Buffy raced to memorize his every feature, to capture him in her mouth, on her fingers. Having missed him so desperately, she couldn't give up the chance to touch him one final time.

Too soon, she stepped back, bade him close his trusting eyes, and plunged the sword into her love's chest.

Angel reached for her, and then he was gone. Again. Forever.

The taste of his lips was quickly diluted by her tears, but the pain of his loss could never fade from her heart.

Success. Failure. It was all the same. The world was still crumbling around her.

~end~