Chapter 7

"But what about Snow?" Lighting finally asked out loud.

Serah's smile immediately vanished and was replaced with a frown once Lightning said Snow's name. "What about him?" she said somewhat dangerously.

Lightning gulped in fear at Serah's icy tone of voice. "Well, are you two still together?" Lightning meekly asked.

Serah didn't say anything, she only nodded no.

Lightning was surprised at how calm and vague Serah was being. On one side she was extremely happy that Serah now solely belonged to her: But at what price? Her conscience once again nagged her. Lightning's happiness instantly became burdened with a heavy guilt; she knew it was all her fault that Serah and Snow are no longer together. Is she even happy being with her instead of Snow? Lightning's gut doubted. The look on her face doesn't look so happy in my opinion, her conscience condescended. "Serah," Lightning whispered, trembling slightly from the threat of oncoming tears. "I'm so sorry. It's all my fault," Lightning sobbed, no longer able to hold back the tears of guilt.

Serah stared at Lightning with a look of sympathy in her eyes, but Lightning thought she saw a faint snarky smile donned on Serah's lips, but dismissed it as her imagination. "It's not your fault, Claire," Serah soothed her as she cradled Lightning in her arms. Lightning felt so safe and secure in her sister's arms. She felt her heart well up with such love for Serah as she relished the warmth of her sister's body. All she needed in this life was Serah, and she'd live and die happy.

As Lightning continued to be rocked comfortingly by Serah, she never realized that deep down inside her sister's heart, Serah abhorred Lightning for what she had done. The truth was, Serah thought her sister was selfish for what she had done. It was Lightning's fault that she's no longer with Snow. She does blame her for all her unhappiness at the moment, but she'd never show it or say it to Lightning. Not yet, at least. What really happened that night when Lightning came barging in their room hurt Serah deeply whenever she thought about it - she had been trying her hardest to forget it.

**Flashback**

After Lightning left Serah's room after her manic episode, Serah and Snow were left alone in bewilderment and fear. Serah could feel Snow shaking violently from the terror Lightning had stricken in him. She nearly killed him! Serah thought. And it was the truth. If Serah wasn't in the way to stop her, Lightning would have not hesitated to murder the love of her life. When Serah thought about this, she felt her body become wracked with anger towards her sister. "Snow," Serah said, grasping at Snow's biceps. "Snow, are you okay?" Snow was still shaking uncontrollably as Serah grabbed for his arm. Serah could see a look of complete trauma on Snow's face. "Snow?" she nudged him, now really worried about him.

Snow finally looked down at Serah, still trembling from his near-death experience. Serah felt her heart break for her fiance as she hugged him tightly, trying her best to calm his body down.

Snow placed a hand on Serah's head as he muttered, "Serah, I think we should cancel our wedding."

Serah felt her heart drop at Snow's statement. "What?" Serah exclaimed "You mean, you want to postpone the wedding?" Serah hopefully asked.

Snow's voice was still quaking, "No, Serah," he said as he swept his hand through Serah's hair. "I mean, we should break up."

Serah felt tears sting her eyes. "No!" she yelled. "No, Snow! Please, I love you!" Serah poured her heart out. She was now clinging on to him like a lifeline.

Snow easily detached her arms off of his torso. "It's for the best," he whispered as he made his way to the door.

Serah wasn't going to let the love of her life leave her this way. "SNOW!" she screamed at the top of her lungs, but Snow refused to look back and continued to walk away. Serah felt her body become paralyzed from despair. She couldn't get her legs to budge from the spot. Instead she collapsed into a heap on the floor as she watched Snow vacate her room and her life. "Snow," Serah whispered and sobbed.