September 10

"Bella, we're leaving."

The words were spoken in a firm tone, a tone that left no room for objection or argument of any kind. I knew exactly what he meant, yet couldn't bring my mind to wrap around it. Knowing that I was just stalling the inevitable, I asked, "Why now? Another year-"

"Bella, it's time. How much longer can we stay in Forks, after all? Carlisle can barely pass for thirty, and he's claiming thirty-three now. We'd have to start over soon regardless."

I took a deep breath, willing desperately for my pulse to steady, my heart to calm down. "When you say [i]we[/i]-" I whispered, steeling myself for the answer.

"I mean my family and myself." Each word was like a splash of ice water in the face and a trail of acid down my spine at the same time.

"Okay." I said, still stalling. "I'll come with you."

"No, Bella." His tone was gentle, but still undeniably steely. "You can't come with us. Where we're going... it's not the right place for you."

I looked at him, pleading with my eyes. "Where you are is the right place for me."

"You don't get it, Bella. You and me, we don't belong together. You were just a distraction until something else came along."

I stared at him uncomprehendingly.

His eyes were cold and hard, as were his words. "I don't want you to come with me, Bella. You're not good for me."

I flinched as he spoke what I knew to be the truth ever since I saw him first. I felt my throat constrict as I choked out, "You... don't... want me." It wasn't a question, just a fact.

"No."

"Well. That changes things." My voice was calm and reasonable, completely detached from the turmoil of emotions swirling around inside me.

"I'll always love you, Bella... in a way. But not in the way you love me. And I'm tired of pretending. So this is goodbye."

I nodded, my face schooled into a blank, emotionless mask because I knew that if I tried to show any feeling, I would lose it. "I... understand. I've known for some time that I'm not good enough for you. I'm shocked beyond belief that you stayed with me this long." My voice was distant and soft, not betraying anything.

"Promise me on thing." His voice held a tiny tremor of emotion, and I stared deep into his eyes, a small tendril of hope threading itself painfully through my chest.

I nodded mutely, not trusting my voice.

"Don't do anything reckless or stupid," he ordered, his voice no longer quite so detached. Once more, I nodded. His topaz eyes flashed dangerously before they froze, piercing mine with their icy stare. "In exchange, I shall promise you this: This shall be the last time you'll see me. You can go along with your life without any more interference from me. It will be as if I'd never existed," he stated calmly, peacefully.

My vision swam and I began trembling violently as his words circled over and over in my head.

He began backing away, distancing himself from me even more. "Goodbye, Bella."

Finally, I found my voice again. As he turned to leave, I choked out, "Wait!" I stumbled forward numbly, reaching for him.

He spun around and grabbed my wrists, pinning them to my sides. "Take care of yourself," he breathed against my skin as he planted a small kiss on my forehead.

And then he was gone.

My arms rose up and wrapped themselves around my torso tightly, as if to stop the pieces of my shattered heart from falling around me. A high-pitched keening sound reached my ears; it continued for a good five minutes before I realized it was me. Time lost all meaning as the tears I had tried so hard to keep bottled up poured down my cheeks, seeming to etch ice cold trails into my skin, mixing in with the rain that had started to sprinkle.

I don't know how much time had passed since Edward had left, nor did I care. It was starting to grow dark, but still I didn't move.

After some time, my sobs quieted to faint whimpers. The sounds of the forest settled in on me: the occasional song bird, calling out to its mate, the whooshing of the wind as it blew the fallen leaves gently through the air. Suddenly, there was a sound that shouldn't have been there. The heavy pounding of feet echoed through the trees. I heard my name being called, and the voice seemed familiar, but I couldn't bring myself to answer.

"Bella! Bella, oh my god, I thought I'd lost you!" A man burst into my vision. His hair was black with light smatterings of gray, and his eyes were deep brown, staring down at me in worry, shock, and relief.

[i]Dad.[/i]

He leaned down, picked me up like I was weightless ([i]When did I get on the ground?[/i]), and began trudging in the direction of what my foggy mind assumed to be home. I stared at him numbly, allowing myself to hang limp in his arms.

"Dad, you're all wet," I mumbled into his jacket.

A strangled sound left his throat, but he said nothing. Soon, we were home. I was being stood up in my room. Next, he stripped me down to my bra and underwear before tugging an old nightgown over my head. I was too numb to feel embarrassed. The last thing I remembered was the cool softness of the sheets and blankets of my bed folding in around me before the world ceased to exist.

Edward's P.O.V.

I felt my dead heart lurch as I watched the love of my existence stare back at me as expressionlessly as I was looking at her. I couldn't believe that she could believe the lies that were coming out of my mouth. How could she not be good enough for me? It was completely the opposite. I was nowhere near enough for her. So maybe it was for the best. As long as she never had to see me again, everything will have worked out.

I backed away, forcing myself to part for the last time with my everything, my Bella. "Goodbye, Bella." God, I hated this. Why did it have to be this way? She lurched forward, but I stopped her, parting with a much too brief kiss on her forehead. I left her view, and jumped up onto a tree to make sure that someone would come for her. Venom tears welled in my eyes, never to be shed, as she cried and mourned. I mourned alongside her, albeit quietly and invisibly. But this was for the best.

That's what I had to tell myself, anyway.

Finally, after three hours, I heard Charlie running towards our spot. I held my breath as he picked her up and carried her back to their house. As soon as they were gone, I whispered, "Goodbye... my love."

And then I left, never to look back.

Charlie's P.O.V.

That bastard! I was going to Crucio him until his brains turned to liquid. Then I was going to Imperio him, making him burning all his limbs, slowly and painfully. And then I would Avada Kedavra his sorry ass.

I had kept quiet for far too long, kept Bella in the dark.

It was time she knew about her Wizard ancestry.

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Betcha didn't see that last P.O.V. scenario. :3 Or maybe ya did. :P lol, anyways, please tell me if you think I should continue. I want at least two reviews before I post the next chapter. So please review! :D