Oceans Away

Prologue: In so little words


"Parting is such sweet sorrow"

– William Shakespeare



  It was near sunset at the time of his departure. Even with my jacket on, the chilly seaport air seemed to be sucking away the very warmth from my body, leaving only a cold numbness in my bones.

I fought back the stinging in my eyes and clenched shut my trembling hands.

I can't break down now. Not in front of him. I can't let him see my tears. I'll have plenty of time for that later, once he's…

"Cloud"

His serene voice pulled me out of my reverie, but I didn't dare to look into his eyes.

"I will come back, I promise."

I closed my eyes, fighting off the thoughts of what could happen that might prevent him from keeping his promise.

I won't be able to hold back the tears much longer. I thought dumbly while biting my bottom lip in frustration.

Apparently he noticed how distraught I was, even with my vain attempts at hiding how I felt, because I felt his warm hand on my cheek, gently turning my face towards him.

I still couldn't look at him.

"Do you trust me?" I heard him whisper.

The question caught me off guard, which caused my eyes to shoot open. I was met with his stormy, blue-grey ones gazing into mine.

That's when I saw it. He was hurting just as much as I was, if not more. He was simply better at hiding it than me; only leaving traces of it, in his now somber eyes.

"Of course I do, Leon. I trust you with my life." I managed to say with a shaky voice.

My eyesight was growing blurry with the onslaught of tears I was fighting so hard not to shed.

"Then believe me when I tell you this. I will come back for you, Cloud. I promise I will. Nothing will keep me from seeing you again. I swear, I shall return to you."

With that I couldn't hold my tears back any longer.

They spilled down my face as I let out a large sob, clutching onto the fabric of his jacket. I pressed my wet face against his hard chest.

"Oh, Leon…" was the only thing I managed to choke out between sobs.

Immediately I felt his strong arms wrap themselves around my body, pressing me tighter against him as he buried his face in my hair, kissing the top of my head as means to console me, whilst whispering soothing words.

We stayed like that for several minutes.

Leon softly swaying me back and forth. His lips ghosting through my hair while one of his hands rubbed small, comforting circles on my back.

And the only sounds heard were my quieting sobs and the rolling waves against the wharf.