A Thousand Words

Her lovely, warm chocolate-colored eyes filled with tears; she could still hear him say those words she hated. He had blatantly lied to her, yet she had done nothing about it. She couldn't do anything about it. It was impossible.

"Save your tears, love, I'll come back. Hey, maybe I'll write you a letter?" he said, stroking her cheek gingerly. She knew he hated it when she cried, but that didn't stop her from crying.

It didn't stop her from crying then, either. He wasn't there to see her, so he could not do anything about it. The only thing that would keep her from crying would be him, walking through the door wearing a grin. She imagined what it would be like, him coming back.

She would be sitting on the couch, writing some non-important section for her book she would have published. He always called her want to write books a 'pipe dream', but encouraged her nonetheless. The radio would be playing some popular song; maybe the newest one from Celestina Warbeck, or the Weird Sisters. Suddenly, the door would creak open. Her eyes would lift from her parchment to see who had just wandered haplessly into her home, and then she'd drop everything she was holding onto the floor.

"Miss me?" he would say, eyes staring at his girlfriend, taking her appearance in.

"Oh, Merlin, no, this can't be real..."

"It is, love," he'd say, and take her in his arms, kiss her forehead, and comfort her; hold her as if he could never let g---

"No." Her voice was firm as she brought herself back to reality; her eyes, however, were swimming with unshed tears. "I won't dwell on past happenings, or wish for future ones," she told herself firmly, nodding, a resolute look upon her freckled facade. "He's not coming back. He'd be back by now, if he were."

She pulled her knees to her chest, wrapping her arms around her legs and laying her head down. Silent sobs racked her body, soon to turn into loud, violent ones.

"God, why me? Why'd you take him away from me? Why?!" she screamed, voice cracking on her last question. Her mouth contorted into a pained grimace, and she let out a howl of sorrow. She sobbed loudly, wanting to get her grief out in the silence of the quaint house the two had purchased a few months before. Wringing her hands, she froze, feeling the warm, solid band around her left ring finger -- and then proceeded to cry harder. They had planned to get married. She was beyond a doubt that those plans were shot down the drain, now.

She could remember the day that he had come to her in secret, in her seventh year -- he was out of Hogwarts, then -- and told her what had happened. What was going to take place. It was a week before she was leaving the giant castle for what might have been forever. Her N.E.W.T.s had just ended that day, and she had been pretty sure that she had gotten a good score on all of her tests.

They didn't matter to her anymore, not since he was gone. She didn't care that she had equaled with Percy in her N.E.W.T.s, and she didn't mind that Fred and George teased her persistently for being as smart as their overly pompous brother.

It's a bit funny, she thought bitterly. Here I am, three months fresh out of Hogwarts, and bitter towards the world and everything in it. You'd think that I would be out there partying like every other person that was in my year, but I can't. I can't imagine what it would be like if I went out and partied without him.

The redhead didn't like to admit it, but she had had a crush on him since her third year, even before they had started dating. She had gone out with Michael Corner and Dean Thomas, trying to get rid of those feelings, but it wouldn't work. And when he had come to her and confessed his feelings -- and he had a time of it, too, he told her later, that it was one of the most trying things he'd ever done -- she hadn't denied her feelings towards him. But she had damn well hated admitting it.

With a shuddering sigh, she looked down at the parchment she had received earlier that day. It had arrived crinkled in certain places with tear spots, most likely from the writer, and now it was almost positively polka-dotted with tear splotches.

Dear Ginny, it read.

I have written you this letter because I will most likely not be returning home. I hate having to tell you this, but.. don't expect me home. But, Gin', I want you to know that I love you, and don't forget, okay? Never forget me, please.. I love you.

He hadn't signed it, but she knew who it was from. Ginny imagined him writing it, gripping the quill in his right hand with his Quidditch-weathered fingers, about to go off to the last fight of his life. Hours later, she had received another owl -- from the Ministry, this time.

Dear Ms. Weasley,

All of us at the Ministry of Magic regret to inform you that your fiancé, Draco Malfoy, has gone missing and is thought to be deceased. We send you our sincerest apologies and hope that you can get through your loss with the grace of God on your side.

Sincerely,
Cornelius Fudge
Minister of Magic

With a scream of frustration, grief, and anger, she crumpled the letter in her fist, then hurled it at the fire. Her fist unclenched and her hands went to wipe her cheeks; she grabbed the small notebook on the coffee table and picked up a quill and ink bottle. Dipping the end of the quill into the ink, she opened the notebook and began writing in her journal about what had happened.

And then, suddenly, the door opened.

"Miss me?"

I know that you're hiding things
Using gentle words to shelter me
Your words were like a dream
But dreams could never fool me
Not that easily
I acted so distant then
Didn't say goodbye before you left
But I was listening
You fight your battles far from me
Far too easily

"Save your tears cause I'll come back"
I could hear that you whispered as you walked through that door
But still I swore
To hide the pain, when I turn back the pages
Shouting might have been the answer
What if I cried my eyes out and begged you not to depart
But now I'm not afraid to say what's in my heart

Though a thousand words
Have never been spoken
They'll fly to you
Crossing over the time
And distance holding you, suspended on silver wings
And a thousand words
One thousand confessions
Will cradle you
Making all of the pain you feel seem far away
They'll hold you forever

The dream isn't over yet
Though I often say I can't forget
I still relive that day
You've been there with me all the way
I still hear you say

"Wait for me, I'll write you letters"
I could see how you stand with your eyes to the floor
But still I swore
To hide the doubt when I turn back the pages
Anger might have been the answer
What if I'd hung my head and said that I couldn't wait
But now I'm strong enough to know it's not too late

Cause a thousand words
Call out through the ages
They'll fly to you
Even though we can't see
I know they are reaching you, suspended on silver wings
Oh a thousand words
One thousand embraces
Will cradle you
Making all of your weary days seem far away
They'll hold you forever

Oh a thousand words
Have never been spoken
They'll fly to you
They'll carry you home, and back into my arms
Suspended on silver wings
And a thousand words
Call out through the ages
They'll cradle you
Turning all of the lonely years to only days
They'll hold you forever.

1000 words, final fantasy x-2