The morning sun shined softly through the window gently landing on Cloud’s sleeping eyes. He lay in his tossed bed ignoring the morning call. Taking his pillow, Cloud placed it over his face pressing it hard to filter out any sunlight that might have seeped through his eyelids. He didn’t wish to get up. He had no motivation to do so.

There was a gentle knock on the door. Cloud buried his face deeper into the pillow hoping whom ever it was would leave him in peace. The door slowly squealed open.

“Cloud, dear,” the voice said. It was a familiar voice. The same voice Cloud heard every single day since the day of his birth. It was the kind and warm voice of his mother.

“Come on, son. Seize the day,” she said walking into his room.

Cloud remained motionless, pretending he was still slumbering.

“I know your up so stop playing,” she said playfully nudging Cloud awake. Cloud resisted and stayed asleep.

“Oh, now you’re playing difficult.” She reached to Cloud and began to try and tickle him awake. He was able to resist until he finally burst into laughter. He began rolling around in hysteria as his mother ran her fingers around his body. It was a warm-hearted scene until Cloud abruptly yelled, “Leave me alone!” Suddenly the mood had changed. Cloud’s mom stood baffled by her son’s fierce outcry. He wrapped himself in his covers and turned away from her.

“What’s wrong, Cloud?” she asked concerned.

He didn’t respond.

“Well, I just came to tell you that your breakfast is ready,” she said.

His mother left the room and whispered, “Love you,” before closing his door.

Cloud, now wide awake and staring at the ceiling, stayed in his bed. He didn’t mean to snap at his mother, and now realized that he may have over reacted. Cloud aware she was merely playing. That was her way. She had just caught him at a bad time.

The reason for this behavior was the result of an incident that occurred the day before. In the house next door lived the Lockhart family. The Lockhart’s had a lively daughter by the name of Tifa. Cloud and Tifa weren’t best friends. They were more like acquaintances that greet each other if they happened to cross paths. Though Tifa didn’t know, Cloud secretly admired her. He admired her energy and kindness. She carried an air about her that brought merriment to everyone. Her face, from her bright amber eyes to her warm humble smile, was pure with innocent mischief. She was the most popular girl in Nibelheim. Maybe too popular, Cloud thought. Tifa always ran with her clique. A group that Cloud wasn’t made a member of. For the most part, Cloud was an extreme introvert who always kept to himself. He felt that Tifa’s friends were immature and anal. They laughed and giggled at every moronic thing that happened with no real grip on reality. Cloud’s ill feelings for Tifa’s friends also had a hint of envy. There were times when Cloud would spy on the group and wish he were playing with them. Sometimes he would stand in their plain sight in hopes that one them, preferably Tifa, would invite him to play. They just ignored him, except for Tifa who would every now and then look and smile in his direction. A simple gesture that would make Cloud happy for the day.

Anyway, regarding the incident. In the middle of the town was a water tower. Children were prohibited from climbing it, but Cloud disregarded the caution. He found comfort while atop the tower thinking his deep thoughts. The scenery was beautiful. On a clear day he could see flocks of the ostrich-like birds, levrikon, and the crimson mountains of Cosmo Canyon. As he sat on top of the high structure he heard somebody ascending the water tower. He figured it was his mother or some other adult climbing up to get him down, like usual. He didn’t bother turning when the person sat next to him.

“Wow, you could see Cosmo Canyon from here,” the person said.

To his surprise, it was Tifa sitting next to him. But there was something in her tone that implied to Cloud that there was something wrong. It was subtle but he picked it up.

“Yeah,” Cloud said responding to Tifa’ observation.

It was quiet for a while. Cloud noticed that her bright amber eyes had sunk to a dull brown. Her warm humble smile was gone and replaced with a sad indifferent smirk. Cloud wanted to ask what was wrong, but didn’t want to intrude on her business.

“Cloud,” Tifa said in a low voice, “where do you think dead people go when they die?”

“My mom told me there’s a place beyond Nibel Mountain where dead people go,” Cloud said looking to Tifa.

“Really?” She asked.

“That’s where she said my dad is,” he said.

“You ever think of visiting your dad?”

