Just like that, on that special day that he would've normally had to wait years for, Rohan finds himself standing outside, with a black graduation cap on his head which dangles a blue tassel that drapes beside him. His blue eyes stare ahead with an expression of relief more than overwhelming sorrow or joy.
He was finally done with all the work needed to set him free, he had taken up an impossible challenge and succeeded. He accomplished a task that had never been done before in the history of the university, managing to push forward through every obstacle to the end. Thus, he had no reason to feel complete sorrow.
However, at the same time, he doesn't feel much pride in himself for his achievements in the university, for he had missed out on three of the years he would've taken, and never managed to experience much of what graduates had. For that, it's hard for him to feel too much joy, for he saw this ceremony as him leaving the university rather than moving on from it, for he was unsure if he was ever truly there.
Rohan stands on the front stage beside an adult, staring into a massive crowd ahead of him, for the ceremony was held in an immense open field to supply enough room. On the ground, there were countless rows of seats filled with other graduates, who were all far older than Rohan, for almost all of them were seniors.
Behind the rows of graduates is what seems to be a dogwood tree in the far distance with great white leaves, being placed as decoration for the event. The tree looms in the back, with the ceremony taking place in front.
On the sides were elevated bleachers which house seemingly more seats for adults, likely being parents and family, who came from all over the Superverse to see their children move on from this stage of their lives into adulthood.
There were countless people overall, seeming to be thousands, all in front of Rohan's eyes.
The people all clap in celebration for his graduation, as they did with every other student, regardless of if they personally knew them. It was well known how much of an achievement graduation was, especially for a university like the one they're in, and so even if they may have not known him, they knew a fraction of what he had to go through to get to this place.
Of course, even though everyone in the audience knew he was graduating, none of them knew what he truly had to go through to get to this point. They didn't know that the man that stands on the stage is the same one who had to stand in front of the massacres. They didn't know what Rohan truly had to do to finally get to the end, but that ignorance was a pleasant bliss, for Rohan didn't want the world to know such truths.
It was best that rather than seeing someone who's had to push through every breaking point just to crawl to the end, they just saw yet another graduate collecting their degree before walking off the stage for someone else to come.
Rohan observes the audience who sit under the blue skies, sitting in front of the trees that stand in the distance. Rather than wearing casual clothing, he dawns a complete black graduation gown, fitted with an azure blue stole. It's the same dress that's worn by the students sitting on the seats down the field, for all of them are dressed the same.
He surveys the audience in the bleachers, the attendees who aren't students, while listening to all of their claps. In the few moments he has before he inevitably needs to get off the stage, he tries his best to spot one person, one person who he was partially anxious of but partially hoped would be there.
His friends wouldn't be able to be there for his graduation, that he already knew. He also realized that he never truly told his brother about his graduation, and so there was a chance he didn't even know about the event, which he felt bad for, as he couldn't bring himself to admit it to him.
Without having spent much time getting to know people in the school during his one year, he didn't have many acquaintances, and so there were hardly any people who were there specifically for him. Without even needing to search, he knows that his parents weren't attending the graduation, for they didn't even know he was graduating this year.
Then again, he was unsure if his father ever planned to attend the graduation in the first place, for he's unsure if his father would've cared enough to make the trip.
Many of the seniors in front of him would likely be attending parties after graduation, and they'd likely enjoy themselves now that their final stage of education was complete. He could tell from their eyes, as all of them seemed filled with joy and excitement for their new life.
Although, Rohan wouldn't be attending such gatherings, nor was he preparing to be able to enjoy the end of his classes. He didn't spend as much time as the others in this stage, and so it wasn't as climatic or meaningful to him. Perhaps he could join a party with Dimetriez if he truly wanted to, but now that Sriya wouldn't be there, it just wouldn't feel right.
The most likely option was that he would soon after begin searching for an occupation, and try to get an apartment somewhere in the city. There'd be no transitional period, he'd just need to keep moving to the next step of the infinite staircase to the sky. The battle was never over, for it was a battle that'd consume his life, one that'd only end when he does.
