Characters belong to Joss, lyrics to linkin park! Enjoy!

: I want to run away
Never say good bye,
I want to run away
And never wonder why:

Faith sat feeling broken down and defeated, someone
new had come into her life and she had trusted them
and they had screwed her over, just
like usual.

Gwendolyn Post. Faith had really believed she had
found someone to be in her corner, but she had thought
that before. For instance she thought
that about Buffy, only to find out she was sleepin
with the enemy. Literally. Angel, a vampire.

It turned Faith's stomach to think of the two of them.
She thought she had felt something growing between
her and Buffy, only to find out it
was all a lie. She had just sent Buffy away, it had
been hard and she had hesitated, but it had been for
the best. She was somewhat surprised to find herself
crying and all alone. Well crying at least, she was
always alone.

"Faith," she looked up in alarm to see who had spoken,
surprised to see a woman standing at the foot of her
bed. She started to jump up; to ask her what she was
doing there, but then a feeling of calm took over her.

"Who are you?" Faith asked as she stared in awe at the
woman. She was very tall and her skin had a greenish
tint to it, where it showed through the layers of
billowing white fabric. Her hair was white
blonde with pale pink streaks; Faith couldn't help but
find her beautiful.

"My name is Jiya," she smiled.

"Jiya?" Faith rolled the name around in her mouth,
finding it warm and almost liquid in her mouth, she
started to close her eyes, feeling sleepy all of a
sudden.

"The powers that be sent me. They wanted it clear
that your pain does not go unnoticed by them. They
know the great losses you have faced."

As if a movie was turned on, Faith saw the faces of
everyone who had left her in her mind. Mom, grandma,
brother, watcher, Gwendolyn. And
now she had pushed Buffy out. Anyone she cared for
left. Faith found herself crying again.

"So they know about my pain? Very comforting
considering they're the ones that caused it," she
cried, loosing composure. "Was it a lesson?
A test? I'm I their fucking guinea pig? See how far
they can push me till I crack? Cause let me tell you I
am almost there?"

"They didn't have a choice. They are offering to make
some amends for you," Jiya spoke softly, her words
soothing Faiths raw emotions. "You get one desire,
name it and it's yours." Faith barely considered the
options.

"I want a new life, the whole thing. Don't make me a
slayer and let me have the normal life I should have
had." Jiya was quiet for a minute as she considered
this, Faith waited, holding her breath.

"You realize everything you would be giving up?" Jiya
asked finally, Faith laughed bitterly.

"You mean this dump?" She asked, looking around the
room. "I'll take my chances without it."

"This means you will never have known anyone here, not
Buffy, not any of them, and they won't remember you."
Jiya sat on the edge of the bed next to Faith.

"They don't remember me now," Faith said softly.

"As you wish," Jiya placed to warm fingers in the
middle of Faiths forehead. For a second it felt like
fire rushing through her body, images and memories
being ripped from her, new ones replacing them.
Then nothing.