Buffy came strideing into the library,
<Where is everyone?>
"Giles, you here?, where are all of you?"
"Oh, yes, hello buffy"
He came from his office looking grim
"Giles, whats wrong, you look like someone kicked your puppy?"
"Buffy I think you should sit down"
"What is it?, Oh god is it Angelus. did he kill again?"
"No,no but i still think you should sit down, Ive got some bad news"
"Yo, G-man, Whats up?"
Xander came in and noticed their lack of reaction. Especially to Xanders nickname for Giles.
He was immediately serious.
"Who died?, What happened?"
"Right, im glad your here Xander"
"Giles your scareing me, WHAT happened?"
"Yes, right, what happened is, umm, Willow, shes run away"
He waited a few moments to let that imfo sink in. Both Xander and Buffy looked like they wanted to be sick.
"when?"
"In the night"
"Why?"
"I dont know but she left you both letters, I have already read mine."
Through all of this Xand was quiet, deathly quiet. How was he suposed to go on now. He was hurting right down to his soul. She was his anchor in a stormy port. she looked after him , kept him safe from the world. She was the only constant in his so uncertain life, and now she was gone. She was who he turned to when his father hit him, or his mother was too drunk to walk. He just wanted to wake up from this nightmare.
"Xand?" buffy asked quietly.
"I cant breath Buffy, shes my world, my best frined, what am i supposed to do now?"
"I know Xand, but she wouldnt have skippd out for no reason there has to be a reason. I mean this is Willow, she is the one who convinced me not to run when Angelus came back"
"I know. Giles?"
"Yes Xander"
"Did you say there was a letter?"
"Yes"
"Can I have it please?"
"Of course"
He handed them the envelopes and sat back to give them some space to decide what to do. It was breaking his heart seeing them like this.
"Shall I read mine out Xand?"
"Yes please Buff"
"Okay"
Dear Buffy,
Godess, Im going to miss you. Until you came to us, I didnt know exactly who i was. You helped me realise that being net girl, nerd, geek, research girl, was alright. They arent bad things to be. I realise that now. I finally for a little while at least, liked being me. You made me feel needed.
You``re a wonderful person, you save people and ask for nothing in return. Oh sure its your sacred duty yada yada yada, (sorry giles) but You arent resentful. I would be. Im selfish. Id be a nasy bitch about it. But because you do it so selflessly, I follow. If your willing to risk your life so am I. You carry the weight of the world as if its nothing. And i respect you for it.
To you i spose Im a coward for running. But i got into something i shouldnt have, fell in love with the wrong person and would have only ended up hurting you if I had stayed. So i left. I hope you can forgive me.
I love you,
Willow
X
Buffys vioce had cracked by then and was sobbing, she was trying to keep some semblence of control. And failing miserably. Xander had lost it, sobbing , screaming. She could feel his pain. and she just wanted to hold him.
Xander still had his letter to read but he didnt think he could read it out or even read it in front of them. It was a goodbye from the closest person he had to a sister and he wasnt sure how to handle it.
