Claire's P.O.V
It looked like my time was up. I had to go back to the explosion. It was time to say goodbye.
"I suppose this is it, Hershel." I said, looking at the ground. No, that wasn't the right thing to do. I didn't want him to feel like I was ashamed of him. I looked up. "I have to go back to my own time, back to that day when we..." I paused, searching for the right word "...parted."
"No. Claire." I'll never forget the look on Hershel's face when he said that. I'd never seen him like that. He normally stayed calm, but now he looked like a lost child.
"I'm sorry I can't stay" I said, walking up to him, burying my head in his chest. He returned the hug, holding me as if he could never let me go. I reached up and kissed him for the last time. When I broke away his face was a mixture of sadness and pain. It made me wish I didn't have to go, but no one can change the past. I began to walk away.
"Claire! Wait!" I hesitated. Turning to face him, I began to glow. I didn't have much time left, and Hershel knew that too. I could tell by the expression on his face. I had to hurry up and leave, or things might never be the same again.
"I had so many plans for the future. Do you remember, Hershel?" I asked. I felt a strange sensation coursing around my body. I had to leave quickly. "I-I'll miss you. And our... lost future."
"You can't go!" Hershel was shouting now. I gasped. He wasn't just asking me to stay. Now he was begging. "I don't want to say goodbye again, I can't. I won't!"
Those words pierced my heart like a shard of broken glass. I couldn't stop my eyes brimming with tears. I gave him a sad smile. "I know you." I said "And I know you'll stay strong. After all, that's what a gentleman does." The world began to look fuzzy. It was now or never. "I must go now Hershel. Thank you for everything. Goodbye."
I turned and began to walk away. I was vaguely aware of Luke following me. The last thing I heard was his voice saying "She's gone." Then I was being pulled through darkness. I knew it was going to hurt but that didn't matter. At least I'd said a proper goodbye this time.
The world was spinning as a white light flashed in front of me. As the machine exploded I screamed. It felt like I was being torn in two. I fell to the floor, gasping for breath. I felt myself slipping away. Tears streamed down my face. The pain was too much. But suddenly, I remembered something. "Hershel." I said to myself as I died with a smile on my face.