"I feel so lost." Cloud whispered, then just dropped to his knees before Aerith as he stared at the ground. Aerith's porcelain face crinkled softly as she saw his pain. "Cloud...." She knelt beside him mournfully. "You aren’t lost..." She slipped her cool, soft hands onto his jaw line, making him look up at her. "You’re here...with me....I’m not telling you to forget me...I’m telling you to be happy....I’m begging you to forgive yourself.....please....for me..." She whispered and wrapped her thin arms around his neck comfortingly as she held him close. "I’m not the only one who loves you...." Cloud lifted his gaze to look at her, though they seemed vacant and he didn’t respond to her right away. She made it sound so easy to just forget his past and move on, but it was so hard to even think about. "But who else is there?" he asked, shaking his head a little.
She smiled at him. And all the sadness she had been suppressing showed...but only a little. She didn’t like the idea of saying goodbye either....but she knew it was best...she knew he had to....being in love with someone....who was no longer there, was just a recipe for melancholy...Her emerald eyes scanned up his face to look deep into his soft blue ones. "There’s Tifa." she said calmly. She had noticed Tifa's longing for closeness to Cloud....and she didn’t feel any anger at all towards her...actually, she condoned it very much.
Cloud’s blue eyes shut as he remembered his friend Tifa, he must have caused her so much pain by neglecting her and forcing himself into solitude all from his own grief. These thoughts went deep in his mind and all the sorrows he felt washed over him once more, but he fought it. . .for Aerith. She was right, he couldn’t do this forever, it would destroy him. So as Cloud opened his eyes again, looking back into the vivid green ones that watched him with such sympathy, he nodded to her, but it showed his now renewed strength and determination. He slowly got back to his feet, gently pulling Aerith up with him and resting his hands on her arms as he studied her delicate face pensively. "Hm. . ." he nodded again. "You are right. I need to move on." he told her, though his voice was calm now. "I’ll never forget you, and I’ll always love you, but. . .I’ll let you go." Cloud leaned forward and kissed her forehead, then moving back a bit a faint smile came to his lips as life seemed to return to his eyes. He finally realized that his pain was not only hurting him, but everyone around him, so for them and Aerith he would forgive himself. "Thank you." he said, then breathed in deeply as if it was the first breath he had ever taken. Her wisdom, kindness, patients and love had brought him out of the darkness that he had put himself into begin with and he now wanted more then anything to start this life anew. He wondered if he could ever thank her for all she’s done for him, though he had one last request to ask of her. "Aerith. . .please remember me." he whispered to her.
Aerith felt crystal, pearly tears welling up in her eyes. Tears of love....tears of happiness....She smiled, her eyes smiled. The soft gentle tears spilled over her sparkling emerald eyes and down her smooth creamy cheeks. "I will....always...and forever....I love you, Cloud......so be happy..." she whispered, her normally soft and light voice was slightly cracked and a bit strained. "I wont tell you to remember me...or even ask...just live your life....to its fullest....Ive done all I could ever hope to do for you, Cloud.....so....I guess..." she placed her hands on his chest, looking deep into his eyes. She gently pushed him away, sending him as if in slow-motion through the white abyss...through the field's misty ground....through the lilies....As everything faded from sight, Aerith whispered, "This is Goodbye....."
