If you truly love someone, set them free.

Seras Victoria could remember hearing those words countless times, though she couldn't honestly say that she quite understood them. If you loved someone, were you not supposed to hold on to them, protect them and never let them go? Even when she was a human the vampire had shrugged off the saying as some sort of poetic nonsense. Now, however, she found herself wondering if perhaps there was some truth in it after all.

That night, Seras had finally decided to free Pip's soul.

Although it had only happened hours earlier, her memory of what had transpired was a blur. All that Seras could remember clearly was the final embrace she had shared with him. Her crimson tears had flowed freely as he had stroked her hair, whispering soothingly that she would not need him with her in order to be strong. He had smiled down on her and said, "You'll come through, migonette, just like you always have."

Those had been his last words before he had slowly faded away, keeping her in his arms until the very end.

And now Seras sat alone in her dank chamber, Pip's presence having since slipped into eternity. It seemed as though he was never even there to begin with, as if his entire existence had been a mere illusion. Once again the vampire could feel the beginnings of tears stinging at her eyes, but she refused to let them fall.

I've made my choice. I can't change it now, Seras told herself resolutely. A bitter chuckle escaped her lips as she suddenly realized how that very thought had never ceased to follow her through the years.

I only hope that this time, I won't go on to regret it.

A/N: This was written in response to a challenge on LiveJournal: To write a fic based on art from the Solid&Etc. site.

Here is the link to the picture: http: wordsmyth.sent.at/04-7-25.jpg