Stephenie Meyer's Owns All That is Great with Twilight

Prologue

At this moment I am sitting in McCarty Bar drinking my second long island. It is 11:45 PM and I am still 24 years old. In less than 24 hours I will be a year older and I'm not ready for it. Apparently at 25 you should be done with your masters, engaged to your long time boyfriend and have a career. I have none of the above. But I do have a cat named gizmo, my own apartment, and a job as an assistant editor at Masen House Publishing.

When I imagined my life at 25 I thought I would be engaged, hell even married to my high school sweetheart. I thought he and I could work through the distance of going to different universities. I really thought we could make it work. We knew that we always had to do what was best for our future. I went to NYU to study English and he stayed in Washington to become; well I don't know. Well his idea of securing his future included sleeping with his TA, Leah. But in his defense he was failing the class and needed to pass to stay off academic probation. Thanks again Jake, hope your job at the garage was worth it!

So again here I sit dreading the next 24 hours because it brings me that much closer to 25. It bring questions and comments from family and friends about why am I still single, or do I plan to ever have kids and settle down. The answer is yes people. I date. It isn't like I sit at home alone. I just don't find anyone interesting enough to waste my time with yet.

The bartender yells last call and I feel like he is saying it directly to me only. He is saying 'last chance to make it right'. Last chance to find 'the one'. Last chance to make him yours'.

Ugh who am I kidding? Even the bartender knows about my pathetic life. This year is going to be just like every other year.

I down the rest of my long island and stumble out of the bar into a cab. Once in bed I lay wide awake staring at the ceiling. I start to think about him. What could have been if I said yes? What could have been if I wasn't so scared? What would my life be like if I took the risk?

For now I stare at the ceiling and begin the countdown.