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The cliff isn't very high from the water's surface, and there are no rocks at the bottom, but the storm is beginning to pick up and the wind whips her hair into her face. The sky is dark and moody, angry at the world, angry at her — irrelevant to her either way. She's angry, too.
Almost a year ago, her father was killed in a fire. It was a big one, and unfortunately, her father wasn't the only victim. The most notable being her best friend's mother. Both of them left orphans, too late in life for anyone to care. A few days later, Cloud went missing, as well. A year later, the case has gone cold and he's considered dead for all intents and purposes.
Tifa is alone, working two dead-end jobs to pay for a shitty apartment that has more mold than is safe — not that her landlord cares. He's already threatened to evict her if she brings up another problem and she can't afford to be homeless on top of everything.
Although, that doesn't much anymore. She doesn't plan to return from this little beach trip.
Her father used to take her to this beach often, throwing her in the water and letting her win water fights. He'd bury her legs in the sand and shape them into mermaid tails and animals, then dig her out when she's smiling so hard her cheeks hurt. They'd watch the sunset, toes stuck in the sand and waves slowly moving upshore.
There is no sun now, and her father isn't here either. She's alone in everything but memory. She thinks it might rain, looking up at the heavy clouds, and it makes the scene even more pathetic. She feels weak for giving up, but there's nothing left for her.
Tifa tried to stay strong, she tried to keep going no matter what, she swears. It's just… she's tired. She's tired and there's a dreadful feeling inside of her that won't go away no matter how much she distracts herself because at the end of the day, when she falls onto her mattress her head isn't empty and she doesn't sleep. The gym doesn't help, just makes her sweaty and achy, her jobs don't work because she's exhausted and customer service has never been known for its uplifting atmosphere. She doesn't know what it will take to breach the water she's submerged in.
After a year, no one could expect her to keep going all on her own. She can't fight anymore.
The wind blows particularly hard and a full-body shiver racks her body. She lets out a heavy breath, bringing her hands up to hold her arms. They're shaking — she isn't scared.
She's a little scared, actually.
Tifa takes a step closer to the edge, staring down at the water below, tumultuous and passionate in its movement. Her hair blows in her face, and she vaguely registers seeing the ribbon that held her hair together slip away with the wind. Another piece of her gone.
She clenches her eyes shut, sucking in a breath. It's now or never. The thought looms in her mind, a shakiness creeping in that forces her to have second thoughts.
There has to be something else — something more than what this life has given her. This can't be it, nightmare-fueled nights, dead family, missing best friend, and a shitty environment she's had now choice but to build for herself. But it is.
Fuck, now or never. Tifa's never been one to hesitate even if she feels like a coward in this moment.
She took one step into the open air, eyes still closed, and followed it with her other foot. She free falls into oblivion.
The air hits her face like a whip, stings like one too. She keeps her eyes closed because it would be cruel to watch her own fate rush towards her. She tucks her arms close to her chest, taking in a deep breath.
The water hits her with an agonizing, audible, slap. It's only pain for a moment, hot white pain as she twists in the blue that surrounds her. She's disoriented and terrified, almost regretting what she's doing now that she doesn't know which way is up. It's too dark up in the storm and too dark down underwater.
Tifa, too far now, lets herself sink as she lets out the breath she'd been holding. It's an immediate as she chokes, something she'd only experienced briefly when water went down the wrong pipe. It's a burning fire in her chest as she inhales and coughs, writhing from the torture.
Then, suddenly Tifa feels hands cradle her cheeks, stilling her instantly. Before she can open her eyes, a mouth presses against hers and life is breathed into her. Sweet oxygen fills her lungs in exchange for the water that had entered them. It's like a second chance, a miracle, an impossibility.
Tifa lets her eyes flutter open, getting used to the feeling of water against them, and sees the most beautiful woman she's ever seen in her life. Emerald green eyes stare back out at her, curious and full of a light she hasn't seen in a person in a long time. Brown hair floats behind the woman, slow and angelic like the rest of her. A pink bow holds it up in a ponytail.
Tifa sucks in the air gratefully, closing her mouth tightly and pulling away. The first thing her eyes lock on is the tail that extends behind her. Tifa's eyes bug out and almost let out all the air she just gained in shock.
This must be death, there's no way. She's seeing the light in the form of a woman.
The woman still has her hands cradling Tifa's cheeks gently, and she smiles, tilting her head curiously. Her body lays against Tifa's, her tail mingling with her legs. It's a soft pink, many fins adorning the sides and the end. Tifa had a pet fish when she was little, but it was nothing like this. This is beauty incarnate.
The woman's hand leaves Tifa's face, but not her body, sliding down her neck, shoulders, arms, stopping her her waist. Tifa wants to kiss her again.
Before that thought can get any more attention, the mermaid tightens her grip on Tifa's waist and swims, presumably, up. Tifa lets herself be pulled, unable to do anything but follow this woman, manhandle her, and guide her as she pleases.
When they breach the surface, Tifa sucks in a breath of air, arms coming up to hold the women's shoulders tightly.
The storm rages on, rain falling now and the ocean pushing them back and forth with large and angry waves. She looks up at the sky, dark and foreboding. She doesn't want to die.
Tifa looks back at the woman, who still holds her securely, and finds that she hasn't looked away from Tifa once.
"Please," Tifa says, her voice hoarse and trembling. "Help me."
The woman doesn't say anything, her smile only growing sweetly as she leans forward. Their lips connect once again but this time, it feels like the air is leaving her. A gift is only temporary in the eyes of the divine.
Tifa returns the kiss nonetheless, her arms tightening around her shoulders and pressing her body against the woman. The tail feels odd against her legs, but just an unfamiliar type of odd.
It's good while it lasts, but eventually everything goes dark.
When her eyes open again, she sucks in a harsh breath, flinching where she lays. The sky is sunny and the waves crash calmly somewhere down shore. Her fingers curl into the sand beneath her and she pants as she tries to gather herself.
Tifa sees the woman, the mermaid in her mind's eye, almost unable to move with the strength of the vision. She wonders if it was real or if it was all a desperate fever dream.
When she lets her head loll to the side, her eyes widen upon seeing what lies beside her.
A pink bow, innocent and true.