#I think she probably already said goodbye to her mom. and reeve’s news is just confirmation

[sarellathesphinx]

Hey did you guys know Reeve is the one who had to tell Elmyra and Marlene that Aerith died in the original game. I think about this constantly

[brophyblam]

Iceberg Theory Third Place Winner: “Everything is Alright” by Derby Reeves ’17

August 4th: Day 1: Please, anywhere but here.(1) 

September 30th: The room was silent as I sat back down. (2) 

October 31st: No one asked. (3) 

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(1)  Dear Me, The first day of school has always scared me. The new classes, new teachers, and almost inevitably, a new school. I know Mom tries to keep us in one place but her jobs always seem to have a different plan. Every time she tries to lay down roots, it just gets harder when her company pulls them up. The few friends I manage to make always come and go, so why bother getting close anymore? Mom seems to think I need friends for senior year, and I can’t see why. I mean, I’m leaving for college soon anyways and I’ll never see them again. Plus, not like anyone here would want to be friends with me. Mom drops me off in this new public school in the middle of nowhere and I’m already terrified to make eye contact with anyone outside of the car. I put my head down and plow past the crowd, clutching my bag as I make a beeline for my first class. When the teacher calls my name, I swear every pair of eyes in the room is glued to me and time stops. I stare at my desk for the rest of class as I listen to whispers of “Who the hell is that weirdo?” or “What is he wearing?” or “What a loser.” None of this is new. I don’t mind it anymore, really. On the way out the door, the teacher tells me if I “want to be successful in her class, I’m going to have to participate.” Great. I turn to leave and see five heads quickly swivel around as my audience disperses from the window of the door. I know what’s waiting as soon as I step out there. Please, anywhere but here.  Sincerely, You

 (2)  Dear Me, Please remember to never talk again. To anyone. Or anywhere. Remember when I said Ms. Levi told me I had to participate to “be successful” in her class? Well, maybe I shared a little bit too much. I know the assignment said to “be honest” but for God’s sake there’s a line. She didn’t tell us she’d be asking us to read them, but I knew at least she would see it, and that’s reason enough to shut my mouth. She didn’t need to know about Dad, or the counsellors, or the therapy, or the tens of prescriptions. It was just supposed to be a simple paragraph about myself. What unholy inspiration caused me to turn in a four page synopsis of my life struggles? I mean, I might as well have just stood up and shouted “I’m depressed!” and rolled up my sleeves! No, what I did was worse. I was honest. I said it all. I don’t know what the hell I was thinking. The room was silent as I sat back down. Sincerely, You 

(3)  Dear Me, I was thinking about how this used to be my favorite holiday back in Oklahoma. Even the year I broke my foot because I was convinced my Spiderman costume gave me the ability to climb walls was better than this year. Of course, the last few years have been much more dull; too old to trick or treat, but too young to not look sad while passing out candy to the elementary school kids on the block. That’s how it goes; you have your fun, then the younger kids get their turn. Of course, the typical choice of celebration for high school seniors is a house party. Mom works tonight and I told her I planned on staying in. She seems to be getting more concerned about me. I mean, after the teacher sent the note and the new counsellor appointments, how can she not be? Of course I lie and tell her I feel so much better. The counsellor seems to be buying it too. The meetings are shorter and way less boring. Mom has plenty to worry about, least of all should be me. I insisted I would go out, I just wasn’t invited anywhere. No one asked. Sincerely, You

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November 24th: It’s much more comfortable in the dark. (4)

December 1st: I’ll kill myself. (5) 

January 2nd: I might do it. (6)

 (4)  Dear Me, I never cared about Thanksgiving. It seems really nice for people with big, happy families. Our neighbors practically begged Mom and me to come over. I guess they had noticed how stressed my mom had been lately. We walked over to their house, one spot to the right and $200,000 past ours. When we got there, I wanted to crawl out of my skin. A new relative at every turn, asking my name, how old I am, where I’m from, my life story. Everyone looked sideways at us, biting their tongues to stop the most obvious question from falling out: “Where’s your family?” After an uncomfortable 45 minutes of meaningless small talk, who I can only assume is the father of the host is wheeled into the house. Everyone flocks to him and lies about how young he looks, how they knew he’d make it this year. Once everyone has said their hello’s, he points to me and my mom and asks, “Who the hell are they?” I can feel my face turning bright red as his daughter quietly tries to explain. Before she can finish, he blurts out, “Well why ain’t he here?” I feel sick to my stomach and stumble into the kitchen. I vaguely hear Mom behind me whisper an “I’m sorry” before I run out the side door and find myself in their yard. I plod across the grass and back to my house where I promptly lock myself in my dark room. Of all things, he had to mention Dad. I hear Mom come in the front door and sit at the kitchen table. A silent gloom hangs over the house as Mom cries onto a picture frame. I sit silent on my bed. It’s much more comfortable in the dark. Sincerely, You 

(5) Dear Me, Thank God for winter. Back in New Mexico, the weather was constantly a miserable 90 degrees. Minnesota made me love the snow, so now that the first powder of the season has stuck to the streets here in Pennsylvania, I feel some semblance of joy. I watch the days on the calendar slowly tick by as 2016 comes into its last month. School has been fine, and it seems like people have forgotten about September. Of course, still no one talks to me. But that’s fine, I’ve been able to focus on my schoolwork and applications to college. Scholarships have been a big worry, considering the hoops Mom has to jump through to make rent; college is a fiscal monster of biblical proportions in comparison. For the moment though, everything is alright. Soon we’ll be on break for the holidays and I can relax a little more. Mom seems concerned about what I’ll fill all my free time with, even when I tell her I’ll just be home, “reading or something.” She keeps asking me to talk to this girl in my English class. Her dad went to Mom’s office a few weeks ago and somehow got to talking about their kids. I find it laughable that Mom thinks I can just walk up and talk to this girl who probably hasn’t ever noticed me when I can hardly manage a regular conversation with her. I’d completely disregard the notion if she would quit reminding me already. I mean, I’d love to try, but I wouldn’t know where to start or what to talk about. If I have to talk about dumb stuff like school or hobbies or, God forbid, family, I’ll kill myself. Sincerely, Me 

