She heard his approach and turned, wiping away the tears that stained her face. She tried to appear brave when she knew she was terrified of what had to be done. Her heart, already broken, shattered when she saw the tears on his face.
Wordlessly, she reached for him, gently wiping the tears from his cheek, not marred by the scratches she had given him.
He shook his head, his eyes screaming a protest against what they both knew had to be done.
She smiled, shakily and another tear escaped her eye.
He pulled her to him.
She could feel the cold metal between them.
He lowered his head and touched his lips gently to hers one more time.
The loud noise shocked her more than the sudden impact to her chest. The searing heat burrowing through her would have been unbearable if not for his arm around her.
"I'm sorry," he sobbed.
"Thank you," she whispered through the pain as darkness enveloped her. In a moment, his face waivered and was gone, obscured forever in the darkness.