But it was worth it for the freedom, that was what he told himself in every moment of the battle. He was obtaining the freedom to live his life the way he wanted to, and he was obtaining the freedom to try something beyond what he was meant to be.
But with that freedom, there'd be greater hardships. There'd be greater challenges he has to face, and it'd be a more dangerous world for him to live.
All the work he put in would pay off in him being given more work, for the cycle would never truly end. He'd always be toiling away, whether it be in school or in a job, and he'd always be having to stress late at night about meeting some sort of deadline.
In the end, the most he could do was choose what burden he'd bear, because freedom from work wasn't an option. It was inevitable that he'd have to spend the rest of his life burning his years laboring, and as he stares at all the graduates, all he can see are future workers. They're happy now, but not too far into the future, he knows they'll be stressed over getting into sufficient jobs, and even past that they'll be stressed in those jobs.
But they were living their moments in an ignorant bliss, only surrounding themselves with the joy of an ending rather than the anxiety of a beginning. They were still happy regardless of what lay aheads, as even if part of them was fearful, they were able to put it aside whereas Rohan couldn't as easily.
In the end, while Rohan stands amongst the other graduates, he wasn't one of them. He didn't toil away for four years. He didn't have the same type of aspirations as them. He didn't want to live the same life they did.
He was different, he was a cold outlier, an anomaly in the ceremony. The joy they felt he didn't share, and the dreams he had they didn't share. Even standing in front of the stage, he still felt isolated and alone.
Moving forward and seeking that freedom meant being marooned in a cycle of work. To find happiness, he'd need to accept suffering. There was no purely good ending, there was only the best one he could make for himself.
The next assignment would be harder. The next Exhumans he'd have to face would be stronger. Nothing would become truly easier, the job would only become more difficult. Now granted with the keys to move forward, Rohan could only feel fixed in place, his feet swallowed by quicksand.
His freedom was his burden.
As Rohan's eyes gaze at the audience in the few moments that he's on the stage, they are caught by a specific individual standing at the bottom edge of the bleachers, designating themselves to the corner. He fixates on the individual, seeing that they seem to be dressed in a white hoodie with the hood down, allowing him to also see their face.
He stares at the female in the corner, who has long brown hair that's draped over her shoulder and runs down her body. His blue eyes are caught by her amber eyes, noticing that the female seems to have a sentimental expression, as though part of her is in deep pain watching the man on the stage.
The two lock eyes for a few moments, as they each know the other is there, for she had indeed kept her promise.
Rohan shakes his head after realizing he needs to get off the stage, and so he turns to the staff beside him, and nods his head. He then begins walking towards the side of the stage to get off after having received his degrees, but even as he walks towards the exit, all he can think about is the emanant interaction he was going to have with her, their final talk before they'd separate forever.
The anticipation of that interaction weighs on Rohan throughout the rest of the ceremony, for he stops paying attention to the unknown names being called, and only is able to think of the fact that she was behind him, waiting to talk one more time.
After everything that has happened, knowing that it would all be concluded in this one conversation makes his chest feel heavy, as he knows just how much they meant to each other once upon a time when they were happy together.
This final interaction wouldn't be a breakup, as they had effectively already done that. Instead, this last conversation would be him letting go of the final remnant of his old life, his old dreams.
The ceremony flashes past Rohan in what feels like an instant as his mind stays engrossed in the emnanacy of his final confrontation. Eventually all the names are called, a final speech is given, and the ceremony thus is adjourned.
All of the graduates stand up from their seats, and they grab the caps off the top of their heads before throwing them in the air in celebration, cheering joyously. The sea of black caps all hover in the air for a moment before plummeting back down, with the blue tassels waving in the wind.
After all of the graduates are dismissed, they walk down the open field as does the audience in the bleachers. Crowds of families and friends meet at the field, speaking to one another and taking pictures with each other to celebrate this great day.
