[It's an important question to ask and honestly Zack is expecting it from someone eventually. Zack and Aerith obviously treat each other with this fluffy air but underneath it, is this quiet sadness that sits there.]

I'll ... I'll spare you the details but... [Zack sighs.] Work pulled me away from her. For ... about five years.

[... Yeah, he ghosted her pretty hard.]

I wasn't in a position to tell her where I was. Honestly, it was safer for her to not know where I was.

[And if Tifa suddenly wants to hate him for doing that to her? Well, he wouldn't blame her. He deserves it.]