Fifth Flower
"I have twenty three tiny wishes." Aerith piped aloud, her hands behind her back. The church was their meeting spot. Their place where they came and giggled/chuckled and clasped hands, hands caked with dirt and flowerpetals, their little flowerwagon full of gil and flowers left over to spare. Zack was hope, Zack was a chance of getting out into the world and away from the oppressive voices in her head and the Turks chasing after her.
"But you probably won't remember them all.."
He grinned at her, scratching the back of his head. "Write'em all down for me. So I won't forget. " Aerith nodded earnestly, and opened her mouth to speak the words---
___
"Well, duty calls. "
Zack said with a wave of his hand.
And just like that left their haven, their hollow, and Aerith didn't see him ever again.
"Dear Zack,
Um, so this is letter number eight. For some reason my letters aren't getting sent to you. I wonder why?
Anyway, This is wish number fifteen---I'd really like to go to the Gold Saucer. They say it's a place with shining lights and fireworks! Doesn't that sound fun? Let's go there someday, you and me! Also--Oh, I guess this is wish sixteen--I really want to get out of Midgar. You think you can do that? You could do your heroic deeds and I'd be there to put a bandaid on you! Silly, I'd just be there for you of course.
But you know...I wouldn't mind just seeing you again.I miss you so much. I'm so worried about you. Come back soon okay?
I love you ZackFrom,
Aerith (Aerith paused as she scribbled this down, there were wet smudges on the paper)
--
Dear Zack,
...Did something happen?
Do you...Did you forget about me? I'm sure you found some pretty girls there...
Do you have something going on? Come back soon okay?
I'm still waitingAerith
PS. Wish number twenty! I really want to try Chocobo-riding! xoxo
--
Aerith kneels in the church, after tending flowers. It's been five years and she hasn't seen him. She thinks the letters maybe just got lost, but she knows better she knows better---
A gasp. She's gasping. She looks up at the sky at that shaft of light in the hole of the church roof and she can feel it. The same feeling she felt when she felt her Mother's spirit leave her body, when Elmyra's husband visited her one last time before returning to the Planet--
(Zack smiling, Zack touching, Zack laughing, Zack, sunlight, Zack, happiness, Zack--love, love, love)
Her eyes are moist as she kneels, hands to her chest, and she prays, prays it's a lie, though she knows better. He's never coming back, even though he tried---
___
"I'd really like to spend time with you."