"I don't love you anymore, Bella," Edward emphasized as we stood across from each other in the forest.
"What do you mean," I questioned.
"What happened during your birthday was a wake-up call. I don't want to protect you anymore." I stayed quiet as I tried not to believe what he was saying, but it was impossible. I could believe everything he said, but it still pained me. It felt like he was ripping my heart out carelessly. I hated it.
"Promise me something though," he said, knocking me out of my stupor.
"Anything," I whispered in a reply.
"Promise me that you won't do anything reckless, for Charlie's sake. And I will promise you something in return. You will never see me again; it will be as if I never existed."
I gasped as I awoke for the hundredth time from that dream, that memory. It has followed me ever since Edward left. It's been four months now since I've seen him, seen any of them. And that fact has kept me broken. I've been like a robot, living day by day at the bare minimum. I tried to hide it though. I hoped my mask would keep everyone unsuspected.
I highly doubted it.
"Bella, I'm going to go with Billy and Harry out on the boat, fishing," my father, Charlie, said as he poked his head into the room. I nodded automatically as he needed the time away from me.
"Alright, Dad," my monotonous voice replied like a robot. "Have fun." He nodded and started tapping the doorframe.
"You should go out and have some fun too, Bella," he recommended before exiting the room. I just stayed where I was, wishing I could turn time back to when I was happy with Edward and the other Cullen's. It felt as if I wasn't connected, as if they were all a dream. I felt like I needed proof, as if I wouldn't survive without it.
Those thoughts caused me to get up. I ran out of the house, with my keys in hand, and I ran to the truck. Once I was on the road, I drove through the familiar route that I hadn't been on for so long, and I made my way through it. Once I was going through the mile-long driveway, I looked to see that the grass had grown in because of the lack of usage. It pained my heart to see it that way, and it made me feel as if it was a fantasy that I had lived even more.
Then, I finally reached the house. I stared at it, thinking everything felt so wrong. I got out from my truck with a sigh. I stood by my truck for a moment before walking forward slowly, still not believing it was real. I walked onto the porch, afraid and too sad to go any farther. I felt the nasty hole in my chest start to expand, and I couldn't stop the tears from rushing to my eyes. I ran down the steps, and I tripped right next to my truck. My hand automatically flailed to the cap of my truck to stop me from falling completely. A lone tear rolled down my cheek.
And then I heard it. "What are you doing here?"