Pebbles rained down on them like thousands of missed opportunities – stinging and relentless, unavoidable, yet unattainable.

Vignettes of every moment they'd ever shared flashed before his eyes, like the silent films he and Dru had frequented. Immolation was going to be a walk in the park compared to the pain of finally letting her go.

What he saw in her tear-filled eyes burned him to the center of his very being.

"I love you."

*I know you do.*

The ground began collapsing around them. She must not die.

"No, you don't." He smiled. "But, thanks for saying it."