She had always been one to see the bright side of things.

"Had."

But how could she do it now, now that the sun was gone?

She walked, the tears falling down…

Lightly falling into the puddles at her feet.

Tears mixing with blood.

Gone, gone, it was all gone. She was the only one left, the only survivor of this brutal war.

Her once bright eyes, always seeing beauty, were now dull and wrought with despair, pain, and suffering.

There was nothing left for anyone.

And especially not for her.

She was a perfectly able-bodied warrior, and she could survive.

The question was, did she want to?

No.

She didn’t.

Not anymore.

The cruel war of the nations slaughtered not thousands, but millions.

And she was all alone.

-------

Her home lay in ruins.
She was covered in tears.
Too late, all gone,
And gone were the years.

------

The fires had long gone out, the rain pouring from the sky as if to lament all that were lost. The soldiers, the families, the animals, and very earth had been slaughtered.

Those who survived may have been considered lucky.

But in reality, it was a fate worse than death.

As she slowly wandered over to a familiar body, she fell to her knees, and shook him.

In vain.

Tears fell all the while.

-------

Wake up!
She said,
Wake up!
Please, my friend, wake up!
The one she loved was gone for good.
Please, my love, wake up!

-------

When she finally woke up, her voice was gone. It had been taken away after she spent the entire day crying and sobbing.

No one was there to say, "It'll be okay."
No one was there to say, "Don't cry."
No one was there to say, "I'm here."
No, everyone was gone.

Gone, gone, gone.
And so, she cried.
Cried, cried, cried.

Her eyes were bleary, and she could see nothing but white.

But the world was gray.

The rain had become snow, and all was encased in ice, preserving the bodies that lay there for their eternal sleep.

This would be their frozen graveyard.

She cleared the snow from the face of the body she’d clung to.

She saw it, and cried.

Cried, cried, cried.

His eyes were closed, and she would never see the icy blue orbs again.

She brushed the long blonde hair away from his face, and gave him one last, chaste kiss.

And walked away, knowing it would be the last kiss she would give in this lifetime.

Goodbye...

And so, the tears fell.

He was gone.

Gone, gone, gone.

-----------

My friends,
I held you dear,
My family,
Your death is my fear,
My comrades,
May you rest in peace,
My love,
Please wait for me
Goodbye, goodbye,
Now I must say goodbye.

---------

The world had turned gray.

Everything had turned gray, drained of color.

All she could see was gray.

She tore off her weapons holster, and with a cry of frustration, threw it aside. She threw away her headband. She threw away her guns. She threw away her crests and badges. She threw away everything that bound her to this world.

But she couldn’t bear to remove the ring that rested on her hand.

Her left hand’s ring finger remained occupied.

As she stared at it, everything hit her once again, and she broke down and cried.

Cried, cried…

----------

I love you
I always will
But say ‘I do’
We never will

----------

It was strange. The world, stained red with blood, had overnight been covered by the white snow.

So why did she feel as if the blood still clung to her fingers? Why couldn't she feel the cold?

She couldn't feel the cold anymore.

So instead, she looked around to find a cold, delicate, broken world.

The world had ended. There was no other way to describe it.

And no one was left.

Gone, gone, gone.

Goodbye...

She cried and cried.

And no one would ever be there to smile at her again.
And no one would ever be there to hold her again.
And no one would ever be there to love her again.

She went to sleep, knowing that when she woke up, no one would be there.

No one.

--------

Good morning,
You said
Every morning,
You smiled and gave me a kiss
Good morning,
You said
But this morning,
Your love is what I will miss

-----------

She woke up and found herself in the middle of an enormous lake.

The forested island in the center is where they would always be together.

Friends would play together.
Family would spend time together.
Comrades would train together.
And they would walk together.

She and her lost love, her only partner.

Tears fell.

She would have been happy here.

No, not “would have.”

“Had.”

---------

Never again will I play as a child
Never again will I speak as family
Never again will I fight as a warrior
Never again will I smile as a lover
Never again,
For all is lost...

----------

Even on the island, there was a small pond in the dead center. Through the snow, she found her way to the water.

Crystal clear.

It almost seemed as if this place would be the gateway. A portal, the peaceful land and untouched snow glittering in the moonlight.

Freedom.

Using a long lost magic, she walked out to the center of the pond, over the water.

She gazed into the waters beneath her feet.

If she looked hard enough, she could see them.

---------

What is a reflection
But a portrait of your soul?
What is a reflection
But another empty hole?
No, it is more than that
It shows you more and more
It can take you far away,
Or not,
It’s just another door...

---------

They were dancing, and they were free.

They looked up at her, and waved.

They smiled.

She cried.

And there he was, her only love dear, waiting patiently for her.

Her tears made ripples in the water.

Her love held out a hand.

He smiled.

She gazed and shook her head, tears falling.

He simply pouted playfully in that way she adored.

He held out his hand again.

It'll be okay.

That was all she needed to hear.

She slowly submerged herself in the deep, dark, cold waters, leaving the cruel, dead world behind her.

Goodbye...

She looked around.

The beautiful music filled her ears.

Chimes, quiet, delicate chimes played a song of sad peace.

She floated there in the abyss, listening to the music.

She listened.

The peace overwhelmed her.

Don't cry.

It was all okay now.

She just floated there, and let her mind wander.
She dreamed as the music inspired her.
Sorrowful, the song of peace played.
Bit by bit, her mind flew far away.

The pain was gone.

The utmost feeling of peace and relaxation enveloped her.

She closed her eyes and just let it all go.

A song of peace, however sad, played.

I'm here.

And she could finally take her love’s hand.
And she could dance with him.
And she could love him again.

Look around, look around.

She did.

They had been waiting for her.

---------

Gone, gone, gone…
Cry, cry, cry…
What to do...?
Just say goodbye…

---------

They waved to her and her love.

She ran to them, her love guiding her.

They said, "Hello!"

And she smiled.