Not even a minute after release, the bleachers and seats are all emptied, with all of the people standing up and together, with many of them wearing the same black gowns and blue stoles. Young boys and girls, younger siblings of the graduates, hug the students happily. Young adults, older siblings of the graduates, pat the students' shoulders and chat with them, pleased to see that their young sibling has moved into adulthood.
Older adults, parents of the graduates, tear up and hug the students with overwhelming pride for their sons and daughters who have made it through all of the long years of college and grade school, finally free as adults.
The crowds give little space to pass through, leaving a difficult journey for Rohan as he inches through the sea of people. Also wearing his cap and gown, he passes much older students, watching them take pictures with their families and comrades.
Standing amongst the other seniors is slightly jarring from how mature they seem, being taller than Rohan and having more facial hair to indicate age. Most of the people are too immersed in their own worlds to move for him, leading him to have to carefully push his way through while quietly apologizing.
As Rohan walks past everyone, he glances at the graduates' smiles and the parents' euphoric tears. While he may not be able to personally experience what those graduates are feeling, at least being able to watch them gives him a slight idea of the jubilance they hold.
Watching the proud fathers hug their sons gives an envious feeling, for he never saw the same pride from his own. In fact, he doesn't know if his parents were ever truly proud of him, or if they would ever be knowing what kind of life he was planning on leading. His father never had a face other than the seemingly emotionless and dull expression that Rohan had to get used to throughout his whole childhood.
It was most likely that he was disappointing them even if they didn't know it, for while he was still pursuing a career, it was no longer his main goal in life. He had shifted away from that old road, and was going somewhere he wasn't guided to by them, somewhere that they may have not even wanted him to go.
Now, this new road takes him through to the end of the crowd, and he emerges on the other side of the field. He's no longer surrounded by people, allowing him to use his hands to adjust his graduation cap, which was pushed around.
After fixing it, he lowers his hands and looks ahead of himself at the mostly empty field ahead, as while he can still hear chatter behind him, there's no conversation ahead.
While there may not be many people past the crowd, Rohan finds himself staring at the great tree that resembles a dogwood tree. The stem of the tree is massive, being wider than himself, with a great amount of branches that emerge from the stem and provide a beautiful bush of white leaves, which has a great radius thus enveloping a considerable amount of the field in shade. In fact, the edge of the umbrella of leaves is only a few feet in front of him, which is high enough for him to walk under.
A soft breeze causes the leaves to rustle, and Rohan's blue eyes peer at the stem, as he immediately notices the one person under the tree, isolated from the crowd.
Leaning against the thick stem of the dogwood tree is the girl in the white hoodie, who has her hands in her pockets and her amber eyes staring at the green grass ground.
She wears a dreadful expression as she waits in silence, her luscious brown hair let out behind her as she ponders if the boy would even speak to her or walk away again.
Just as promised in their confrontation outside of the party, she attended the graduation ceremony, anticipating the boy to be there. She was correct, and since she was correct, she knew that this would indeed be their last conversation.
The boy frowns as he stares at her, seeing that she's reserved herself to the edge, hiding from everyone else. The ectatic life she once had was lost, as she appears depressed, already feeling an overwhelming tsunami of pain.
He takes a few steps forward until he's under the shade of the tree, to which he stops, lingering by the edge. He then lets out a deep sigh and lowers his head, staring at the ground too.
The boy grabs his graduation cap with both hands, and carefully pulls it off his head, exposing his own natural black hair. His hair jumps out after being freed, and he holds the cap in front of him so he can gaze at it for a few moments.
He stares at the cap of his graduation uniform, knowing what meaning it holds. He was one of the only students who didn't toss it with the others when the ceremony concluded, for he didn't feel the same joy as the others.
Now however, the boy lets go of the cap with his left hand, and while holding it with his right hand, he carelessly tosses the black cap to the side, letting it fall on the grass. The tassel sinks past the blades of grass as the cap sits on the ground, seemingly abandoned, as it lays beside him.
The boy then raises his head, staring at the girl through the wind pushing on him. His eyes dilate as if to get a better look at her, and he returns his arms by his side. He takes a deep breath with his mouth closed, and slowly lets it out.
