This New Day
Chapter 1 - The Church
"He's awake!"
Dozens of people— strangers, friends, family— were standing on the floor that surrounded the water.
Six children stood with Cloud in the water. They too were cured of the stigma and had been waiting for him to awaken. Another child, standing back with the crowd, looked at him longingly. Cloud motioned for him to come in.
Denzel, his own adopted son, who did not and was not obligated to excuse his reasons for leaving him, still loved him so, and wanted to be cured by him specifically. Cloud scooped up some water, paused a moment to stare at his gloved hands, and poured it on the child's head.
Cloud received warm, approving smiles and cheers from his friends and comrades who had never given up on him.
Meaning to acknowledge everyone with eye contact, yet still the stone-face he always was, Cloud managed to crack a little smile, though he didn't mean to.
This smile meant the world to a certain person. Tifa shot him a look in response. Tilted head, crossed arms, pursed lips with a turn of a smile at the end of her mouth. He didn't process it right away, as he was still overwhelmed by everything, but it got filed in his brain for later retrieval.
Later was about 10 seconds. Within that time, the ghost of the young woman who had saved him and the planet appeared at the door and told him that everything was okay. With her was the ghost of a young man, and they proceeded to leave. He knew them both. Not only did he no longer feel guilt for them, but upon their warm affirmation and happy farewell, he felt a great debt of gratitude that could only be repaid by living.
Living. The same life... but it won't be the same anymore…