Never Meant To Hurt You

As if things couldn't have been any worse and heavier on her heart, now Bowen felt an extreme sense of guilt. If it wasn't for her, Haiku could have been here with his father, enjoying their last little bit of time together. He could have helped his family through the night sickness that had plagued the world. Instead, he had been with her, a woman who wasn't worth his time. The mental anguish made Bowen feel incredibly nauseous, but she swallowed back the bile, forcing herself to be what Haiku needed her to be. Strong, somehow.

Haiku crumpled to the ground and Bowen wrapped him up in her tiny embrace, holding his big head against her snow and russet chest. The woman whispered her condolences and many other little things that didn't make any sense. She simply sought to soothe the man. As though nature had sensed their tumultuous emotions and was commiserating, thunder rumbled and the clouds began to grow dark. Little spatterings of rain began to fall down upon the pair, but Bowen didn't move. She would hold Haiku for as long as he needed it, rain or no.

Bowen placed her cheek upon the giant man's head. "Do you... want me to stay with you?" Though they were essentially breaking up, he was still her best friend. She wouldn't abandon him after hearing the news that he'd just received. Bowen would send Bishop flying back to Artorias to tell him that she wouldn't be back right away.

"Bowen & Haiku"