Looking at her standing against the tree reminds him of the nightmare world he was forced into, and having to confront the illusion of her inside Maria's room. He remembers their conversation, as even though it wasn't with the real her, he was still being entirely genuine in his response to the genuine problems he created.
He remembers his declaration, the words he expressed to her in a desperate attempt to push through the dream. While it wasn't her but instead a horrific demon conjured by his former friends, having said what he said helped him know what he truly felt from her, and it brought clarity to his mind, clarity of what he had to express in their final interaction.
He then begins slowly approaching the girl, walking deeper into the umbrella and towards the stem. His blue relaxed eyes gaze on her as he walks away from his cap, as his whole body seems relaxed.
It seemed that he had this exact same encounter already, and now that he knows what to do, he finds himself more relieved and confident to approach her. He knows what he did to her, and he knows where it's left her. He knows where the two of them are headed, and what he needs to tell her before it's too late.
Another gust of wind strikes the area, causing the white leaves to rustle again, and for the boy's hair to be picked up and drift in the current. He continues walking regardless as he doesn't seem to stop, taking a path straight to her.
The girl raises her head to gaze back at the boy, perplexed by the little space he's giving himself. She was sure that the boy could keep his distance from her as it seemed he didn't want to be anywhere near her, because just as he said, he wasn't moving towards her. Yet at the same time, that's exactly what he's doing, as he continues the same steady pace.
She pushes herself off of the tree's stem, stumbling forward a few steps before gaining stability. She stands up straight, her amber eyes looking into the boy's blue eyes as she stands in front of the tree. She takes her hands out of her pockets and puts her arms by her side, waiting to see what the boy does.
The area under the tree stays nearly silent, being distant from the crowd, which the two of them tune out. The boy in the black gown approaches the girl in the white hoodie, both of them silent, just caught in the other's gaze.
Both of them have a dreary look, as both of them seem drained and exhausted from the long and painful year. Both of them had fought their own battles, leaving them fatigued by the end. As they stare at one another, they're reminded by the faces of the one they loved back then, back when everything was aligned.
The boy was usually stoic, but there were instances of joy from him. He'd occasionally smile, as even if it wasn't too grand, his rare smiles were contagious. While the way he showed his glee was more subtle, there was an adorable nature to it, as though his smiles were treasurable.
When he wanted to be romantic, he was surprisingly capable, as he knew how to make his girlfriend's heart race. He was always there to help her with any task, whether it be academic or other, and when he'd speak about seemingly anything, there'd be a charming enthusiasm that'd emanate from him, as he always seemed to carry a passionate aura for any activity he undertook. He could talk about several topics for hours and explain every detail from the basic core to every small specificity, and even if most of it was too confusing to follow, she'd still listen to him throughout from how endearing it'd be. He was also willing to do what she wanted, watching any show regardless of how odd the premise was, and willing to try new activities he may not have the best background with such as cooking.
Even if he was terrible at an activity, nevertheless he'd find a way to make it enjoyable. He never made her feel down about anything she did, and he'd always try to make the mood better. He wanted to be there for her, and she was all she ever needed or wanted.
That was the boy she had fallen in love with, who now approaches her with a dreary expression.
While the boy might've been more reserved in how he expressed his energy, the girl openly displayed the abundance of joy she always had. She'd always be smiling and would always have a warm aura around her. She had a precious presence, always wanting to bring joy to anyone around her.
She'd go as far as to burden herself with the chores of others just to keep them happy, and she'd gladly give herself the worst conditions just for others to live more luxuriously.
Even then with all the pain she put on herself, she'd somehow smile over it and seem to be fine with whatever she had. Her optimism was sweet, and regardless of how dead someone may seem, she'd always find a way to enchant them with life. She was a gem for the people she knew, a shining pearl that couldn't be found anywhere else.
She was such an innocent dear, but she also knew how to initiate and advance. She knew how to push boundaries to bring someone closer, and would put in a great deal of effort to secretly get closer with someone if she wanted to.
