Squall took two days to recuperate well enough to be back in action, though many people advised him to take it easy. Skye kept shooting him odd looks.

"What?" he demanded irritably.

"What's your birthday?"

"August 23rd."

"That's the day after tomorrow! I wish I would've known… now I have some last minute birthday shopping to do."

"No you don't. I don't need anything."

"Of course you do! It's your birthday. Everybody deserves a birthday present."

"Whatever."

"You sure have an annoying habit of saying that." She finally voiced her thought.

"Will you knock that off?"

"What off?"

"Paying such close attention to me, what I do and how I do it."

"Well, you need someone to, or else you'll get cold again. You need a friend-"

"Let's not get into this again."

"Why not?"

He ignored her, a distant look in his eyes. Her heart thumped, but she wasn't positive why. She was pretty sure it was from anger of his being such a stupid hardhead. What else could it be? She could help heal the hurt if only he'd open up. Couldn't he see that? He seemed focused on things far-off, in another, past, more pleasant time.

"Squall, she loves you. She misses you. You know there's a chance that someday you'll rejoin her. Doesn't that lift your spirits? Rejoice! That day may seem far away, or even nonexistent to you. But it's not. Until then, take pleasure in life. Didn't you enjoy it before Rinoa died?"

"…"

"Squall."

"Yes."

"Get pleasure from it now. It'll be a breeze, and things won't be so hard. You're going to hurt yourself if you don't let go."

"Yeah? How so?"

"Doesn't life feel awkward?"

"Yeah, so?"

"It'll make to much pressure build up in your mind. You'll start to loose your grip on reality, preferring fantasy. It'll get to you, and it'll probably make you feel like life's not worth living."

"It hasn't broken me yet. It never will."

"Squall!" she was exasperated. "You need to spread your wings and fly! Don't you realize everything will get better in time? If you accept it and move on you won't be half as miserable and you'll love the fact that you're blessed with the miracle of life."

"…"

"At least think on it?"

"…Okay."

"What do you want for your birthday?" the train pulled to a stop.

"I want Rinoa back." He stuck his hands in his pockets and strode out the door.

I can't blame you, Squall.

~*~*~*~*~*~*~~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~

            Skye glared sharply. ("Rinoa, how could you leave so soon? He needs you so much.")

("You think I had an option? I needed him, too. But I couldn't stop it.")

("Well, he halfway believes. Is my mission complete yet?")

("He still hasn't let go.")

("Give me a straight yes or no answer, please.")

("…No.")

("Rinoa!")

("I know you're fed up with him. But if I thawed out that block of ice, so can you.")

("No I can't. I'm not you.")

("Perhaps not, but maybe you can occupy the empty space I left in his heart.")

("I don't want to.")

("He needs someone.")

("Can't he 'need' someone else?")

("Why are you so determined to get away from him?")

Because I think…("… I don't like him. He's so cold I can hardly stand him. How did you do it?") I just lied through my teeth…Joy. I hope she doesn't notice.

("He was cold when I met him too. Pull him slowly but surely out of that cold shell. I did, but I can't say I did it to slowly… I pulled him out onto the dance floor and taught him how to dance. He began to walk away, I pulled him back, and we danced. I'm not sure if he looks back on that memory happily or sourly.")

("Happily, I'm sure.")

("How's he getting along?")

("Okay… I guess. He won't accept a thing I tell him. He'll only listen to you.")

("I'll see what I can do.")

("Talk to you later?")

("Mm hm. See ya.")

She cut off the mind link, sighing and flopping down on her bed, burying her head in her pillow. When will this madness stop? Doesn't Rinoa understand? When will I get to go back home… away from this place, away from the People… Away from Squall? I think how I feel is wrong… It feels like I'm betraying Rinoa. I just want to leave everything standing… Rinoa…I would give anything to trade you places.

~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*

Rinoa,

I know you told me to let go… But don't you understand how hard it is? It's hard to come to grips… with anything anymore. God exists, right? Then why did he take me from you? Please help me answer my questions. I love you and miss you, and that's the only thing that's inspiring me to believe. If angels do exist, I hope they can read and deliver this message to you.

I'll love you forever.

~Squall

It looks so foolish… Maybe I should just throw it away. But if angels are real… then maybe Rinoa will get it… as if. I need to snap myself out of this. Squall stood up and stretched. He laid his letter on the table, and walked swiftly to the entrance, where the turn-stiles were. The sky was bright blue and the white puffy clouds floated gently across it, creating intricate patterns. He couldn't understand what he was feeling. Squall leaned casually against the wall, lost in thought. I feel so… miserable. I don't understand the other feeling tugging at the back of my mind, but it's definitely there. If it goes unnoticed much longer… It could take over. I need to identify it and move on. But how?

Skye read the words aloud from her book, turning them over in her mind,

"Sometimes the world seems overrun with misfits, outcasts, loners" Squall…? "And other assorted oddballs, and it can be a challenge to accept their eccentric" And cold? "Behavior. God made every one of those oddballs. He allowed His Son to die for them, so he obviously thinks they're valuable. People can be annoying and rude and mean. They may get on your nerves so much that they drive you up one wall and down another side crazy. Are you supposed to accept them? Yes- Every one of them" Even Squall? "Just the way Jesus accepted the outcasts of his day. By embracing the very people the rest of humanity shunned, you can help people understand, and feel like they aren't quite as 'weird' as they were led to thought."

This whole article is about Squall. And… the next line… I will have to give Squall a copy of this book for his birthday. I have to hurry to the Christian book store before it closes. He might not want it, but maybe… just maybe… it will help him understand.