© 2002 Copyright Original Storyline by Gold (e-mail: goldenstarlight@hotmail.com)

Disclaimer: Final Fantasy VIII belongs to Squaresoft.

The Dish: One Angsty Seiftis

Part 9: Two Pitiful Confessions

Edea Kramer's eyes filled with tears as she looked at the heavily bandaged figure lying on the white bed. Quistis was swathed in white bandages from head to toe, and even most of her face was covered in square white bandages. Edea could just make out Quistis' eyes, the lower part of her nose, half of one cheek, and the sweet mouth, disfigured by the cuts and bruises around it. Even Quistis' fingers were covered in bandages—they had been put through some form of torture that had made them all swollen.

"Quistis, I'm here." Edea's kind face bent over Quistis' bandaged one. "I'm here."

Quistis looked at Matron for a long time. She parted her lips very slowly and spoke softly, her voice ruined by the wounds on her neck. "I'm…dying…"

Edea tried to smile. "No, no, you won't. Don't be scared. I'll be here with you." She felt puzzled; she could have sworn that Quistis was smiling.

"The others…"

"They're all fine," Edea told her reassuringly. "We're all waiting for you to get better, so you must try to get better more quickly, Quistis dear." She carefully smoothed Quistis' hair, choking back tears.

"I'm glad…to die…"

Matron's mouth fell open. She could hardly believe her ears. "Quistis?" She stared at the dying girl.

Quistis gave a very small, slow sigh. "I…love him…I've tried…to stop…it hurts…so much…" She paused, gaining strength to continue after a while. "Living…is not…worth it…" She looked at Matron's stunned face. "Seifer…still loves…Rinoa…" A tear trickled down Quistis' cheek. "I—wanted to die…so—I…volunteered…" Her voice broke. "So much pain…I would…rather die…I'm so…tired…"

Matron's face was wet with tears. "Oh, my dear, my dear. Why didn't you tell any of us? And—does Seifer know that you love him?"

"No." Quistis seemed to be smiling faintly. "No… don't tell him…I know…understand… he…can never…love—me…"

And then Edea Kramer understood. Quistis Trepe wasn't dying from her injuries. She was dying of a broken heart.

"Matron…" Quistis' eyes were intense. "Make the others…promise…stand by…help Seifer…"

Matron nodded, tears falling. "I promise, Quisty. But you must live! We love you, Quisty—" 

But Quistis closed her eyes and slipped back into unconsciousness.

"Quistis! Quistis! Dr. Kadowaki!"

Standing at the door, Cid Kramer's face had become grey and old in an instant. "We're losing her."

Startled heads jerked up all round. There was a flash of grey and black. Seifer Almasy had pushed his way past the headmaster into the room. Edea Kramer shook her head at her husband as she went to him for comfort.

"Let him," she whispered, sobbing into her husband's shoulder. "Let him…"

And inside the room, Seifer Almasy was on his knees by Quistis' side, holding one of her hands in both of his. He had never begged anyone in his life, but this was different.

"Quistis, don't leave, please don't, I'm begging you, Quisty, I'm sorry, I'm so sorry! Please, Quis, please stay. Don't go, don't die on me, Quis…Quis, I love you…"

They were words forced from him in a blinding moment of clarity. It was Quistis he loved. Not Rinoa. What he felt for Rinoa was different. It was something that was long past, and had died eons ago, but he had been too stubborn to admit it. He had clung on to a past he should have left behind, trying to recall embers long cold, and in his stubbornness, he had not seen the love that was growing in him for the gracious, golden-hearted girl who had been by his side, supporting him for a long time. Now he understood what it meant to love with all his heart and soul, and to love with an emotion and passion so deep-rooted that her death meant his as well.

"Don't leave me, Quis, I love you, I love you…"

He sobbed, pressing the cold, limp fingers to his cheek, his eyes, his lips, as if the sheer depth of his love could give her life.