She knew how to get an introverted boy who'd always spend time working on his own to spend all the evenings with her, and she knew how to make someone who seemed to only care about academics to feel genuine love. She knew how to bring out the best in others, and even knew how to reveal sides of them that they themselves may have not known existed.
She was courageous enough to take a chance with someone who seemed to be the least likely to be a lover, and was willing to stay with him even knowing how occupied of a man he was. The amount of time she'd get with him wouldn't matter, but rather she'd place value on the quality of the time she did get.
She knew how to love, but more than that, she knew how to make others want to love. She was the girl who gave a cold robot a human heart, and she was the darling that would snuggle with him with abundant love whenever she could, clinging onto him with a lovable need.
She was everything he had wanted, she was the life that he wanted to have. She was the perfect life he could have, one that he's always genuinely wanted for as long as he could remember, one that made his fantasies come true. She used to be the portrait in his mind, but now she wasn't even in the picture.
That was the girl he had loved, who now stands and stares back at him with a dreary expression.
The girl stands in silence as the boy gets close to her, having walked from the edge of the tree to the center. Another breeze of wind brushes against them, causing the leaves to dance. The boy's hair drifts in the air once again, and the girl's hair is picked up and blows back with individual strands flying past her, making her face clear.
The girl's amber eyes then widen in shock as her mouth begins to open, her jaw dropping. Her eyes seem to be hit with a sudden wave of life as it lights up from its dull blankness, and they even seem to become watery in an instant, gleaming as though she's on the verge of tears.
The boy lifts his arms as he stands right in front of her, and in an unexpected move, he embraces her in his arms. He pulls her into a tight hug as the wind passes, gently letting his and her hair back down as the leaves stop dancing.
The girl's face is brought into the boy's chest, her eyes still wide, as she feels his warm arms around her. Her body freezes as she can't do anything but stand in place, her arms still by her side, being pulled into a hug she thought she'd never get again.
The boy places his chin on the girl's head, as he maintains the embrace, yet keeps it loose enough for her to break out if she is unpleased by it. However, he doesn't feel any resistance, as it's clear that either she's too stupefied to react, or she doesn't want to break off the embrace.
His relaxed blue eyes stare for a few moments before then closing as he immerses himself in the embrace, holding it without speaking, as he just wanted to feel her first.
The two stand right in front of each other, with the boy's arms wrapped around the girl and the girl's arms by her side. For the first time in months they embraced, and so for the first time in months their auras linked together, allowing them to feel each other again in a way they both had missed dearly.
Months ago, a single hug didn't seem to be anything out of the ordinary, as they'd always cuddle in bed anyways, so just one hug was almost nothing. But now, long after they had been deprived of that love, this one hug brought a flood of emotions that they hadn't felt for an eternity. It was the first sensation of life that they had been given in months, and one both of them treasure in silence, as the girl is unable to articulate any words.
The boy takes a deep breath in with his eyes still closed, and he slowly lets it out while embracing her.
His blue eyes then slowly open, however they stay relaxed rather than wide. He stares at the brown bark of the dogwood tree, having obtained the moment he desired, and is now ready to speak his mind in the last chance he has.