“Sometimes, but mom tells me its too dangerous on the mountain, and she said she would be sad if anything bad happened to me,” Cloud explained.

“My mom’s sick. I overheard the doctor tell my dad she might die,” she started sobbing, “I don’t want my mom to die. I love my mom.” Tifa laid her head on Cloud’s shoulder and softly began to cry. Cloud felt it was an awkward moment, and didn’t know what to do. He thought he should at least say something. No exact words came to mind.

“Hey, what’s this?” a voice yelled from below. “Look, Tifa’s got a boyfriend!”

The rowdy comedian was Locke accompanied by three other children. Locke was Tifa’s friend who was a year older than Cloud, and always had to be the center of attention. The boy had noticed Cloud and Tifa atop the water tower and saw an opportunity to make some fun.

“He’s not my boyfriend!” She screamed at the top of her lungs. Cloud was taken back by her reaction. Tifa got up in a fury and began descending the water tower in a hurry. Locke, down below, went to meet her on the bottom, but as she touched the ground she stormed right passed him and her other friends. Cloud didn’t quiet understand her behavior. He assumed Locke’s joke was bad time considering Tifa’s mother was dying. Cloud personally felt Tifa over reacted. Locke ran in front of Tifa to try and calm her down.

“Wait, Tifa,” he said holding her back, “I was just kidding. I know you aren’t interested in Cloud. I mean look at him.”

Everybody looked high to the water tower and began to leer at the lone figure on top. Locke continued, “Who wants a scrub like that. He’s all there by himself. It depresses me just to see it.” The children started laughing at Cloud. Tifa gave a little chuckle, but didn’t go wild like the others.

“C’mon you forgive me?” Locke pleaded

She thought a bit and finally said faintly, “Okay.”

Tifa, Locke and the rest of the crew left, but as they walked Cloud overheard someone say, “Now that you mention it. Cloud is always by himself. Doesn’t he have any friends?”

Another child said, “Of course not. Nobody wants to play with him. He’s so weak that he can’t even wrestle around without getting hurt.”

Soon they were all playing and forgot about what had happened back at the water tower. Unfortunately, Cloud didn’t forget. He sat hugging his knees on the tower, still stunned by the way everybody laughed at him, especially Tifa. Even though they didn’t talk much, Cloud considered her a friend. Possibly his only friend in Nibelheim.

Now it was the next day. Cloud finally decided to roll out of bed. Having had time to sleep on that unpleasant event, he made up his mind not to dwell on it. Tifa was unaware of Cloud’s feelings and meant no harm. He staggered his way down stairs to eat his breakfast. His mom always made some good pancakes, which he was all too eager to devour. While walking to the kitchen, Cloud noticed his mother was nowhere to be found. The appetizing smell of hot syrup and orange juice struck Cloud’s nose. He climbed onto the chair and began eating his breakfast. Cloud heard the front door open and then close shortly after. His mother stepped into the kitchen wearing her coat and holding a bag of groceries.

“Where’d you go, mom?” he asked while chewing on a big chunk of pancake.

“I went to get some thing’s from the Item Shop,” she said.

She set the bag on the kitchen counter. The mother sat in the chair across from her son. She smiled as Cloud hungrily ate his breakfast with teeth clenched for every bite. It reminded her of how a puppy chewed on hard kibble.

Her faced slowly turned grim, “You know, while I was buying these items, the clerk told me the sad fate of Mrs. Lockhart.”

“Yeah, she’s sick,” Cloud explained.

“No, Cloud, Mrs. Lockhart died last night.”

He stopped chewing his food dazed by what his mother had just said.

“She was such a kind woman,” his mother began to say, “I’m most worried about her daughter, Tifa. Such a cute child, and generous, too. Tifa would always help carry the groceries for her mother. Those two were inseparable. I’m sure Tifa must be taking the death hard.”

Cloud’s mother was correct about the relationship between the mother and daughter. Tifa loved her mother more than mere words could express. Cloud pushed his food aside and promptly got off the chair.

“Where are you going?” His mother asked.

“I have to see Tifa. I want to know if she’s okay.” Cloud said walking to the door.

She smiled and said, “Okay, dear. I’ll keep an eye on your breakfast.”