“Hey Noel? Thank you.”
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My soul was no longer attached to my body, and I could see you hunched over in tears, a heart-wrenching sob escaping your throat. Your warm tears hit my cheeks as you apologized to me, begging me to come back. We both know that wouldn’t happen.. at least not yet.
Kneeling my ethereal form beside you, I wrapped my arms around you in an attempt to comfort you, even though you couldn’t feel me. In all honesty I probably did this more for myself.. I was so scared.
Your mourning would be cut short as chaos wrought havoc into the future we so desperately wanted to save- and in an instant, you had to let me go in order to fight back against this unforeseen foe.
Centuries past since that day, and a piece of me remained with you for all of it. Not a single day would pass that I wouldn’t long to hold your hand again, to feel the warmth of your skin against mine, to journey with you on our quest long forgotten. I wanted to go back. I wanted to experience the world with you again. Even if I had to die over and over again! I wanted to go back. To the day we first met. When our eyes locked that day in New Bodhum, something inside me sparked. Yes it’s true, I loved Snow. He was my best friend for so long.. however, when we began our journey, it’s not that my love for him went away, but more that my love for you grew.
I remember when Caius threw us into a false world, a world of dreams in the Void Beyond. I remember waking up under a tree back on Gran Pulse. Lightning was home, Snow and I were married.. and yet? It wasn’t my ideal dream. Maybe in a past long lost it was, but at that time? And even now? It wasn’t what I wanted. You were missing. Nobody knew who you were, or remembered that fateful night. If I hadn’t nearly fallen for the fake Lightning? I would have snapped out of that dream faster as my dream was the reality I was living with you..
Noel, I must confess, I did occasionally slip away. Sometimes I would drift into a comatose state when you would idle about, letting my imagination run wild to explore all the opportunities we passed by. I would reminisce in memories of long ago, remembering how the sun felt, and how bright your smile was... You don’t smile anymore.
There are nights you don’t sleep too well, and it breaks my heart to see you suffer. Sometimes, when you manage to lay back down, I lay with you, my head resting on your chest. You move your arm out to the side and bend it a bit, as if you can feel be there are you’re trying to hold me. I wonder if you can feel me, or sense me even. Usually when we do this you sleep better.. I’ll do it more often.
Hey Noel? Do you remember that night you sat on the rooftop in Luxerion and looked over the city?? I do. Your eyes held a sadness I hadn’t witnessed in years. It wasn’t until I realized what day it was did I understand what made you weep.. It was the anniversary of my death. The tears you cried were so vicious and uncontrollable I thought you might fall off the building. Again, I held you in my arms to comfort you, this time solely for you. After that you calmed a bit.
“Serah..” you began, sniffling and looking out onto the city. The view was beautiful. “I’m sorry Serah... I promised that I wouldn’t let any harm come to you and.. and in the end I failed. I couldn’t protect Yeul, and I couldn’t protect you.. I hope you can forgive me.. wherever you are, I hope this prayer reaches you and your spirit can rest easier...” I sat beside you after that, staying quiet for awhile. Your hand reached out and touched mine, though I knew it wasn’t intentional, you can’t see me after all. It did make me happy though. We sat in silence, and you closed your eyes as if listening for something. Was it me you were listening for? Hoping to hear a response?
“Noel, of course I forgive you- though you did nothing wrong. It isn’t your fault I died.. I knew the consequences of going into the future and changing everything. I wanted to save humanity. I wanted to save you! I wanted to make a future that everyone could be happy in.. and I wanted to do that with you..” I reached my hand up and touched your cheek. When I saw you jump and turn to me, my cheeks flushed. Could you see me? Your head leaned forward, eyes closed again and stopped, so I followed suit, resting our foreheads together.
“We’ll see each other again Noel... I promise.” Your eyes opened and you flashed me that confident grin.
“I know.. We will see each other again someday. I guess I’ll just have to be patient...” My heart began to race though it had stopped beating centuries ago. For a brief moment you saw me. A brief moment you heard my voice.. I think from that day on you knew I was always with you...
The end of the world came, with my sister trying to save everyone, I knew she would run into you soon. I was excited to see Lightning again, and while I could have sought her out myself, I dared not leave you. I watched you found the Children of Etro, I witnessed your battle with Lightning. It was scary, but I believed in you. After.. After that? I don’t remember what happened..
The next thing I knew, I was springing forth from a small light, and everyone was there. Lightning, Snow, Sazh, Dajh, Hope, Vanille, Fang, Mog and.. and you!! You were there!!
I wobbled forward in the floating abyss, only to balance myself and propel into your arms. You caught me. How I had longed for this reunion. Tears welled in my eyes as I buried my face in your chest, hearing your heart beat once again. All these years. They had been worth it.
After we beat Bhunivelze, saved Yeul and brought my sister with us to watch the new world be created, I made you a promise.
“Hey Noel? Thank you.” You simply smiled at me and nodded. Those words were our promise. We’d find each other again in the new world.
And so we took off with everyone else, to the new world not ruled by a god, but by us.
“We’ll meet again..”