The boy speaks in a delicate voice, "Hi Erica...thanks for coming...I needed to see you one last time. I know the last time we talked was...rough...and I know that I hurt you, and I know what I said to try remedying it didn't really help either. I know what this gown means...and I'm sorry Erica...I'm sorry for giving up on us. I know how hard you tried to keep us together, and I know how much I just let you down in response. I know that back then I said some things that made it seem like I regretted us...but please...that's not true. I don't regret a single moment we spent together, it wasn't a waste of time, and maybe it's selfish to say but I did truly love being with you even if I ruined it later. I know that at the beginning I never really seemed interested in love, but truthfully I've always envied those who had it from when I was in grade school. I remember seeing couples holding hands in hallways and kissing goodbye in front of classrooms, and I remember that in the back of my mind, I wanted that. Even if it would be for a moment, even if it might not be real, I just wanted to experience something that seemed so magical to everyone else. When I first met you, I felt something, that longing, but I had to repress it because I thought I'd never get that love anyways, I mean I don't even try with a social life and I've never tried making myself attractive, so there's no reason I would ever get it. But for some reason...you wanted me to go to your dorm and you wanted me to spend time with you. And honestly I was so dense back then and only thought you wanted help for work purposes, but to be honest I did enjoy spending time with you, not because of the work we did but because I was with you. And then...for a reason I still don't understand and may never get, you chose me. Of all the boys who were more athletic with larger muscles, of all the boys who tried harder to be amusing and endearing, you chose me of all those people. Thank you Erica...because that kiss meant more to me than you may ever know. The time I had with you, even if short, was some of the best time in my life. I was able to experience something I never thought I would, and for that I'm truly grateful. For the first person I loved and for someone who chose me, you've been better than any fantasy I've had, and you've been an angel in my world. You know how to love in a way I never could, not just to me but for everyone you come in contact with. The world is better with you in it, and I know that I hurt you in ways I may never truly grasp, and I know that I've left you cold and alone for so long, but please, don't stop because of me. Don't stop loving, don't stop trying, don't stop fighting. I know there'll be someone who can admire you better, and I know that the world will appreciate you for what you are. You're going to make the world a better place Erica, I know you will, and the path you're on is a great one, so don't hurt yourself because of me. I...I want to make the world a better place too...I want to make people happy the way you do...but...I'm sorry but my path is different from yours. You were everything I wanted and wanted to be...you were the dream I've always had, and you were the future I've always wanted. But...I'm not that anymore...I want to be something else, I have different dreams and I desire a different future. Nothing you did was ever wrong, you never made a mistake, none of this was your fault, so please don't blame yourself. This was all on me, I'm sorry how close I let myself get to you and how much I hurt you because of it, I really didn't want to hurt you. I want to help the world, but I have another way of wanting to do it, there's someone else that I want to be, even if that someone isn't with you. I did truly love you Erica, I'm sorry I don't anymore but I really did. I loved your face, your voice, your personality, your activities, everything about you I loved. You're going to do great in this world, you're a great person and you have so much to offer to everyone. I know we may never see each other again, but even though our paths diverge, they'll always run parallel to each other, we'll always be beside one another. So please, keep being the angel that I know you are, Erica. Don't stop loving."
Erica's eyes become even more watery, and tears begin to start flooding out of her amber eyes. She lifts her arms and immediately squeezes Rohan, embracing him as well, this time far tighter as she clings onto him as hard as she can.
She drives her face into his body as tears run down her eyes, and she begins sobbing uncontrollably. She squeezes her eyes shut, but even then the tears continue flooding down her cheeks and off her face, plummeting down to the green grass below in drops, as though it was raining.
Erica exclaims through sobs, her voice breaking as she forces her words out: "I never regretted loving you either! I won't stop, I promise, I'll keep loving! I love you, Roh, I love you so much. I love you more than any way I can express, I love you so much that even when it hurts I can't stop loving you. I love you, I love you, I love you, I love you!"
Her voice shatters again as she returns to loud continuous sobbing, clinging onto Rohan for the last time as she cries with all the emotion she'd had for months, all coming down at once.
Her tears wetten Rohan's black gown, yet he lets her continue, knowing that she needed this release. He continues to hold her in his embrace, letting her cry her heart out as he keeps his eyes open, feeling a pain in his chest as his heart aches.
Moving forward from the school wasn't an emotional challenge from Rohan, for he never grew too much of an attachment with the university itself. The main difficulty was presented in the form of the tedious work he had to do, and the pain of his friends' absence. But other than that, he was able to pursue forwards, and he never truly doubted himself.
However, diverging from his old life was something far different. Having to diverge from the normal life he worked so hard to build for himself, leaving behind all that he made for himself, that was a true challenge that shot him in the heart and left him bleeding.
