Part 3
Willow Rosenberg put the thick spell book back on the desk and sighed. Her head was aching again. She rubbed her temples irritably, trying to make the pain go away. This was the third time she tried reading up on a certain spell but she kept rereading the same passage all the time. Her concentration was faltering and for once studying witchcraft didn't help her relax.
Usually that was what she turned to when things got rough in her life. Extensive studying was a great way to drown your sorrows without turning into an alcoholic or relying to much on the whole sugar rush issues. Studying was much safer either way. And, she was getting better and better at it. Witchcraft, that is. Studying she was already good at.
But today her wounds could not be mended by the spell book. It was to the day two years since Buffy disappeared. Died, some claimed, but not Willow. Buffy was alive somewhere. Otherwise some new Slayer would have come to Sunnydale, right?
She cast a last rueful glance at the book, but decided to let it be. She rose from her desk and sat down on the bed instead. She'd gotten her own dorm room this year. Still, she missed not having Cordelia around. Sure, she could be a real pain sometimes, but hey, it was better than being alone! She and Xander moved in together during the summer as they were still going steady. Willow and Oz on the other hand split up right after graduation. It was for the better, probably, him being werewolf and all, but at times like this it would be nice if she had someone.
Trying to find something to occupy her mind with Willow let her eyes scan the room. They fell on the photo on her nightstand. Taken over two years ago it was a picture of the gang; herself, Xander, Cordy – and Buffy. They were all smiling so happily. That was before Angel had become Angelus and ruined their lives.
For the zillionth time she went over the last day they'd seen Buffy. She herself had been seriously hurt when Drusilla and her minions came for Giles, the same night Kendra died. In the hospital she had tried to restore Angel's soul, and it had worked. But not in time. Not in time.
A tear fell from her eyes and down her cheek. Willow didn't notice. Angel hadn't awoken Acathla yet, but the damage was done. By the time Giles and Xander returned to the mansion Angel was unconscious, Spike and Drusilla were gone, and so was Buffy. They figured she would return after a few days when things had calmed down, but she didn't. There had been attempts to find her, though. The police had made some futile attempts, but of course didn't find anything. By herself she had cast a 'finding what's lost- spell', but that came up empty too. After she and Giles had anchored Angel's soul he'd tried to find her too. But it was as if the earth had swallowed her literally.
Eventually attempts to find her lessened and ultimately stopped. Maybe she really was dead. But Willow couldn't just give up. Buffy had to be alive, she just had to!
More tears fell as she lay down on her bed clutching to photo to her chest.
Willow Rosenberg put the thick spell book back on the desk and sighed. Her head was aching again. She rubbed her temples irritably, trying to make the pain go away. This was the third time she tried reading up on a certain spell but she kept rereading the same passage all the time. Her concentration was faltering and for once studying witchcraft didn't help her relax.
Usually that was what she turned to when things got rough in her life. Extensive studying was a great way to drown your sorrows without turning into an alcoholic or relying to much on the whole sugar rush issues. Studying was much safer either way. And, she was getting better and better at it. Witchcraft, that is. Studying she was already good at.
But today her wounds could not be mended by the spell book. It was to the day two years since Buffy disappeared. Died, some claimed, but not Willow. Buffy was alive somewhere. Otherwise some new Slayer would have come to Sunnydale, right?
She cast a last rueful glance at the book, but decided to let it be. She rose from her desk and sat down on the bed instead. She'd gotten her own dorm room this year. Still, she missed not having Cordelia around. Sure, she could be a real pain sometimes, but hey, it was better than being alone! She and Xander moved in together during the summer as they were still going steady. Willow and Oz on the other hand split up right after graduation. It was for the better, probably, him being werewolf and all, but at times like this it would be nice if she had someone.
Trying to find something to occupy her mind with Willow let her eyes scan the room. They fell on the photo on her nightstand. Taken over two years ago it was a picture of the gang; herself, Xander, Cordy – and Buffy. They were all smiling so happily. That was before Angel had become Angelus and ruined their lives.
For the zillionth time she went over the last day they'd seen Buffy. She herself had been seriously hurt when Drusilla and her minions came for Giles, the same night Kendra died. In the hospital she had tried to restore Angel's soul, and it had worked. But not in time. Not in time.
A tear fell from her eyes and down her cheek. Willow didn't notice. Angel hadn't awoken Acathla yet, but the damage was done. By the time Giles and Xander returned to the mansion Angel was unconscious, Spike and Drusilla were gone, and so was Buffy. They figured she would return after a few days when things had calmed down, but she didn't. There had been attempts to find her, though. The police had made some futile attempts, but of course didn't find anything. By herself she had cast a 'finding what's lost- spell', but that came up empty too. After she and Giles had anchored Angel's soul he'd tried to find her too. But it was as if the earth had swallowed her literally.
Eventually attempts to find her lessened and ultimately stopped. Maybe she really was dead. But Willow couldn't just give up. Buffy had to be alive, she just had to!
More tears fell as she lay down on her bed clutching to photo to her chest.