2.1K! Rereading an author's note, I realised I said we would probably never reach my sister's views (2.1k) and we've done just that!
...Though she's reached 20k now...
New target: 20k views ;)
Aria's POV
Two years.
My fingers lightly followed each mark, each wispy fragment, each smooth line; the many contours that made up his happy, grinning face.
Two whole years had passed, yet it didn't hurt any less.
I flipped the page in my notebook, moving onto the next drawing, the next memory. My only proof that he ever existed. One notebook. Fifteen drawings. Seven by me, eight by him.
Jack taught me to see the beauty of the world, to appreciate life and all its mysteries.
I may be a cleric, someone who heals others, but that was my second vocation in life.
My first?
After I had fallen from the sky in an accident to do with a tree, pretty golden fruit and the Star flight Express, I was taken in by an organisation of thieves.
They trained me up in the way of thievery, teaching me to sharpen my senses, pick locks, trade effectively and, above all, fight.
A thief.
"Aria?" I jumped, curling further up into the trunk of the tall tree in the garden, stilling my breath as I listened. Lupa. Soma. Lindow.
"I'm not here." I grumbled childishly, covering my face with my hands as I heard them approach. "If I can't see you, then you can't see me."
The thing is, I'm only eleven. I am a kid.
"Oh..." Lupa stopped a few feet away, respecting my personal space. "Well, if I could see Aria, I'd tell her that she was right. And that I'm sorry that I can't remember. Also, that I was planning something she might like to help me with."
My finger twitched a little to let me peep, then I quickly replaced it. "Not if Soma is coming."
"For f***'s sake." He started growling curses, then after a short silence, reluctantly started talking."If I could see that goddamn egit, I'd tell her that I couldn't give a f*** about her moping."
I could definitely hear the punch this time.
"F*** off Lindow!" He snarled. "Fine! I'm sorry for being unfair and not caring about your emotions. Happy?"
"Will you fix the shelf in my room?"
"...what?"
I uncovered my eyes, standing up to place my hands on my hips as my devious side came out. "My shelf broke- all my notebooks are everywhere. I need someone to-"
"For the love of-" Lindow once again aimed a punch threateningly. "Fine!"
Smugly smirking, I joined them, simply following the three as they led me to a corner of the garden.
As we walked, Lupa made small talk, talking about this and that, just little things. Nothing out of the ordinary. No, it was the more subtle hints hidden in plain sight that I made note of.
The slight brush of hands as Soma and Lupa walked by each other, a gesture they both ignored, yet insistently made.
The inclination of Lupa's head, not quite looking Soma in the eye out of respect, but skimming eye contact.
Soma's intense look as Lupa spoke, then sharp turn away as he realised he had looked at her that bit too long.
It was certainly a cautious relationship.
One built veeerrryyy slowly.
For some reason, I could see why Sakuya and Kanon shipped them so hard.
However, I still wasn't impressed with Soma. He was the reason why their relationship was so slow moving.
"Here we are." Lupa announced, stepping aside.
I gasped.
In a small patch filled with red flowers, a small stone lay, its polished surface shining in the sunlight.
"You...this must have cost..." Words continued to evade me as I knelt in front of the memorial stone, feeling emotions welling up anew. "Thank you."
In memory of Jack, an honourable soldier who died fighting for those he loved.
"Thank you..." The cold stone made me shudder as I placed my hand on it, a memory of times lost. "The tulips..."
"They used to be in the fields of Bloomingdale and Stornway." Lupa smiled. "Jack loved going there with you."
"He'd pick one each time he came and tell me that not even a hundred flowers would match my beauty."
Lindow coughed, before handing me a beauquet of pink lilies, which I lay across the grave.
It was bizarre how the warm lily petals seemed to make the whole stone, a symbol of death, light up in a beacon of hope.
"...Lupa?"
"Yeah?"
"Sing." I turned to her, my eyes pleading.
"No." She shook her head firmly, biting her lip.
"Wait, Lupa can sing?" Lindow stared at Lupa before glancing around at us. "Am I the only one who didn't know this?"
"C'mon Lupa. Please." I knew how reluctant she was. She had told me time and time again that she was too shy to sing in front of anyone but Jack and Soma.
"..." I gave her my best puppy dog eyes. "...ugh. The stuff I do for you...Let's see..."
She closed her eyes for a moment, humming a few notes.
Then she started up a slow pop ballad, sad and remorseful.
I know there's something in the wake of your smile,
I get a notion from the look in your eye, yeah,
You've built your love, but that love falls apart,
A little piece of heaven, turns to dark.
Listen to your heart,
When he's calling for you,
Listen to your heart,
There's nothing else you can do,
I don't know where you're going,
And I don't know why,
But listen to your heart,
Before you tell him goodbye.
I sneaked a look at Soma, who was doing his intense stare again, while Lindow listened in wonder.
Sometimes you wonder if this fight is worthwhile,
The precious moments are all lost in the tide, yeah,
They're swept away, and nothing is what it seems,
Feel like I'm belonging, to your dreams.
Listen to your heart,
When he's calling for you,
Listen to your heart,
There's nothing else you can do,
I don't know where you're going,
And I don't know why,
But listen to your heart,
Before you tell him goodbye.
I felt the tears coming back, and before I knew it, I was a wreck again. If only I hadn't let him go...he might still be alive...
And there are voices, that want to be heard,
So much to mention, but you can't find the words,
The scent of magic, the beauty that's been,
Where love was wilder, than the wind.
"Jack...I'm so sorry..." I whispered as Lupa continued, touching the gravestone. He felt so far away...
Listen to your heart,
When he's calling for you,
Listen to your heart,
There's nothing else you can do,
I don't know where you're going,
And I don't know why,
But listen to your heart,
Before you tell him goodbye.
Listen to your heart.
"I don't know where you're going, and I don't know why, but listen to your heart, before..." Tears were spilling from under Lupa's closed eyelids, running from the corner of her eyes. "You tell him goodbye..."
Okay, so I'm all for girl power, but just then, a hug was definitely what I needed.
And, strangely enough, Lindow's leather coat, smelling faintly of cigarette smoke, was the greatest comfort in the universe.
"Hey, kiddo..." He patted my head as I bawled. "It's alright...it's alright..."