It was a cold rainy night. Bella was out on the streets of Chicago alone, but she didn't care. She didn't care about anything. All she cared about was him. The one who left, stomped on her heart and disappeared. But she had seen him. She was sure of it. She knew it was him watching, she could feel it. Now all she needed to know was where. Where had he been hiding?
"Edward?"
She called into the night. There was no response.
"Edward!"
She kept calling like this all night, until the dawn started to break. He was here, but he wouldn't show his face. He hated her. Then why would he be here? No he couldn't, she still held onto her hope. Just as she was about to head home with tears running down her face, she heard him, or so she thought.
"Bella? Bella, what are you doing out so early?"
She turned around filled with happiness, only to be let down yet again. It was only Mike her next-door neighbor. "Oh." Was all she said. "Are you alright? Why are you crying?" He had always been in love with Bella, so much he even followed her to Chicago, although he would never admit she was the reason for showing up. "I was looking for… something…" She stammered out. What would she say? "Oh, I was just out wandering the streets like a crazy person screaming the name of my lost vampire love hoping he would show up, although he hasn't shown up for the last 3 years. Yeah. That would go over well.
"Oh alright… Would you like me to walk you home?" He was still hopeful that if he kept pushing, she would be his someday. "No that's okay I'm fine. I was actually going to… meet up with an old friend. See you… around." She attempted a smile and walked away. Once she was far enough away, she stopped on a park bench and broke down crying. No one was coming for her. All the hope she had held on to was gone now. She came to Chicago, his birthplace; hoping it would make her feel connected to him, make it so she could find him, but no such luck. He was still out there enjoying his distractions, while she was left alone crying in the park. How could he just leave her? And take the whole family away too? She missed them all so much, even Rosalie. She missed Esme kind heart and spirit, Carlisle's compassion, Emmett's laughter, Jaspers quiet company, and most of all, Alice's energy. He stole them all away from her, pulled the rug out from under her. She couldn't believe it. You could say she was in denial, or you could say she was losing her mind. This mindless chasing around the world, this never-ending search for love wasn't working. She would never see them again. Ever.
Just then, she heard footsteps. Very faint, but very quick. Almost like…
Them.