Erica was the paragon of Rohan's ideal life. Her love was something he had long desired, and something about their relationship felt right in a way he didn't know how to explain. Having her in part of his life made it better, and it would've made his life perfect.
She offered him a beautiful world that brought a new light to normalcy. She showed him that life wasn't always about work and productivity, but that he could spend some time relaxing with the people he loved, and that could be just as fulfilling if not more.
With her, everything felt steady and manageable. Spending time with her was never stressful, it was never anything he found dangerous, it was easy and it was something he felt comfortable with. There was never a battle with her, as true love wasn't war, but it was peaceful harmony.
Diverging from her was what felt truly gut-wrenching. Having to abandon all that comfortability, that relaxation, that steady pace, wasn't something he found easy. Knowing what he could have and still walking the other way would continue to eat at him for a while, as this was a decision he had to stick with.
He was abandoning this harmony for something chaotic and dangerous, a world where any day could be his last, a world with no guarantees. He wouldn't have the time to slow down in the way he could with friends or a lover, and he'd have to return to living a life full of work and toils.
That was the true burden of taking on this freedom, knowing what life he was missing out on, and having to accept it. Freedom wasn't the power to change the world however one would like it, but it was instead the power to accept what is and what isn't. It was both a blessing and a curse, something that let him live life to his greatest potential while knowing what that life wouldn't include.
To give up love wasn't something easy, especially for someone who wanted it for so long.
But it was the decision he had to make to obtain that freedom. The freedom to accept that reality, and to decide to live in it and keep trying. That was what he wanted, and that was something he was willing to sacrifice everything he had for.
Rohan hears Erica's sobs quiet to silence, as she seems to have finally released all her pain. He then carefully unwraps his arms around her, breaking the long and much needed embrace.
His eyes stay open as he finally is ready to let go. He's ready to let go of her and the desires of his old life. He's finally ready to move forward, and to diverge into his own path.
Erica feels the embrace conclude, and she loosens her own arms around him. While she much rather wouldn't, she accepts their fate, and breaks off the embrace as well, unwrapping her arms and bringing them to her side.
Rohan takes a step back, creating distance between the two once again. He looks down at Erica with soft blue eyes, as she stares back at him with soft amber eyes.
He watches as Erica sniffles twice lightly, but her eyes are no longer tearing. Another gust of wind strikes them, lifting both of their hairs, as they continue to gaze at one another for the last time before they diverge.
Rohan flashes a weak smile to try relieving the sorrow of the mood, to which Erica flashes a weak smile back in response.
He then turns his head to the side, facing the other side of the tree, opposite from the ceremony. He stares at the bright light outside, as he's still shrouded by the shade of the leaves above him, knowing that he can't stay under forever.
He then turns his whole body to face the side, and takes a step forward towards the light, and away from Erica. He then takes another step forward, and another, and begins walking away, leaving Erica by the center of the tree.
Erica turns her head to watch Rohan leave in silence, her brown hair resting beside the back of her white hoodie. She views Rohan as he approaches the edge of the tree in his black gown, his hair drifting in the breeze as his back faces her.
Their final interaction was over, and Rohan was finally making his move, leaving his old life behind to chase another. With his mind set, there was no going back, which the two knew, and the two had to come to accept and respect.
Rohan slowly walks towards the light, his footsteps silent from the grass as Erica can do nothing but watch the man she loved move on.
The man had begun the year completely fixed on his path, planning to stick in the school for the whole four years and graduate to live a regular adulthood.
That was the plan from such a young age, and so for him, there was no reason ever having second thoughts. It would be a simple life in a simple world, he'd simply get a job and live his life like anyone else.
But after being exposed to the true cruelties of the world, he learned that such a simple world didn't exist, for all that was all a naive facade. The true world was full of chaotic violence and carnage, carnage that would consume anyone regardless of how innocent they were. The true world didn't guarantee anything, there was no true freedom of choice, because that choice could be ripped away by someone above.
