TITLE: Iris
AUTHOR: Ben is Glory
RATING: PG
DISCLAIMER: Joss Whedon, of course, and the amazing Goo Goo Dolls.
AUTHOR'S NOTE: The newest installment, and I SWEAR this story will be finished by the end of the summer. It's winding down, anyway. Thanks to Annie, Katie, and Lauren for being wonderful. Lyrics in italics and thoughts in quotes!
FEEDBACK: It is most appreciated.
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Tara cracked an eye open as sunlight flooded her room.
And I'd give up forever to touch you
She tried hard to suppress a groan at the fact that now it was morning, and now she had to face her family. Again.
'Cause I know that you feel me somehow
Never in a million years would she ever get used to the pain of being here again.
You're the closest to heaven that I'll ever be
Would never get used to being alone.
And I don't want to go home right now
To being without Willow.
And all I can taste is this moment
Refusing to get up and face the reality that today was her birthday and ultimately the end of life as she knew it, she sunk back down into her bed.
And all I can breathe is your life
She thought about many things.
'Cause sooner or later it's over
She thought about how life would never be the same, ever.
I just don't want to miss you tonight
Remembered how nice it was to escape the town where she had been labeled a 'freak' only to have to return against her will.
And I don't want the world to see me
Tara struggled to remember anything that was better away from Sunnydale.
'Cause I don't think that they'd understand
But her mind kept coming back to one thing. Willow.
When everything's made to be broken
It wasn't fair.
I just want you to know who I am
She had just found Willow, and now she was being carried away. Locked up like a princess in a tower.
And you can't fight the tears that ain't coming
But Tara was no princess, and she knew this wasn't a fairytale.
Or the moment of truth in your lies
They would be coming soon.
When everything feels like the movies
She knew that she only had a few minutes before her safe-haven was polluted with people coming to wish her a happy birthday.
And you bleed just to know you're alive
Lies. All lies.
And I don't want the world to see me
They just wanted to come and gawk at the freak-girl-turned-demon.
'Cause I don't think that they'd understand
Dragging herself out of bed, she stumbled across the room to the mirror behind her table.
When everything's made to be broken
When she forced herself to look, she was shocked at what she saw. Or, what she didn't see.
I just want you to know who I am
Nothing.
And I don't want the world to see me
There was nothing. No demon.
'Cause I don't think that they'd understand
Just a normal, scared girl too far away from home.
When everything's made to be broken
Within a minute she had her things packed, ready to leave.
I just want you to know who I am
Ready to go back to where she was wanted.
And I don't want the world to see me
Where she was needed.
'Cause I don't think that they'd understand
Managing to sneak out unnoticed, she crept to the bus station.
When everything's made to be broken
She bought a one-way ticket and sat down to wait for her departure. Everything was happening so fast, and she loved it.
I just want you to know who I am
Slowly, a smile spread across her face.
I just want you to know who I am
"This is it," she thought.
I just want you to know who I am
"I can finally go home."
I just want you to know who I am
-TBC-