Oh, this looks very promising. Spike and Buffy's relationship presents an ideal opportunity for a writer to vocalise existential problems -- life and death and love and loss -- especially with the added twist of Buffy's immortality in this story. That word-image of her staring blankly at her reflection was haunting; as was "That's not enough"; as was Spike snapping off the bedpost and Buffy walking away. I'll be interested to see if the next chapters match this one in emotional intensity.