Red Violets and Forget-me-nots: The Vertical Ray of the Sun

Dr. Dasio rushed into the trauma room. Squall was trying to call Cid and Edea while Zell shouted random numbers he recalled as phone numbers. Irvine, Rinoa and Quistis tried to console with Seifer who was obviously not there. His hands were pressed onto the glass that separated him from his lover as if he could feel her and save the last essence of her life. Dasio along with other nurses lifted Selphie's limp body onto a gurney. A nurse wheeled her out to the operating room. Dr. Dasio came up to Seifer. "Don't worry, Seifer," she whispered placing a sheet of paper in his hands. As the doctor walked away Seifer unfolded the paper carefully, a dried violet petal remained there, crushed as was a forget-me-not. In bright blue ink, words were neatly composed.

Though it may seem life is unfair And it may appear that fate doesn't care The sun will keep shining Even after your crying It will be there and everywhere After all has healed, down to the last tear The vertical ray of the sun Will keep glowing long aft my life is done I won't be there but I'll be near Listen to the wind and you will hear I spread my love over the sea Afloat to you it will be Just remember you are on my mind Wherever I'll be, our love won't be hard to find I'll be everywhere with the radiant sunlight Although my life is done, took flight I will be your guardian angel, protector You've watched over me for so long, as it were It's my turn now, don't worry now You have my surest vow The vertical ray of the sun, will never be gone Even aft my life is done, the ever strong bond That the wind can't blow away, the rain won't drenched That the wind can't sway, therefore our hearts aren't wrenched We fight through it all, and through the storm We kept going, we saw, together I felt so safe and warm Nothing will break us, not even the end Strength is a must, nothing can bend I love you, with all my heart All the little things you do, I loved you from the start Remember, my love, that the vertical ray of the sun Will shine long and long aft my is done

Never before had he cried. Never before had he the reason. A soothing voice whispered in his ear, "Don't give up on her, now, Seifer." He looked up and saw Edea's kind face

"I will never," he replied. He looked around at the faces of the others. "We won't." They nodded.

Quistis looked at her watch. It was nearly lunch time.

¤ two hours later

"Seifer," Dr. Dasio said as she came out. She whispered something in his ear. He solemnly nodded. The others came up to him as the doctor left.

"What happened?"

"Seifer..."

"Is she okay?"

"What did the doctor say?"

"Did she make it?"

"Can we see her?" Seifer held up his hand for silence.

"She... she didn't make it. The operation went haywire, her heart wasn't strong enough. They can't get a donor heart. She only has a few hours left."

¤

Seifer sat alone beside the hospital bed that Selphie lied on. She was unconscious and wasn't likely to regain consciousness. The others were quietly talking, making funeral arrangements, complete with the SeeD honorific ceremony. Irvine and Rinoa came in. "Seifer," Rinoa said as she wrapped her arms comfortingly around his neck. Irvine clasped his shoulder in a gesture of brotherly love and empathy as he looked at the ailing body of his former girlfriend.

"She couldn't have had a better man in her life," he stated.

"Yeah," Rinoa agreed. She squeezed him a little harder. The machine monitoring her heart started beeping harder. The trio looked up. Selphie gasped as she slowly became aware of her surroundings. Her chest hurt excruciatingly.

"Selphie," Seifer said as he jumped to her side. Rinoa called the others in. Dr. Dasio pushed her way through.

"Amazing," she whispered. She checked Selphie's status and shook her head. "You just regain consciousness, but that is all." The others held back their silent twinges. The doctor left leaving all of them for the last time.

¤

I looked into her eyes. My heart still needed to learn how to beat again. It had stopped when I heard the news. Her beautiful eyes looked back at me. Her face was as soft as an angel. Through it all, she never shed a tear, for I cried for her. Hours went by as I watched her. We've been through it all together. She came beside me, took every step with me and helped me when I fell. She saw the light in my darkness. No... she was the light in my darkness. I don't deserve to know her. I don't deserve to be loved by her. I don't deserve... her. What did I do to deserve her? Her heart beat grows stronger. I can feel it. She doesn't want me to be sad. But I can't help it, now that I will lose her. A single tear falls down her cheek. I'm sorry...I'm sorry. Hours continue to pass. I feel her slipping away. The stars in her eyes tell me the story.

¤

A year now passed since she left. I know I might never see her again. But I deserve not to. While people like me don't always go to Heaven, I know she will. Because angels always go to Heaven.