Trapped in a Memory
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A thousand pieces of a shattered soul litter the rocky cave. A pale ghost of a man sits at the entrance staring to the dark waters below; the salty air whips at his skin but he doesn't care. Not now, not anymore. Maybe once upon a time; but everything has changed too much.
He sits so perfectly still, not even bothering to shiver as an icy gust freezes his body to the core, not acknowledging the sun retreating behind the dark threatening clouds. He barely registers the pioneer raindrops that dare to grace the waves below.
His breathing is slow and lethargic; each breath seems like a chore. Hollow eyes stare out at nothing as more raindrops fall to their deaths. Behind him sits a pile of cremated logs, long since burned to ashes. Any warmth they provided has long since faded away.
Oblivious to his surroundings the man sighed softy and allowed his head to fall back against the wall of the cave. His forehead pressed against the cool rock and his face turned downwards. Darkness has set in, and the raindrops have gained a silvery gleam as they fall. Inside the cave a few drops slide down his pale cheeks, darkening his crimson velvet cloak.
He sighed again and took a shaky breath; moving his frozen arm to a slightly rusty silver locket around his neck. Stiff fingers clumsily played with the latch before it sprang open to reveal two photographs; both were of the man and a different female each time. He whimpered quietly, though no one was around to hear.
"Lucrecia…"
He traced the first photograph with his finger; it was rather worn and had been folded several times. It was not a very clear image, and the age of the photo was clear. He turned his gaze to the second newer image.
"Tifa…"
The pictures showed both women to be in their twenties. He could barely remember what they had looked like; if it wasn't for these pictures he wouldn't remember their faces as they had been. Just the way they had looked when they'd died.
Lucrecia had been so young, betrayed by her lover she had met an unfortunate end. Tifa, though…Tifa had been his wife for many years. She didn't mind that he could not give her children, didn't care about his past - he snapped the locket shut and buried his face in his hands. Tifa had been perfect; they had shared a love so strong that not even death could break it.
Alone he sat, still clasping the locket tightly in his fist. Tifa had been the one, he was sure of that. And, in memory of his wife, he vowed to himself that he would never love another. The years they had spent together could never be recreated and now remained only in his memories.
Sweet memories of Tifa at their wedding, their first kiss, the time he had managed to gather enough courage to ask her out…Tifa getting older, Tifa becoming sick just like Lucrecia, Tifa's last breath, their last ever kiss…all etched into his mind. Never to be lost, forever to be replayed over and over again.
Alone he sat, staring into the dark waters below, remembering all of the times spent with Tifa. Immortality comes with a price; to watch as your loved ones grow old and die. To feel the guilt that you will never join them, never see them again. Tifa is gone; Vincent remains, to watch the memories over and over…
Owari
Please review.
Dedicated to my friend and beta-reader Sariah.
-Completed: October 17th 2004
-Dagger