* The Following Story Contains: Trigger Warnings (Death / Trauma Suicidal Thoughts - Actions)
* Final Fantasy Characters (c) SquareENIX
* Any OC's Within '"Don't Leave Me' (c) AngelicSenpai
* NOTE: Zack Fair is 17 years old *
Enjoy!
Prologue
That fateful day I will never forget.
I remember signing up for the Shinra Military Army and getting it with ease. I was so happy that I got in but my fiance at the time was very upset with me because we would have to spend some time apart. We talked all night about what we needed to do to keep our relationship going. I promised Aerith Gainsborough, his childhood sweetheart that no matter what he would come back to her and marry her. Aerith only smiled through her tears. Nothing hurt more than seeing her cry and knowing it was because of his decision it hurt more. We spent the rest of the time I had left together and I cherished those pure memories.
Forever.
Aerith cried when I told her when I had to leave. We drove to the airport along with my mother. I never forgot the face she had given me when I had to walk into the airport. Her eyes were red with tears but she gave me a smile with a weary wave. No matter how beautiful she was, that face will haunt me forever.
I was ready to hear her beautiful soothing voice. They voice that I desperately wanted to hear for months. The only person that I wanted to hear from. My beautiful fiancée.
I was out with a group of people training in the military yard when I was approached by a higher up that I had a phone call waiting for me. The look on the Sergeant Major of the Army's face told me that something was wrong. I remember rushing over to my commanders as they issued that I had a phone call. I remember my heart fluttering like a teenager, knowing I'd finally get to hear Aerith's voice after months of silence because of the Army training. I remember the very feeling I had when I had the phone in my palm. My fingers sweat against my wool gloves as I took a deep breath before placing the phone near my ear.
"Hello this is Zack speaking."
"Hey Zack..." the voice was his mother. She sounded distracted and like she had been crying a lot.
"Mom? Are you alright?"
"Baby, I am so sorry." She sobbed on the other side of the phone.
I remember the sinking feeling in my gut.
"What's the matter?" I asked.
My mom took a moment to breathe before answering, "It's Aerith. She was hit by a drunk driver last night. It was a hit and run."
I remember my entire body freezing when the words came out my mother's lips.
"W-what?"
"She's gone sweetie. The doctors did as much as they could but she lost too much blood." My mother sobbed uncontrollably. "I am so sorry. I'm sorry…"
I felt my entire body about to give out. My breathing stopped for a moment as I fell to my knees, phone still against my face. My mother's crying continued to echo through my ear but I could not breathe. The woman I fell in love with since we were children was gone. I could never see her beautiful smile or hear her soothing voice. I remember seeing a glimpse of Arieth's face in my grief.
My body trembled in a panic as the Officers around me tried to help me. I felt my vision going in and out. It felt as if my soul escaped my body and I was watching myself keeled over while the higher ups were trying to compose me. All I could remember was the phone being ripped from my hand as I screamed. The Sergeants and Lieutenants had to pull me away from my melt down.
I was having a panic attack and felt like my lungs were going to give out.
Was I breathing?
After I was able to compose myself the Army gave me a brief leave to go back to my home for the funeral. I was ordered to pack before I was whisked away in a military van toward the airport. The Army took care of my expansiveness while I was to attend the funeral and what time I used as leave. I honestly can't even remember the plane ride or the plan even landing. Everything was a blur as I stepped into the airport after hours of a ride. I was ordered back to my hometown of Gongaga. Once I had gotten there my mother was there to console me but I did not feel an ounce of emotion. I felt like I was in some twisted nightmare. The numbness I felt as the days grew closer to the funeral I felt like nothing.
All Zack wanted to do was talk to Aerith and to see her but he knew she was gone. The days seemed to mess together and before I knew it I was tying my tie for the funeral. The pit in the stomach would not cease as I watched people under the church as my mother stepped out of the car. It takes everything for me to even step out of the car. With a weary head I stepped out of the car and I wish I had not. I stood there as people came up to me with their condolences. I was too numb to give a response to anyone, only a nod. No words could change how I felt.
My body began to tremble as the tears began to overflow. My emotions just began to barel out as the casket sat in the front of the room. The flowers she grew in the church were placed on top of it and that cut me to the core. Those flowers were her everything. She protested against me leaving to the army and all I could tell her was that it was only for a few years. I was such a fucking fool. I never thought of her feelings and now this is how I'm being punished. I should have been there to protect her.
I fell to my knees in front of her casket and slammed my fists against the hard floor. I was such a pathetic excuse of a man. No, I was still a fucking child.
How could I have left her all alone?
I always dreamed of Aerith walking down the aisle of that abandoned church we used to hangout in. She would have looked so stunning in a wedding dress and with her beautiful smile. I will never get to see her again. Her gentle touch I will never have the pleasure to feel again. Her beautiful eyes and soft smile is gone.
How could I have been so selfish?
From that moment on I felt nothing in my heart but pain. I quickly pulled myself up from the ground and booked it out of the church. Faster and faster my legs took me far away. My lungs hurt as my breathing had been getting more heavy as I ran across the street to a nearby parking lot. I ran further up the building until I reached the very top. The wind blew against my sweaty brow as the noise of the traffic filled my ears. My hands gripped against the cold concrete as I pulled myself up to the ledge. I took a deep breath as I mentally prepared to step over the ledge to my death.
I needed to do this.
If I did this I can see Aerith right?
"NOOO!" A female voice boomed behind him.
I turned my head to see a female near my age with short pale blue curly locks and my best friend Cloud running toward me. I've never seen her before in my life. Everything seemed to be moving in slow motion. I felt my foot slip from the concrete and I closed my eyes awaiting the fall below. Unexpectedly a pair of hands grabbed his shoulders to yank him away from the fall.
A sudden slap echoed against my face as the girl glared at me. "You think THIS is what she would have wanted for you?!"
"Monique…" Cloud tried to stop her. "Stop it!"
"Do yourself a favor pretty boy, get your head on straight and man the hell up. Aeirth may have passed away but she would be turning over in that casket if she saw what you tried to pull." she yelled at me.
The girl looked down at me with disgust as she spun around on her heel to run away. She was crying as she turned around the corner.
I'll never forget those fierce pink eyes.