There was a knock on the door in the morning.

I opened my eyes and breathed in the cool morning air for a moment, and realized the window was open. The air in Midgar was a lot different now that the plate wasn't above the sectors; you could smell things now; there was nature in the air.

I sat up and grabbed my head, spinning from the night before. I heard my name at the door and said," Yeah, I'm up."

Tifa cracked the door and peeked her head in," Okay if I come in?"

I nodded," Yeah, sure." I stood and turned to the bed, trying to make it up quickly.

Tifa stopped me, "No, that's okay Cloud, I'll take care of it. How are you feeling?"

I looked to her and responded quickly, "I'm," then I thought for a moment. How was I really? I could talk to her, she would understand,".lousy," I scratched the back of my neck and sat down," I don't know what I'm doing."

She sat down next to me," When did it happen?"

"What?"

Her expression did not change," The addiction. You weren't like this at my birthday, a few months ago."

I shook my head," No, I was. I just hid it better then. I guess it happened about, about nine months ago, I suppose. It could be longer, though. I don't know." I paused," Sorry."

Tifa stood,"For what?"

I looked down, not wanting to meet her gaze," For all this. For relying on you too much."

Tifa laughed," Don't be silly. I told you that if you ever needed me, that I would be here. And I meant it. I'm glad that you came to me, rather then ending up in a gutter somewhere."

I smiled at the irony of the statement; I had been when she had found me.

"You want some breakfast? I was just making some."

I took her up on her offer and sat down at her table in the kitchen. Her apartment wasn't too big, but it was much more than I had had in the last year. I couldn't help but be a little envious as I sat down and looked at the daily paper.

"I heard you landed the lead role in 'Loveless'." I remarked; after it all, Tifa had pursued a career in acting and was well known now for it. She had been in several plays and was now working on larger projects.

She glanced back at me from the stove and grinned," You heard that, ay? Yeah, I did. Trent's not too happy with the hours I'm putting into the rehersals, though I like it, so he doesn't complain too much."

"Still with him, then." I remarked. In truth, there wouldn't have been any love lost between me and Trent if he and Tifa had split. I had met him at Tifa's birthday party, and we had exchanged rather cold greetings.

"Yeah. I know how you two don't get along overly well, and all, but he's a good guy. He proposed, you know."

I nodded; I had thought he might," What you say to that?"

Tifa paused for a moment and shrugged, " I told him that I had to think about it. I don't know what I'm going to say; I haven't really thought about it, and he hasn't asked."

"That's not a good sign."

Tifa threw a look back at me," How would you know, Cloud?"

I didn't say anything for a moment; was she mad at me? I hadn't meant to sound rude.

"Sorry." I said.

Tifa shook her head and sat down," No, don't be. You're right. It's just a bit of a touchy subject matter."

"Why'd you bring it up, then?" I asked.

Tifa raised an eyebrow at me," Are you okay?"

"I'm fine."

Tifa went back to the stove and scratched the spatula on a pan, "How have you been, you know, otherwise."

"Alright, I guess." I surveyed her; she had changed a little since the last time I had seen her. She had gotten a haircut; more layers and shorter, her hair was now," I like your haircut."

She set a plate down in front of me, touching the top of her head with her other hand. She smiled and said," You do? I had to get it cut for the show. It's strange, not having all the weight."

I nodded and picked up a fork. It had been so long since I had seen her, it didn't seem real that I was here. What was I doing, making small conversation? I was a drug addict; I didn't deserve to be here, eating her food.

But still, she had offered. It would be rude to refuse her.

As I began to eat, I asked, "Where's Trent now?"

Tifa sat down with her own plate, picking up a knife and fork," He's at work. He has early hours, unlike me." She smiled," It's nice not having to get up at six every morning."

I felt so useless, without a job and drifting. Tifa was making a name for herself in the world, more so than she already had. She was supporting herself, and she had a bright future. She had a good man propose to her. I didn't have a place here. I was taking up her time.

Tifa was looking at me, her fork halfway to her mouth," Cloud?" She said, her eyes wide.

I looked at my hand, which was shaking violently; I needed a hit. I took a deep breath and put my hands in my lap. This was going to be hard, giving it up.

"Do you think, you know."

"What?"

"You think I need to be put away?"

Tifa set down her fork and scooted closer to me, putting her hand on my arm. I started a bit at her touch and jerked in my back, against my will.

"I think you just need a little help, and I'm here, Cloud." She touched the cuts on my arm," Where did these come from?"

"I-I did them."

Tifa looked at me, and I could see fear in her face. She was afraid of me, now. And that made me very, very afraid of myself.