to know about the about the outlandish dreams he had been having. It would seem simply bizarre to her. He remained silent until he could think of something to say in place of the actual comment.
"Is that why you called?" he finally retorted.
Tifa just made a small sigh. "Actually no." She confessed, " I got a call from Elmyra. She wants you to come to her house and help out with something. Not everyday she calls, huh?"
Cloud was partially taken back by her statement. He hadn't spoken to her in such a long time. He never called or visited her, but then again how could he? Ever since the day he lost Aerith he never felt the same around Elmyra.
Cloud hesitated and didn't know what to say, yet what else could he say? He answered with an emotionless "OK", but inside, his emotions and thoughts were whirring.
Without another word Cloud abruptly hung up on Tifa. On the other end Tifa looked at her phone. She breathed another troubled sigh. "That man is so moody..." she muttered as she hung up the phone. 'I can't really blame him, though.' she thought, complying with his rude actions before heading up the stairs to check on Marlene and Denzel.
Cloud slowly got up from his peaceful spot. A small breeze blew into the church from a wide gash in the frail roofing. It was right above the bed of brilliantly colored flowers Aerith used to grow. That was the same place where he promised to be her bodyguard. Cloud shook his head, trying to chase the images that were flashing through his head away. Those terrible images of her at the alter. When she...
Cloud ceased all thoughts of that fateful day. He couldn't bring himself to think about it again. The way that she was slain, the way she had perished in his arms – all of that was too much. Cloud shuddered at the memory. Yet, no matter how many times he tried to shake it off it was of no avail. He turned to the exit of the church. He couldn't believe he still stayed here even after all the wreckage it had been through. He couldn't believe the flowers still blossomed here even after all the mayhem. Even so, through all of the peril, he found this place to be unusually comforting. Maybe it was because of Aerith? That was probably it. He had always felt her presence here, and where she was he wanted to be.
Cloud exited the church, his eyes looking upon a very dispiriting scene. The streets of Midgar always had a sense of trouble to them. The outside just didn't have the same atmosphere as the church. Midgar felt rundown, diseased, and tired. After the catastrophic events that followed the Meteor incident, you would believe it would be. Cloud climbed onto his motorcycle, Fenrir. What could she have to say to him? He revved his bike up and sped in the direction of the house Aerith once stayed in.
As soon as he got there Cloud saw Elmyra standing in front of the house. She was a short, old aged lady. Her graying hair was tied into a taut bun and she donned a classical housemaid's dress. She bore an uncanny, welcoming aura - which Cloud sensed as he leaped off Fenrir and walked toward her. She had a faint smile as if she was glad to see him. He didn't exactly know what to say to her, but knowing it was Aerith's mother he was talking to he wanted to show all the respect he could. Cloud bowed to his elder, unable to look her in the eye. He felt the guilt rise up inside him as she showed the same smile Aerith had shown many times before.
"Such a polite young man." she said happily as she walked toward him. Cloud just gave a small smile as the old lady came closer.
"May I ask you a favor, Cloud?" Elmyra asked.
Cloud nodded as he listened to what she had to say.
"You see Cloud," she went on to explain, "I am getting to be an old lady now and I need help around the house. I was wondering, if you don't mind, if you would help me a bit? There are very heavy things to be moved and I don't think my old bones can take such a feat!" she said with a genuine laugh.
Cloud couldn't help but feel ashamed for all the trouble he felt he caused. If only he had saved Aerith in the first place, maybe Elmyra would not be so helpless and lonely. Whatever he had to do, he was going to do it. It was least he could do, after all she had been through.
Elmyra directed Cloud into the small house. Despite the house's small size, it stood out greatly in the slums. It had grass and patches of flowers surrounding the area, which was very strange in Midgar. He recalled when he came there before. Aerith had asked him to take a rest there. He wanted so much to get out of her house that first time. Now he wanted to stay. The church was the second closest thing to Aerith's spirit. In her house he was surrounded by even more of her. Elmyra motioned him upstairs to proceed to the very room Aerith had stayed in. She opened the door and the bright light that the room emitted seemed to bury any uneasy feeling Cloud had. He just stood there in a sort of...awe. The room had a sense of tranquility to it – not to mention the fragrance of aromatic flowers. The light that shone through the unveiled windows danced across the pale furniture and walls – issuing life into them. It was like Aerith never really left the room in those desolate two years. Elmyra smiled and breathed in joyfully, "Ahh, I adore the scent of her room. I did the best I could to keep it tidy in here." There was a slight pause before she went on again. "Even if she isn't here anymore." she said in a low, slow voice.
Hearing those words broke Cloud's heart. He knew she was just as sad as he was, yet she didn't mope like he did. Cloud saw strength in the old lady's spirit, but that was something he just couldn't seem to muster. The intense moment was interrupted when Elmyra broke the silence.
"Well Cloud, no matter how hard I try to keep this place neat and clean, I could never in my life move these heavy furnishings." she said with chuckle. "That's why I need you." Cloud nodded in affirmation. Elmyra grinned in success and approval.
"I'll be downstairs in the kitchen if you need me Cloud." Elmyra informed him. "Just move the bed and the dresser for me so I can clean under there. I'm sure it's pretty grimy under there." She turned for the door just before stopping again. "Cloud, I almost forgot. How much would you like me to pay you?"
Those words struck Cloud like a hand gripping at his heart. How in the world could he ask for payment? Cloud shook his head and replied, "Miss Gainsborough, I couldn't ask for any payment. It's...the least I can do."
Elmyra made a pleasured smile and exited the room. Now Cloud was alone there, in Aerith's room. He walked over to the bed where the flower girl once slept. He stared at it, imagining her sleeping form on the soft, plush sheets that covered the undisturbed pillows and mattress. He couldn't help but let his mind wonder about how innocent she would look – and how he wished to be right beside her.
Cloud snapped out of his daydreaming when he remembered why he was there in the first place. He placed his hands on the end of the exquisitely decorated headboard and pushed so the bed would move somewhat to the side, exposing the dusty wooden floor that hid underneath it. He pushed harder to make even more of the dirty floor accessible. Then something caught his eye. He knelt down to the floor, careful not to step in the dusty mess. Cautiously, he reached out his hand and picked up what seemed to be a book. Cloud avidly shook the dust that had collected on the cover over the years. His eyes widened in disbelief when he soon realized what it was.
"This is..." he murmured shakily, "This is Aerith's diary!"
-Cloud has seemed to have stumbled upon Aerith's diary...hmmm.
Next chapter will be up soon - Please review!
