Buffy had left for the morning, after checking on her with visible unease and concern. Willow apologized for the drinking, said she was feeling a little better now, and sent her on her way. She would make it up to her later. She would fix everything.

First, though, she had to do the most important thing. She picked up a mirror— she wasn't sure why, but it felt right— and looked herself dead in the eye. If anything happened, she wanted to see the change. Maybe color would return to her face, or light would rekindle in her eyes. Maybe she would smile again.

"It is my will that my heart be healed. Now." She didn't feel any different. She checked the mirror, but nothing seemed to have changed. "I will that I not feel this pain," she tried again. Again, nothing happened. "I will that my true love be returned to me, and my heart be unbroken." Silence. She set down the mirror with a disappointed sigh.

A tentative knock sounded at the door.

Instantly, she was flooded with surprise and hope. Could it have really been that easy? Could Oz be on the other side of the door? After all these months of miserable loneliness and unsent letters, had this one spell been the solution? She should have cast it ages ago. This could have all been over already.

Shaking off her shock, she leaped off the bed and flew to the door, throwing it open, hoping it was Oz, making herself believe it was Oz, but belatedly realizing that it might just be the bear-like RA coming to yell at her for burning candles in the dorm.

Instead, it was none of the above. On the other side of the door was a blonde girl, staring at her raised hand with a mystified expression, as though it had done something she hadn't expected.

It was a weird enough contrast that Willow almost didn't have time to be disappointed. When your two possible options were "short, repentant auburn werewolf in torn-up jeans" and "giant angry bearded guy in college-logo sweatpants," there's something more-than-usually startling about finding "confused blonde girl in tie-dye hoodie, floor-length skirt, and Doc Martens."

"Hello?" Willow said, cocking her head at the incongruously-dressed stranger. The girl blinked her blue eyes at Willow and didn't respond right away. "Can I help you?"

"Um… n-n-no. I mean– I-I don't think so. I… um… m-must have the wrong door," the girl murmured. She ducked her head, then looked up and down the hallway, but didn't seem any less confused by what she saw.

"Oh. Who are you looking for?" Willow asked. She wasn't overly familiar with her neighbors, but it was possible she would recognize a name or a description enough to point this girl in the right direction.

"Um… no one," the blonde girl answered.

"No one?"

"I, um… w-w-wasn't looking for anyone. I must have l-lost track of…" Her brow was still furrowed in confusion. She finally lowered her hand from its knocking position and instead hugged it protectively around her middle. "Um…W-Which building is this?"

Willow frowned, feeling concern for the girl, even if they didn't know each other. She seemed more lost than should really be possible on a campus this size. And if the slight stuttering was any indication, she was really nervous.

"Stevenson," Willow offered, trying to school her features into a nonthreatening, nonjudgmental expression.

"Oh…" The name didn't seem to mean anything to the girl.

"By the science building," Willow added.

"Okay…" That didn't seem to help much either, but the girl seemed to feel like she had already overstayed her welcome, because she nodded slightly and took a small step back. She looked like she intended to leave, but wasn't sure how.

"Are you okay?" Willow asked, following her a step without thinking about it. She felt a stirring of protectiveness for the lost stranger. She and the Scoobies had saved and protected people for a good three and a half years now, and this girl definitely seemed to need help.

"Yeah, s-sorry. I-I guess I'm just… sorry," the girl finished lamely, with a crooked half-smile that softened her face. She ducked her head a little, blushing. "Bye."

She turned to go, but Willow put a hand on her arm to stop her. The stranger froze like a statue at the touch.

"Wait… I was just about to head out. Where were you trying to go?" Willow asked. The stranger looked up with muted hope in her eyes.

"The library."

Willow nodded. She could use a trip to the library. It wouldn't hurt anything, at least.

"I'm headed that direction. Want me to walk you over?"

The girl blinked up at her, and her eyes flitted for a second to the hand on her arm.

"Um… sure. If it's n-not too much t-trouble." She gave another shy smile. "That'd be… nice."