"Well, one day that's gonna happen whether either of us want it to or not!" Buffy finally yelled back, her own voice breaking with the words. She let the words hang there for a second, willing her face not to crumble and forcing the tears that stung the corners of her eyes back where they'd come from. Everyone thought she was so stupid. They thought she didn't know.
"Giles taught me so much. About the legends, about the prophecies... He taught me about my strength and my duty, and he taught me that I could do so much for humanity. I felt like I was this hope that they hadn't known before. A-and I know you've heard this all before. It's the same story every time," she said, sounding a little defeated as she looked down at her hands, swallowing hard. "But Slayers don't have a long life expectancy. Nobody thinks I know. Giles tried to hide how many have died from me. But it's the same story with every one in every record he thought he kept hidden from me. We fight, and we die, and the next one takes our place. And I love you, but I'm sorry." Buffy looked up at him, unable to really mask the inner turmoil as her eyes pleaded with him. "I don't get a happy ending. I get as long as I get, and I don't want to die without anything to show for it. All that time without helping anybody, and now I failed my best friend? What's the point of all of it if I can't do anything?"