Lightning awoke that day with a heavy heart. She knew what today was, and almost didn't get out of bed. She lied there for a while, just staring at the ceiling. She was in the NORA house, it was empty. She wasn't sure what year it was -- or even what timeline. Was she even really alive anymore? She didn't know the answer to that either.
She was laying in Serah's bed, the smell of her sister brought back memories, both happy and painful. The day Serah told her that she was a l'Cie, and was engaged to Snow. The day she watched her turn to crystal. The day she was ripped from her life, from her sister, and thrown into the Historia Crux. The day she asked Etro for help, therefore volunteering Serah to receive the Eyes of Etro. The day she witnessed her sister's death. All of this hurt, and today was the anniversary of Serah's death -- a day Lightning had never thought would come before her own.
Slowly, she swung her legs one by one over the side of the bed, pulling the covers back as she did so. Sitting up, she placed her hands on either side of her on the bed, letting a sigh out. Her head was hanging down, her pink bangs falling in her face. She knew that it was going to be hard to get up today. Her whole body was racked with guilt and pain. This was her fault -- it had been a year already, and this entire year her suffering was her own fault.
Pushing herself off the bed so that she was standing, she walked over to her closet. Today was something she wasn't going to wear her uniform for -- Serah hated it when she wore her uniform all the time. A nostalgic smile graced her features, before she closed her eyes. "Serah..." her voice was barely a whisper, only acknowledgable to her own ears. Serah wasn't here anymore, she was gone and she wouldn't be back.
Taking out of half-sleeved t-shirt, a pair of jean shorts, and her sandals, slipping from the closet to the bathroom to shower. Closing the door behind her, she turned the water on and undressed, slipping into the shower. The water felt good against her face. It was always hot here, so the cold water was refreshing. It wiped away some of her guilt, but that wouldn't last for long. She knew the guilt would hit her again, but at least this gave her a break.
Finishing her shower, she turned the water off and stood there for a moment. The coolness felt so good, she hadn't even realized how hot she was. Stepping out of the shower, she grabbed a towel and dried herself off, slipping her new clothes on. After she was dressed, she put the towel to her hair, drying it the best she could. She draped the towel over her head when she felt it was towel dried enough. Grabbing her tooth brush, she wet the tip and squeezed some paste onto it -- beginning to brush her teeth. Of course, she felt stupid to be going through her daily ritual on a day like this. But she knew that Serah would scold her for behaving any differently. Serah was still with her, in her heart. That's what she'd say, and the thought of that made Lightning's brows furrow. She spit into the sink, rinsing the brush and her mouth out -- spitting once more.
Even if that was true -- that Serah was still with her in her heart, she hated that Serah wasn't actually here anymore. And she hated that it was her fault. Grabbing the sides of the sink in frustration, she hung her head again, allowing herself to cool down. She wasn't going to lose it today. Tomorrow, sure -- but not today. Grabbing the towel from her head, she pulled it off and threw it into the sink, briskly walking from the bathroom.
Grabbing her keys, and her small purse (which she hated carrying), she looked around the NORA house one more time. Everything seemed in order, and since no one was here, she knew that she wouldn't have to worry about anyone rummaging through her stuff. Still, on her way out, she closed the door behind her and locked it. Even if people weren't around, the monsters were relentless sometimes. She'd found that out once when she didn't lock her door.
Clutching the purse close to her person, she walked through New Bodhum, to the forbidden area. Serah's body vanished like so many of the Farseers bodies did -- back to the world of Valhalla. They don't go there now, seeing as they don't die anymore. But Serah managed to miss that by mere seconds -- meaning there was a chance that she would reincarnate as Yuel did so often before her. Walking through the off-limits area, she reached the crater that held the first Time Gate Serah ever entered. It no longer stood here, but the memory was still so fresh in her mind -- Noel was by her side. Thankfully, he was there for her when Lightning couldn't be.
Above her, Bhunivelze floated in the sky. Serah would enjoy that sight, enjoy that she was part of that happening. In the center of the crater, directly under the view of Bhunivelze, stood a single gravestone. As Lightning neared it, the writing on it grew clearer:
Lightning knew that putting Serah's birthdate was unneeded. She would never forget that day, and with Serah jumping through timelines it was difficult to say that she died in 500 AF in Academia, when she was born in Bodhum on Cocoon. So she said nothing, just that she died at twenty one. That was sufficient enough for Lightning.
Leaning down, Lightning pulled out the small purse. Slowly, she unzipped the top, pulling out the most treasured item Serah owned: her engagement necklace from Snow. Lightning's eyes teared up, seeing the necklace. The last time she really saw Serah, she had given her permission to marry Snow. Now -- now all that was gone, ripped from her too soon. Laying the necklace down in front of the gravestone, she positioned it so that it almost looked like the gravestone was wearing it. "Serah..." her voice was laden with guilt, pain, and all the feelings she had surprised the last year. "I'm so sorry I couldn't save you..." Tears began to fall rapidly now, blurring her vision and streaming down her cheeks as if a waterfall had burst from her tear ducts. Lifting her index and middle finger to her lips, she kissed them -- placing them against the gravestone. A kiss to her sister on this dreadful day. Standing up, she wiped the tears from her eyes with the back of her hand, and turned on her heels back to the village to crawl into bed and cry. As she walked away, a small breeze blew, as if to say 'It's ok Lightning, I still love you.'
