"Cloud? Cloud!"
Cloud was in his room when he heard his mom calling for him from downstairs. He wanted to be left alone, and hearing her shout made him roll his eyes.
"What?" he called.
"Cloud, get down here right now!" she demanded.
Her tone agitated Cloud. "Why?"
"I said now!"
Cloud groaned heavily as he slugged his way downstairs into the kitchen.
"What?" he asked as he approached her, glaring at her with a disapproving look.
"Cloud, look what you did there!" she pointed.
Cloud looked and saw dirty shoe prints that came from outside, shoe prints that were his.
"You need to clean up after yourself after you come from outside, young man," she scolded.
"Hey, I didn't know I did that," Cloud tried to explain. "Besides, I'll clean it later."
"Cloud, you need to be more responsible," she stated. "You're not just putting up a bad attitude, but you're being lazy, too."
Cloud finally lost his temper. "I'm not lazy! Quit yelling at me!"
She crossed her arms, glaring at the young blonde. "I'm not yelling at you. I wouldn't even have to tell you this if you took more responsibility, young man."
"Mom, why are you making such a big deal out of it?!" Cloud yelled.
"It wouldn't be such a big deal if you would just do what you're supposed to do. You can't expect me to do everything for you."
"Just shut up!" Cloud yelled as he stormed away from the kitchen. However, she refused to let him go.
"Cloud!" she called for him. "Get back here right now, young man!"
"No! Why should I?!" he yelled, running upstairs back into his room. But she wasn't going to give up easily and followed him.
"Because if you don't come back here and clean up your mess, you're going to be in big trouble."
"Leave me alone!"
Before Cloud could enter his room, she grabbed a hold on his hand, forcefully pulling him back.
"Let me go!" he yelled, but she was determined.
"Not until you listen to me! You go back downstairs and clean up your mess!"
Cloud refused as he tried to free himself from her grip but he felt himself being overpowered. The rage inside of him began to build up. Instinct kicked in, like it always had, like how the other kids would fight with him. Without hesitation, he lifted his right leg and kicked her with such force that she released him and fell.
"Don't touch me!" Cloud shouted as he ran past her. "I'm not coming back again! Ever!"
With that, he ran downstairs and out the door, fighting back the tears that swelled in his eyes. He continued to run until he reached the edge of Nibelheim, right outside the old Shinra Mansion, its majestic architecture still standing after so long. Out of breath, Cloud leaned against the rusty gates, reflecting on all that had happened moments ago. It was then he realized what he had just done and cursed himself. He was always upset at someone, always angry about something, but he had never meant to hurt his own mother. There was no way he could face her now.
"I'm so stupid," Cloud sobbed as he fell to his knees.
Unbeknownst to him, someone had followed him, hiding near the end of the gate. It took him a while to notice a young girl with long brown hair and deep brown eyes staring at him, who he recognized instantly.
"Tifa!" a voice distracted Cloud as he turned to see two boys rushing to her.
"What are you doing? We're supposed to go play tag today," said the boys.
"He looked upset," Tifa pointed to Cloud. "Who is that kid?"
"Our parents said not to go near him," one of the boys said. "C'mon, let's go before we get in trouble."
"O-okay," Tifa sadly agreed and walked away, not looking back to the young blonde boy.
Cloud was relieved to see Tifa had fully recovered from her accident. Yet, his anger was still there. He was shocked that she still didn't know who he was, even after everything that had happened. He was angry at himself for not being able to help Tifa at that time, wishing that he could be stronger. He could only sit against the gates of the old mansion, watching the town from atop the hill, pondering on what he could do to make himself known, to make himself stronger. His thoughts then came on his mom's words, how she explained 'love'.
Would that make me stronger, he thought to himself.
He pondered on it for a long time until the sun finally set and it was dark. As Cloud headed home, he wondered what his mom would do to punish him. He couldn't face her, but he knew he couldn't ignore her forever. After much hesitation, he entered the front door of his house and into the living and he saw her on the couch, sound asleep. He noticed that she had an ice packet on her leg where he had kicked her, the area around it swelled and purple. Though she was asleep, Cloud could see the pain on her face. He felt even more guilty for what he had done.
She then stirred, slowing opening her eyes to see Cloud standing in the door way.
"Cloud?" she called to him, standing up instantly. He could see her face wince with pain as she wobbled to him.
"Mom," he mumbled, looking at the floor. "I…"
Before he could say a word, she embraced him in a tight hug. He felt her teardrops on his head.
"Don't run off like that again, Cloud," she cried.
He was expecting to be punished, but was shocked to see her relieved instead of angry. He didn't know what to think or how to react. To see her overcome with such emotion made his eyes swell.
"I'm sorry, mom," Cloud cried as he hugged her back. "I'm sorry for kicking you."
"Shh, don't worry about that," she whispered gently. Neither of them spoke for a long time as mother and son stood in the doorway and embraced each other.