The roof of Home had collapsed in, so I could see the sun go down. I remembered last night’s bloody sunset, and wished I had taken it literally. It had been foreshadowing the bloody events that were to unravel today…I could have saved him. Tonight, the sunset mocked me. A clear violet was creeping across the calm sky, stars already beginning to twinkle innocently, and the moon loomed out, pale and relaxed.

The darkness had completely thrown its blanket over us when I finally let go of the ragdoll that had once been Hikaro. I draped him gently over a smooth piece of rubble and combed his hair through with my fingers for the last time. I remembered our last kiss and refused to let it be our last…I leaned down and kissed his gentle lips one last time…they were as cold as pewter, but I relished what would definitely be our final treasure.

I worked my way out of the ruined Home and stood in the nearest stretch of desert. My hair felt tangled and flat; I knew my eyes had dimmed; my clothes were torn and dirty; my left ankle had been broken; my shoulder felt like it had broken…but worst of all, my heart was broken. I had lost my home again, and along with it my friends and my first love. Shaking still, I fell to my knees, hugging myself for warmth even in the sweltering desert night, my tears turning the golden sands to a muddy brown. I was all alone, the last Al Bhed at Home…