After learning that he had the power to make a difference, he immediately attempted to try changing that world and returning it back to the simple fantasy he once thought it to be. He saw the chaos of the world to be a problem that had to be fixed, an error that couldn't last. He wasn't thinking about the people he was saving nor the people he was defeating, he just saw a problem and attempted to fix it like any other.
But that wasn't so easy, because even then he underestimated the complexities of the world. He believed as long as he wanted to do something, he'd do it perfectly and without problem, but he was then shown the truth.
Change wasn't that easy, especially such grand change. He couldn't do anything he wanted, and he couldn't simply revert the world to a dream it never was. He couldn't be the singular savior of all humanity in the face of absolutely powerful beings, nor could he ever.
Upon such a harsh truth, all he could do was admit defeat and retreat, leaving that chaotic world behind to suffer on its own while he tried to return back to his fantasy. He couldn't bear to feel defeat any longer after failing to capture a single Exhuman, and so he was fine with letting go of the world as though there were no problems to begin with.
But upon returning to that fantasy, all he could find was pain. He couldn't stop thinking about his failures, and he couldn't stop being reminded of the world he let burn. It felt wrong trying to do what was right, and he couldn't return back to the life he once set for himself, the one he thought was concrete.
Now, it didn't feel like his life, it felt like an illusion. Nothing he did felt good anymore, and it left him hollow. He eventually regained interest in the cruel world, but specifically about his final mission that he failed.
He was surprised to find that the people of the world had already tried to fight them, and in their battle they scraped up more information than he would've on his own. Seeing the strength of people he once saw as mere victims, he understood that the world didn't need saving exactly, it just needed a helping hand.
He wouldn't fix the world himself, but he could help make it better. He would be an ally to the people, an equal rather than a superior, and he'd stand alongside them against the fight about the Exhumans.
But was it truly a battle against Exhumans? They too have been wronged, for they all lived in a clouded war, where the true heroes and villains weren't clearly named. At a time he saw Exhumans as pests needed to be exterminated, but now he understood that they too are victims.
His friends had committed great atrocities that couldn't be forgiven, but they suffered from the people they were attacking. This was a retaliation, not an instigation.
They just wanted to live a life free of being hunted, a life where they wouldn't need to worry about being seen as dangerous just because of something they were born with and out of their control. It was a problem that at first he had ignored and devalued, but over time he understood the genuinity of their struggles.
He was living among a great war that's been going on for centuries, against humans and Exhumans. He felt closer to the humans, yet at the end of the day he was an Exhuman. He didn't want people like him to have to hide.
He didn't exactly want one side to perish, but rather he wanted a future where both sides could live in harmony. For now he may have to side with the humans, but he hoped that eventually he'd be able to be a catalyst for a change that'd genuinely benefit everyone.
That was his new mission, not the mission he was given, but the mission he chose. He wanted to live for this purpose, and he hoped that the sacrifices he had to make along the way would be worth it in the end when he does hopefully succeed.
But that mission wouldn't be easy, in fact it'd be filled with hardship and pain. He'd have to lose many more times before winning, as he knew the pain he's felt so far is nothing compared to what would be in store for him in the future.
Still, he persevered with this mission. He wanted to keep fighting regardless of how it hurt him, and he would keep fighting until the world would truly see a better tomorrow.
Rohan leaves the shade of the tree, and walks into the immense light of the colossal supersun. The great energy of the sun consumes him, making him seemingly vanish for a moment in Erica's eyes, as in that moment, Rohan's life comes to an end, as the divergence is complete.
Rohan wouldn't get past the shade, because he lived in that shade. He was bound by it, and so the man who'd walk out of the other end wouldn't be him.
It would be someone else, someone not designed for him but someone designed by him. Someone stronger than the limits of what he could've done, someone who'd be able to surpass those bounds to become something truly great.
Someone who could truly be free, and use that freedom to free the world.
While Rohan ceases from the light outside the dogwood tree, Meditat is incarnated from it.
From the cremation of Rohan's sacrifice, the great blazing light of his freedom forges Meditat's nativity.