Chapter 2: Saying Goodbye

Her fears of the previous night were confirmed. Everything was changing. Tifa was awoken by Sophia, one of the new care givers at the orphanage, early the next morning.

"Wake up, Miss Lockheart." Sophia whispered while gently shaking Tifa's sleeping form. Tifa abruptly awoke, looking at the blonde woman's young features in confusion after glancing at the clock, which read 4:30 AM.

"What...?" Tifa started, but Sophia smiled sweetly and told her news that devastated her, but warmed her at the same time.

"Honey, you're being adopted!" The young woman exclaimed quietly, as to not wake the other children.

Tifa was paralyzed with shock. So many emotions rushed through her. Happiness, surprise, confusion, fear and then an overwhelming grief. At once she began to cry into her open palms. Sophia was instantly baffled by the 12 year-old's antics.

"Sh... sh... there now." she murmured softly while rubbing Tifa's back slowly, "Why are you crying?"

She obviously didn't know of the strong friendship Tifa and Vincent had. If Mrs. Macready had been the one in Sophia's place, then she'd understand without having to ask. Tifa resented the young blonde at that very moment. She didn't want someone there who didn't understand her. She needed someone who could sympathize with her, not some stupid woman who thought she knew her!

"Leave me alone right now..." Tifa angrily whispered. Sophia's eyes widened at the command, but reciprocated nonetheless. She exited the room to go find Mrs. Macready. She'd know what to do.

Tifa let the tears fall. They rolled down her cheeks and onto her pajama bottoms. Why didn't they ask her first? They should have asked her if she even wanted to be adopted first! There was just so much to lose. Who was adopting her? What if they weren't nice? What about her friends? What about the one person who needed her the most, Vincent?

A few moments later, Mrs. Macready had walked into the room, followed by Vincent, whose face held a strong expression of worry. Sophia stayed at the doorway, realization flooding her features.

"Tifa, your friend, Vincent, is here." Mrs. Macready told the flustered girl before her.

Tifa immediately looked up with tear-filled eyes to Vincent's worried face. He stooped down to hug her tightly, only letting go to sit beside her. Tifa's head hung low as Vincent rubbed her back comfortingly. He'd always been there whenever she was sad, but she'd never cried so hard before.

"Tifa, why are you so sad?" Vincent asked. "You're being adopted." He put on a strained smile to try to convince her that he was happy. In all honesty, he was glad for his best friend, but he was going to miss her dearly and it broke his heart.

"I know I should be happy..." Tifa muttered while sniffling and wiping the tears from her swollen eyes. "But it's too hard to leave you."

Vincent felt the tears rise, but he fought them back. He wanted to show Tifa that he'd be okay. He needed to show her that she'd be all right, too. So he smiled as best he could despite his sadness.

"We'll be all right, Tifa." Vincent said reassuringly, though his voice betrayed him. "One day we'll meet again, okay?"

Tifa looked up at his ruby orbs and he looked into her wine eyes. "Promise?" Tifa asked earnestly, holding out her pinky finger. Vincent took it with his own and as sincerely as he could, he said, "Promise."

Tifa wiped the remaining tears from her eyes and smiled. Vincent smiled, too, but this time it was genuine. Yes, he would keep that promise. He would hold it forever and never let go. He wrapped his long arms around Tifa. She did the same.

"Thank you, Vincent, for being the best friend anyone could ever have." she whispered.

"And thank you Tifa, for being my friend when no one else would." he said in return.

That moment felt like forever. They wanted to stay that way for all eternity, but Tifa had to leave. They finally let go and Vincent rose, holding out his hand to help Tifa up. She took his hand and he pulled her up to her feet. With one last look into his eyes, she walked to Mrs. Macready and Sophia, who were crying from the emotional moment that had just occurred. The elder woman took Tifa's hand and guided her down the hall to meet her new parents.

There were no goodbyes. That one word made it seem final, but if the illusion that maybe this wasn't the last goodbye would help, then they'd rather have it that way.