Pain courses through him as the end draws near. It starts as an odd tingling in his chest that rapidly progresses to a searing, white-hot fire burning him from within. It's as though the sun has come to life within his body and is consuming him from the inside out.

But even that can't compare to the pain in his heart. Even now, as he is sacrificing his life for her and her world, she can't say 'I love you' and mean it. That pain eats away at him with an even greater intensity than the magic flowing through his body. In his final moments, a wistful smile appears on his face. Perhaps his death will be enough, and she will love his memory.

It has to be enough. There will be no chance for future attempts at heroics to prove himself worthy. It's too late for anything more. Like the sand of an hour glass, his body collapses to the earth and scatters.

His time has run out.