May 21, XXXX
Dear Diary,
I was paid a visit by Cloud and a few of his friends. The first was a childhood friend of his, a girl named Tifa. The other was the man I had been waiting to speak to, Barret, Marlene's father. They came to tell me about Aeris, but I told them that I knew since it was here she had been taken. Upon asking why, I prompted by saying it was because she was an Ancient.
I went on to tell them how I wasn't Aeris' real mother but her surrogate. I explained the day I came across her and her real mother, Inflana. I took Aeris in as it was her dying wish. I didn't say this to them but I did it partially because I didn't want to be alone anymore since I found out about my husband not that long after. But I did tell them about the special abilities that Aeris had and why she was considered an Ancient.
After I was done explaining, I mentioned about the girl Aeris had brought here and how she went with the Shinra in exchange for her safety. Barret immediately got upset and apologized for what happened to Aeris because of his daughter. The moment I realized that Barret was the girl's father, I gave the man a real scolding about how he has treated his daughter.
In an odd display of emotion, Barret broke down and apologized (again) for having me take care of Marlene and how he was only fighting for her future. It was kind of strange to have a large man balling in the middle of my home. I accepted his apology finally and the moment I told him Marlene was upstairs, he shot up the staircase in a blink on an eye.
Cloud made the decision to go after Aeris and the others followed in suit. I was always praying for Aeris' safety, and with a group like Cloud and his friends, I know they will get Aeris back and bring her home safely.
Elmyra Gainsborough
