Prologue

Each facet of your being,

Whether it physical or spiritual,

Is an ensnarement,

From which there is no release.

But I do not wish release.

I wish to stay entrapped forever,

With you for all eternity.

Our hearts,

Always as one.

-Anthony Kolos

Slowly, Bella opened her eyes. She didn't know how long she had been sitting there, on the little bench in the middle of a clearing in the woods close to her house, and she didn't care either. The moon was visible in the sky above now, lightening the clearing with its eerie light. Strange noises were audible, coming out of the darkness leading deeper into the woods. Normally, Bella would've been anxious, left alone in the woods by night, not knowing who or what was watching her. But at that moment, she didn't feel anything but her broken heart. It was aching so badly, she could hardly breathe. The tears just wouldn't stop forming in her eyes and rolling down her cheeks, and she had given up long ago on wiping them off. She closed her eyes again. Like a movie, the happenings of the past day replayed in her head.

"Let's go for a walk.", Edward said, grabbing her hand and leading her down a little path into the wood behind her house. His voice was calm, but different. Bella couldn't make out why it was different, she just noticed that it was.

They didn't talk, until they reached a beautiful clearing. A bench was situated in the middle and Edward gestured her to sit down. He put his hands in the pockets of his pants and remained standing. Bella frowned.
"What are we doing here, Edward?", she whispered, gazing up into his eyes. He sighed.

"We need to talk, Bella."

"About?" She could sense that something was wrong. This behavior was so untypical for him. She had never seen him so…out of it. It was scaring her.

"About us." He sighed again and turned around to stare into another direction. He couldn't look into her eyes while saying what he had to. "Bella…I can't do this anymore. I'm putting you at unnecessary risk with being so close to you. And I'm endangering myself and my family with keeping you close. It's irresponsible and I have to stop right now."

Bella's eyes immediately filled with tears.
"I thought we have gotten past the 'I'm a vampire and it's dangerous for you to be around me'-part a while ago and I thought we have agreed that we can both live with it. Why are you changing your mind now?"

"I never agreed. I should've told you to stay away before we even got that close, but I couldn't, because I was selfish enough to keep you by my side. But I'm not willing to put all of us in danger anymore, because of a stupid little emotion.", Edward hissed. His hands clenched into fists inside the pockets of his pants as he heard Bella's sobs.

"Maybe you should for once listen to what your heart tells you, instead of your mind.", she whispered.

"I don't have a heart, Bella. It stopped beating a long time ago. You of all people should know that." His voice was cold and distant, Bella didn't recognize it anymore. She couldn't imagine what made him act this way and she definitely couldn't understand it. At this very moment, she honestly hated him, for saying things like that, which broke her heart in two.

"So…what…you're breaking up with me? Is that what you're trying to say?", Bella asked with a high-pitched voice. She rose up from the bench and folded her arms in front of her chest, staring at the back of his head. Edward turned around slowly, looking deeply into her eyes.

"Yes, Bella, it's over." His voice was above a whisper, but she could hear every single word he said. Her hands dropped to the side of her body and started to shake.

"Well, I'm sorry to inform you, Edward, but you and me is something that will never really be over. We're too deeply bonded, to just separate. You said that yourself, remember? I can't believe you're doing this to me."

"I'm sorry, Bella. But it's better that way, trust me." He wanted to close his arms around her so badly, hold her tight and comfort her. But he couldn't let his emotions take over and risk Bella's life over and over again.

"It doesn't matter what's better for me or what's more responsible. The only thing that matters is what you feel. Do you love me? Because I definitely love you and if you'd feel the same way about me, we wouldn't have this discussion.", Bella yelled.

"I do love you, Bella. And that's exactly why I have to let you go. I would never forgive myself if anything happened to you."

Bella rolled her eyes and folded her arms across her chest.
"Stop playing the martyr, Edward. The worst thing that could happen to me is happening right now."

"This is not the worst thing that could happen to you. It's something that will save your life eventually.", Edward said certainly. He stepped forward towards her, let his fingers slide down her cheek and gazed into her chocolate brown eyes for the last time. After placing a soft kiss on her left cheek, he turned around to face the wood again, because if he had looked into her eyes for a little longer, he might have changed his mind.

"Edward…you can't be serious.", Bella whispered. She still couldn't believe what he was telling her. Or she didn't want to believe it. "Edward…"

"You won't see me again, Bella. You'll forget, and you'll get over it soon.", he said bitterly, knowing how much harder it would be for himself to forget.

Bella let out a sardonic laugh and the tears started to roll down her cheeks again.
"I'll never forget. Especially not how you left me. I'll never forget."

Edward sighed once again, before whispering:
"Goodbye, Bella. I love you."

Bella's eyes got blurry from the tears and she had to blink for a second, but when her eyes opened again he was gone.

How long she had been standing there, calling his name, wishing to wake up from this nightmare, she couldn't remember. The only thing she knew was that Edward – vampire, lover and her personal reason for staying alive – was gone and would never come back.