"Hey Tifa what's-?" But before he could finish Tifa threw her arms around him and began crying softly. Wedge was a little taken aback and started to return the hug when Tifa let go.
"Tifa what's up? You look like you've seen a ghost!"
"Wedge!" She swallowed a lump in her throat. "Barret's gonna kill me!"
"W-what have you-"
"I need the phone. Wedge I need the phone."
"It's at the back..." Before he could finish, Tifa rushed off to the back of the bar.
He followed, but she soon came back.
"What the hell's wrong with the phone?!" she screamed.
"Tifa what's happened?"
"I need the police! What's wrong with the phone!" she demanded.
"Phone lines are a bit down-"
"Shit!"
"Tifa what's wrong!" Wedge screamed.
"I've lost Marlene!!!!"
"You what?"
"I lost Marlene!"
"You lost Marlene! How could you!"
"I know! I know!"
"Tifa this is Midgar! How could you be so irresponsible!" Wedge bellowed.
"I know, alright!" Tifa retorted. "I know..."
"Oh man... how? Where? When?"
"I-I-just came out of the t-rain there was a big crowd- I-I totally forgot about her-then I realised I lost her! What am I gonna do!"
"Did you look for her?"
"Of course I did! I looked all over!"
"Ok... just calm down a bit ok? Do you have any idea where she could be?"
Tifa's eyes fell to the ground. This just get's worse..."I think the Turks might have her."
"The Turks?" Wedge placed his hands on Tifa's shoulders then pulled out a chair and made her sit down.
"What am I gonna do Wedge?" she cried.
"I honestly don't know Tifa."
"That makes me feel a lot better!"
"Look..."
"Barret...He's never gonna wanna see me again..." she sobbed.
"Don't say that."
"He's gonna throw me out..."
"I'm sure he wont do that..."
Her voice went quiet. "You know this was the first time he's ever let me baby sit Marlene... The first time he put his trust on me... the first time and I flippin flunked it!" She began crying again.
"Oh Tifa..." Wedge pulled her in to a cuddle.
"I need to call the police..."
"The police in Midgar are totally useless...They don't even have a proper force..." Wedge said. "And if the turks have her... there's no way the police can do anything..."
"You're right... we should go out and look for her ourselves..."
"Wedge... I looked all over...and it's been hours." Tifa suddenly got up. "When Barret and the others come back tell them everything ok?"
"Where are you going?"
"I'll be right back," Then she disappeared in the back of the bar then came back a few minutes later carrying a big backpack.
"Tifa where are you going?"
"Wedge... I'm leaving..I-I can't face Barret again please understand."
"Where are you gonna go?"
"I... I have a friend who can help me," She lied.
"What friend? Tifa!"
"Please don't try to stop me Wedge... please?"
"Tifa, Barret thinks of you like a daughter. Yeah he'll be angry, but he'll never abandon you."
"Even if he doesn't, I can't ever face him again... Bye Wedge...thanks for everything... and say goodbye to the others for me...and tell Barret I'm sorry and thank you for all he's done for me." She gave Wedge a quick wave, then went out the door. Wedge made no attempt to stop her, but just shook his head and looked down to the ground.
----
It was raining heavily and it was so dark. Tifa was very wearied, but she kept going nevertheless. She had used her old train ticket to get back to sector five in hope of finding Marlene, but there was no sign of her. Then she just began to run, and run. She only had three gil left in her pocket, and the clothes in her backpack were damp because of the rain. She ran and ran through the busy streets of sector five until she tripped over her own legs and fell hard on her front.
"Ouch!"
"Are you alright miss?" A soft voice behind her asked. Tifa slowly looked up and turned to see a middle aged woman with dark hair looking at her with concern. Tiffa just nodded.
"That knee looks pretty bad," said the woman. Tifa looked down at her right knee which was bleeding and was bruised. She tried to get up but it was too painful.
The woman bent down and helped her up but Tifa pushed her away. "I don't need your help," she said adamantly.
"Are you sure?" The woman asked.
"Yes." Tifa waited for her to go, but the woman stayed put. Go you stupid woman!
"Well, are you just going to sit there all night in the rain?" The woman asked. Tifa didn't answer. She just looked stubbornly to the ground. Then she tried to get up again, ignoring the pain on her right knee. She stood up this time only balancing on her right leg. What was she going to do? She couldn't hop and anyway, she didn't have anywhere to go. She lost her balance and was about to fall but the woman caught her.
"Seems like you do need my help young lady," the woman said. Tifa didnt reply. "So, where are you heading to?" Tifa just shrugged, looking sadly to the ground. "Where are your parents?" Dead. Tifa didn't answer the woman, but began to cry softly. "Let me take you to my house and take care of that knee."
Tifa didn't refuse.