Buffy was sitting at a table at the Bronze with her Slayerettes - Xander, Willow, Cordy and Oz. They were all talking about the latest scheme Angel had come up with to destroy the world and of course, the Slayer and her friends are in the world. Buffy had triumphed over evil again, defeating him with some help from her friends. Defeating but not destroying, as everyone had hoped. Angel, Dru and Spike had escaped.

Buffy wasn't happy like the rest of her friends. She felt like everything was ending and fading away. < My hope that that I can restore Angel's soul, that everything can go back to normal, or as 'normal' as it ever was... But most of all my pain and blind dedication is fading away. I think it's time to truly move on and stop moping. >

"Earth to Buffy," Xander says, interrupting her thoughts. Where were you?"

"I was just thinking," Buffy answers.

"About what?" Willow asks.

Buffy looks up at her friends. She sees them all looking back at her with concerned expressions; well, except Cordelia, who's. to her credit trying.

"About how I could never have made it through these last few months without my support system, my friends," Buffy answers. < Only a little white lie. I don't want them to worry. >

"Awwww. You are so sweet," Cordy says - really trying.

"Anyways," Buffy says rolling her eyes at Cordelia's attempt. "I'm really tired. You know that happens a lot when you fight demons for a living. I'm gonna go."

Everyone says their good - byes to Buffy and she goes home to get some rest.

The next day Buffy gathers up all the things that Angel gave her. The ring, cross and jacket into a box. < Good bye, Angel. I'll always love you, > she thinks as she seals the box. For a moment she feels presence - a hand touch her face. "Good bye," she whispers and the presence leaves. Buffy cries as she carries the box up to the basement.

Unfortunately, for Buffy, she cannot put her love into a box. And, because of that, the wounds that hers tears had begun to heal, would be slashed open again...