"I wish you were here...."
Petals swirled delicately around in the crisp breeze. They skimmed along the gem's lily-white skin playfully, dancing across her shoulders and calves. With her face buried in her arms, she refused to touch them, fearing they would leave her, too. Afraid that the last traces of Rose Quartz would disintegrate at her fingertips. She took in a breath of the rose-scented atmosphere and hugged her knees to her chest tighter.
Pearl thought she wanted to be in the comfort of Rose's garden, hoping that it would fill the void in her chest. Instead, she felt emptier than before. The warmth of Rose was here, swallowing Pearl up in empty affection and leaving her wanting. Remnants of the gem were here, strong and clear, but she was not.
No matter how desperately she wished, Rose Quartz would not regenerate again.
It took all her courage, but Pearl raised her head and stared as the rose petals fluttered about her. Again, she sucked in a breath of the scent and savored it before she reached out. She flinched, clenching her eyes shut as her fingers met the soft, silky petal in front of her. But she realized it was not a petal she was holding as she slowly opened her eyes.
The fingers of a voluminous Rose Quartz were intertwined with hers. She blinked once more, shocked at the sight before her. A very whitest dress, pink curls, big doe eyes met her gaze. Pearl gasped, not believing her eyes. She rubbed at her eyes, thinking she was just tired and seeing things. But she was still there. She felt the tears sting at her eyes, she tried to blink them away as the blood rushed to her cheeks.
"Rose! You're-- you're here!" She managed to sob out. She thought she must look a mess, and tried to pull herself together but the mere sight of the celestial being was enough to break her most refined composure.
The lovely Rose Quartz smiled at her, those plump pink lips perfect. No one could deny that she was beautiful. She could mystify entire universes with her beauty.
"Rose, please help me," Pearl scrambled to her feet. "I-I can't help myself anymore-- I... I lov-- I have feelings for.... Rose, I've missed you so much." The tears were falling faster now, and she pressed her free hand to her face, hoping to cover her embarrassment but there was no stopping her emotions from overflowing now.
A loving hand caressed her face and cupped her cheek. The warmth was comforting and Pearl quieted her sobbing.
"Oh Rose, please don't leave us again, I... I love you."
She went to wrap her arms around Rose, but she only met hollow air as the loving being disintegrated into fluttering flower petals.
Wordlessly, Pearl sank into herself, dropping back to sit against the tree and cry. The void in her chest ached, and she buried her head in her arms once again.
At that moment, she envied the humans' ability to sleep away their troubles, to be without feeling, at least for a little while.
