FALLING LIGHT

Scene: Falling light

Athena stood motionless, her gaze fixed in the sky. Her expression was devoid of emotion, a mask of serenity. Suddenly, a bright light streaked across the horizon, plummeting towards the earth. Without hesitation, Athena took off in a sprint, her hand outstretched towards the sky.

As she ran, her face contorted, revealing a glimmer of longing. The light crashed to the ground with a deafening impact, sending shockwaves through the air. Athena closed in, her eyes locked onto the source of the light.

For a few fleeting seconds, she gazed upon the scene before her. Then, she knelt down, cradling Zero's head in her lap. His eyes fluttered open, a weak smile spreading across his face.

"You came... does that mean I won the bet?" he whispered.

Athena's gaze drifted away, her lips trembling. Zero's hand rose, his fingers tracing the curve of her cheek. A gentle smile played on his lips.

"Seems I finally get to see you cry... and I really am the reason you're shedding tears, just like I promised."

With a tender touch, he turned her face towards him. His thumb brushed away her tears, his smile faltering.

"I'm sorry... I wasn't able to fulfill all the promises I made to you. I won, but I won't always be there for you anymore. At least I got to wipe away your tears."

Zero's eyes closed, his chest rising and falling with labored breaths. Athena's tears flowed freely now, her body shaking with sobs.

"Thank you... for everything... for teaching me what it means to be alive... and have feelings... which I never had."

As Zero's chest stilled, Athena's cries echoed through the air, her heart shattered into a million pieces.

Scene: Our Goodbye

Athena stood before the grave, a bouquet of flowers trembling in her hand. She gazed down at the etched stone, Zero's name staring back at her like a harsh reminder.

"I wanted to be alive," she whispered, her voice barely audible. "I wanted to feel something, anything."

With gentle fingers, she placed the flowers upon the grave, petals softly unfolding like tears.

"All I wanted was someone who never gave up on me," she continued, her voice cracking. "Someone who loved me, truly loved me."

Athena's eyes drifted shut, memories flooding her mind. Zero's smile, his laughter, his unwavering belief in her.

"That was you, Zero," she whispered, her heart aching. "You were the one who saw past my mask, who reached into the depths of my soul and awakened something I never knew existed."

A faint smile played on her lips as she realized the truth.

"I fell for you, Zero. I fell so deeply, so irreparably. But I didn't know, not until it was too late. Not until you were gone."

Athena's eyes opened, her gaze falling upon the grave once more.

"That's why I became a writer," she said, her voice steady. "To tell the story of a girl who had no emotions, who fell in love without even realizing it. To tell your story, Zero. Our story."

A soft breeze rustled the flowers as Athena's lips curved into a gentle smile.

"Thank you, Zero," she whispered, her voice barely audible. "Thank you for showing me what it means to be alive."

With a quiet nod, Athena turned and walked away, the smile still gracing her lips.

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