(6)  Dear Me,  You’ll never hear me say it again, but Mom was right. Annie came up to me after class asking if I was the kid her dad told her all about. I asked her what he possibly could have told her and get this: she said, “Come find me at lunch and I’ll tell you.” Of course, I didn’t. How was I supposed to talk to her while she’s sitting with her friends? But after school she found me somehow and asked me why I didn’t find her at lunch. I stumbled through an explanation about not wanting to butt into her circle of friends before she stopped me and offered to drive me home. I stood silent at the offer before finally accepting when she started considering retracting. The drive was mostly quiet, but what was she expecting me to say? Our only conversation piece is English class, but I’m silent on account of September. As I’m praying she’d forgotten all about it, she turns to me and says, “You know, I thought it was really brave of you to write that English piece. Most of the kids in that class have mush between their ears and no sense of sympathy. I really hope none of them gave you a hard time.” Of course, I lied and stuttered out that they hadn’t. She saw straight through the facade and decided to drop it. As I was stepping out of the car, she handed me a torn corner of a notebook page and said, “Text me!” I think I stood in my driveway for 10 minutes as the snow collected on my shoulders, staring at the ten numbers. I spent an hour staring at my phone, trying to decide how to introduce myself. I settled on “hi.” It’s not a great start, but I guess I tried. She responded seconds later and suddenly I found myself in a real life conversation. I guess this was as surprising to her, because she shot me with an “I didn’t know you knew this many words.” Maybe I’m being too positive, but this could be a good thing. I’m afraid of being too optimistic, but if she wants to hang out more, I might do it. Sincerely, You. 

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March 5th: I’d never be saved. (7)

May 24th: My last goodbye. (8)

(7) Dear Me, I know I haven’t written anything to you in a long time. Ever since Annie and I started going out, life has been a whirlwind of emotions and events. I mean, I went to a school dance last week. Most everyone asked me what school I went to, and Annie made every last one of them feel bad about not knowing someone at their own school. She introduced me to her friends, only for me to forget their names the next day. Mom couldn’t believe it when I brought a girlfriend home, considering the last time I even had a friend over was Oklahoma. Even better, I’m actually going to college! La Salle gave me enough money for it to be feasible to pay tuition. It’s nice that I won’t be too far from Mom in these coming four years. I know she worries and the last thing she needs is to be tense about how I’m doing for eight semesters. Annie hasn’t heard from NYU yet but she’s really hopeful, and my fingers are crossed for her. When I read back through these letters, I can’t believe where I am compared to where I was in November last year. I think I have Annie to thank for that. She saved me when I thought I’d never be saved. Sincerely, You 

(8)  Dear Me, We knew it was going to happen. I mean, we started dating just a few months before college. Graduation is finally here and that means school is done. Of course I’ll be home all summer but Annie’s family goes to New York every June and stays through half of August so we clearly wouldn’t be seeing much of each other anyway. Last week she called me crying about how we’ll never see each other again. I think she was mad I didn’t cry. Of course I’m sad, it’s just not a surprise. Like Mom used to tell me every time we had to move, “All good things must come to an end.” But somehow, it’s ok. I saw her today and insisted on talking about it. For the first time ever, I think I did most of the talking while she quietly sobbed and listened resignedly. She knew we wouldn’t last, but that doesn’t mean what she gave me won’t make all the difference for the years to come. Today, once I walk down that aisle and get my diploma, it’s all over. I don’t think I’ll keep writing after today is over. As they say, the worst is over and the best is yet to come. So consider this my last goodbye. Sincerely, You

[emeraldspiral]

#cait tells you this if you speak to him in the Highwind. he says Elmyra and Marlene both cried their eyes out#the idea of Reeve who has been spying on the gang but has come to really care about them despite his hesitance and misgivings#watching aerith die#and knowing that with Tseng out of commission and the Turks handling stuff for Rufus. no one is going to think about telling Elmyra.#and he already has her and Marlene under surveillance. and it’s the worst fucking thing in the world but someone has to tell her#ugh. Ough. AUGH.#reeve a guy caught between his ideals and the rock they’ve been ground underneath having to go tell this woman that her daughter is dead.#and he’s so fucking sorry about it.#and there’s nothing anyone can do to fix it#and if Elmyra throws something at him or yells at him it’s no less than he deserves but honestly.#considering aerith could tell when elmyra’s husband died#I think she probably already said goodbye to her mom. and reeve’s news is just confirmation#and that’s somehow even worse

I hope they actually show that scene in the next game. The weirdest thing to me about the original is that you only take 2 party members with you to the Lost Capital and they say their goodbyes to Aerith, but there's no scene afterward where you regroup with the rest of the party and talk about what went down. Then on top of that, Elmyra and Marlene find out about it offscreen from someone they've never met before and the party has never actually met in-person.

Hey did you guys know Reeve is the one who had to tell Elmyra and Marlene that Aerith died in the original game. I think about this constantly