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The wind was calmer than usual. The cliffside was usually covered by at least a strong breeze, but today it was calm. Still. The grass barely swayed in its weak presence. It was serene.
Raven knelt before the small stone plaque. It had been years since the first, and only, time she’d visited. She’d been too scared of what it’d do to her. The emotions she’d have to face. So she’d run from it all. Run from her. And what she’d do to her.
But she was done running.
So, Raven took in a deep breath, feeling the cold autumn seaborn air against her lungs.
“Hello, Summer. It’s been a while, hasn’t it?
I… haven’t been holding up great. I know you’d hate to hear that, but you always seemed to hate me lying to you more. Even if I never seemed to stop. Because I was too thick in the head to stop, wasn’t I?
Hmph. I… I wonder sometimes, ya know. About how things could’ve been different if I’d just stopped. Stopped lying, stopped being so cold, stopped pushing you away. If I’d just changed, just tried to be there more, for you, for Tai, for Qrow. If I’d… I’d just stayed, the morning after… that night. Stayed with you. Maybe things would’ve been different. For both of us, heck, for everyone.”
Raven shakily wiped a tear away, feeling her throat closing up. She took another shaky breath, feeling that same cold air against her throat. She could do this. She breathed out, slowly, counting to 8.
“But… you never like it when Tai did that, did you? Lamenting about ‘Could’ve beens’ or ‘Should’ves’. I remember you’d grab him by the shirt and yell, ‘If you wanna fix things, then do it now! Don't keep going on about what you could’ve done, do what you can do now!’” Raven chuckled, before breaking into a coughing fit. She looked down at her hand. Red.
“It’s weird, ya know. I can feel myself teetering, on the edge. I can hear Yang’s voice, just faintly. I know it’s only the maiden’s powers keeping me alive, healing the wounds. But… I wish it wouldn’t. I want to go. I want to stand by you. I want to, always wanted to walk with you into that sunset, for so long. But it’s not time yet, is it?” Another small chuckle, almost a sigh. “I guess I haven’t paid back my dues yet, have I?”
Slowly, Raven stood, brushing dirt and grass from her legs. “I… I don't know how long it’ll be. If it’ll be a few days, years, or a lifetime. But I’ll cross over, one day. I promise I’ll find you again. And I know I’ve kept you too long, but,
Just wait for me. Please.”
And then., the cliff was gone. Replaced by screaming alarms, blaring lights. And a face, with blonde hair and purple eyes, filled with tears. Reaching up with a wince, she stroked her cheek, a gasp escaping the girl’s mouth.
“Hey, kid. I’m here.
It’s not goodbye yet.”