Author's Note: none of these characters are mine, obviously. I just got in the mood for some angst, so... the song quoted is Goodbye to You, by Michelle Branch. PLEASE REVIEW!!!!!!!!

She watches the stars as they pass, brilliant spots of light in the distance. They remind her of diamonds, sprinkled through the heavens. That thought makes her laugh, and it’s a bitter sound. Before the end of the world, people thought space was where the gods were. She knows, though. She knows the truth. The Black is anything but Heaven.

Her black hair is straightened, tightly braided. She hardly ever wears a braid, but this morning, she couldn’t make herself take the time to fix it properly. She’s finding it harder and harder to make herself take the time to do anything these days.

Listless.

*Of all the things I’ve believed in

I just want to get it over with.

Tears form behind my eyes

But I do not cry,

Counting the days that pass me by.*

She knows what she has to do. Can hardly bear to think it, but she knows. This place… she has to leave. Get out, get off, get away. From him. From them. From everything and anything that makes up the web around her, slowly tightening. She can feel her air, choking off. Her lungs scream silently, and she breathes. Air seems so paltry.

He comes up behind her, arms going around her waist. Those big hands, hands that have killed and loved with equal passion, smooth the fabric at her stomach.

“Inara,” he says. His voice is tired. They’re both so tired. She doesn’t turn.

*I’ve been searching deep down in my soul.

Words that I’m hearing

Are starting to get old.

It feels like I’m starting all over again…

The last three years were just pretend.*

Her hands are shaking, she realizes. She clasps them in front of her to stop the trembles. It’s been so long since that night, the night they tumbled like adolescents into her bed. So many long, hard days. So many tired nights, sleepless for fear of what was to come. Fear for him, and his people. And, lately, fear of hi