Float Away
"Jump."
"Don't be stupid."
"It's not stupid though, when you really think about it."
"No… I guess not, but I can't."
"Why not? You'll die here anyways."
"I know… but… they might find me."
"You shouldn't hope for so much. It's been a year already anyways…"
"Yeah…"
"So… jump."
"I can't. It's irrational, and what about the people who need me?
"There's nothing you can do to help now… look what happened to Cid."
"… What if Locke is looking for me?
"What if Locke's dead."
"No, I don't want to hear that."
"Locke doesn't trust you. You betrayed him, even if he was alive why would he be looking for you?"
"I thought… He said he'd protect me…"
"Listen to yourself. It's disgusting. You saw the way he pined over that girl. You know the only reason he saved you was because he was trying to assuage his own guilt. He did the same thing to Terra, and didn't Edgar try to warn you."
"I know… I know! I can't believe I fell for…but…"
"How could he ever love you anyways, after what you've done? Do you think he'll really forget your betrayal, or worse, Maranda?"
"No… not Maranda… Maybe… I should..."
"Do it."
"…will it hurt?"
"No… I think the impact should be enough."
"I'm scared…"
"Don't be scared… just…"
"Jump."
Celes opened her eyes slowly trembling in the cold dawn. The waters of the surf washed over her with warm liquid, swaddling her against the biting cold of the winds and beckoning her gently, but persistently back into their depths.
She cracked her eyes open, feeling the sand on her eyelashes fall onto her face, and coughed. The wind, mingled with the sound of the surf, howled in her ears, and the pain slowly began to creep into her body. She opened her eyes wider and stared blankly ahead, overwhelmed by the impact of her actions. Rolling over onto her back, she began to tremble as tears fell from her eyes. She became aware of something wet in her hands which she held close to her chest. Sitting up slowly she opened her hand to see a bracelet adorned with tiny little feathers, and felt her stomach drop sickeningly. The surf rose gently to her open hand and the bracelet floated away sinking into the dark waters.
Celes scrambled out of the waters as the sea buried her shame. Stumbling to the cliff she sat down holding herself and looking desperately at the bleak landscape.
"Coward."
"I know!" Celes yelled in anguish covering her lowered head with fingers brittle from the cold; trying to find protection from the demons she knew she could never escape.
A/N: In case you weren't sure, the bracelet with feathers was a cherub down.