The Mako Reactor 7 in Sector 1 was exploding. I'd escaped into the streets and that's when I laid eyes on her for the very first time. There she stood, brushing dirt and dust from her dress because people were scrambling through the streets. She had been knocked down. If only I could turn back time, I would go back to this very moment and run as quickly as I could to her side. I would have knelt beside her, held out my hand to her, and picked her up into my arms. But I didn't know her then, so I would have walked right past her if she hadn't called out to me.

"Excuse me." The beautiful flower girl spoke to me. "What happened?"

Even then I remember thinking she was such a pretty young woman. She was so small, much shorter than me. Her thin framed covered in that pink dress I would later grow to adore. Her wavy brown strands were swept-back with a matching pink ribbon. Her green eyes shone like sparkling emeralds.

"Nothing… hey, listen…." I fumbled over my words. I remember debating if I wanted to tell her to get to safety as quickly as possible, but I was so caught by her presence. Something had compelled me to speak to her. Then I noticed the basket of flowers on her arm. "Don't see many flowers around here."

"Oh, these? Do you like them? They're only a gil…?" Aeris always spoke so softly, yet so cheerful.

I couldn't resist her, even then amongst all the chaos in the streets. I bought a flower. I should have bought all her flowers. I should have never given the one I bought from Aeris to Tifa. If I could turn back the hands of time, I would have bought every single flower just so I could savor each dying petal.

"Oh, thank you!" She smiled so brightly, handing me a single flower before walking off. "Here you are!"

Would you really have rushed to come help me up?

Her sweet voice spoke out to me. I turned and it was as if I was in a dream, paused in the very moment I watched her walk away in Sector 1.

Everything was silent, people were frozen in midair, and everything was completely unmoving.

"Yes." I promised. My mind was giving me a second chance.

I wouldn't have let a complete stranger pick me up into their arms, silly.

The sweet sound of her giggle echoed through my mind. This wasn't real. It couldn't be real. I moved around, scanning the sector. Suddenly all the chaos and everything disappeared. I was struck by a presence behind me, a light touch on my shoulder. My eyes grew wide in disbelief as I turned slightly to the side, but something was keeping me from looking directly at her. My eyes would not rise from their focus on the ground. Maybe it was the shame. Maybe it was the guilt. I couldn't save her or even protect her like I had promised.

I didn't deserve to look at her again. I may be losing my sanity and perhaps my mind was giving me a second chance, but the guilt was still overpowering.

But I knew it was her. Aeris Gainsborough. My beautiful Cetra. From what I could see, a white aura surrounded her. It seemed as if she were glowing.

Her delicate hand reached out to my palm and she intertwined her fingers into mine.

Why are you still here, Cloud? There's no use in chasing memories.

I started to raise my head up to look at her, when suddenly little specks of blood appeared. They clouded my vision, staining our intertwined fingers, blemishing the hem of her pink dress – ruining my dream. My memories of her are tainted. All of them - every single one. It doesn't matter now. None of it matters now.

"I couldn't help her." I whisper out loud, hoping someone will hear me. Hoping she can hear me. "I would have saved her."

But I am alone in bed. It is dark, it is cold, and it is incredibly lonely. I can feel the warm tears sliding down my cheeks. I try to choke back the tears as I rock myself back and forth.

A/N: As always, reviews are always appreciated. Let me know what you think! I plan on expanding on all of Cloud's memories of Aeris.