A/N Stephanie Meyer owns Twilight and these charachters.

Chapter 1: Realization

Why does everyone think they know what's best for you?

Trying to give me advice. Yeah well I know what's best.

"You're lonely, Edward," they say.

"You're 38 and still living the bachelor lifestyle," they whine constantly to me.

"You need a girlfriend," My sister and doting mother tells me. I mean, I understand their worries and fears. But it isn't necessary. I enjoy the single life. Where there's no responsibilities.

I mean I haven't been a monk with no social life or female company either. I just kept most relationships casual. Why bother settling when you haven't found the one? Why tie yourself down when you just want to be free?

I, Edward Cullen, did not want to be tied down to a whiny and clingy wife. I may be 38 but I don't plan to sow my roots just yet.

Especially in my career. I loved photography from the day I got my first Nixon camera on my 7th birthday thanks to my generous mother and father. Carlisle and Esme Cullen raised me follow my heart and that lead me to working for 'The Inner World' magazine. Since leaving college I hadn't settle. I'd followed my heart. It really all started with the 'list'.

The List had been made on the 19th of June 1999. After getting drunk at an end of college party, my roommate and I spent our last night contemplating the rest of our lives

19th June 1999 ≈

"Edward, you need to dump Tanya! You're going to South America in two weeks. You can't have a one-night stand that stuck around, waiting for you to come home. Now is for living, not worrying who your girlfriend is texting when you're in a different continent," Garrett slurred.

"Dump her, pack your shit and get out of here," he advised, sluggishly looking for more beer in the fridge.

I stayed silently during our one-way conversation. Just absent mindly nodding my head. He was probably right. Tanya, wasn't worth the hassle or effort.

"Do something, change the world," He yelled passionately, wildly throwing his arms in the air. It was obvious the Garrett studied journalism. Even inebriated he was opinioned.

He had a point however. When I was gone it was is going to be barely possible to stay in touch with my parents, never mind my 6 months girlfriend.

"See the Amazon, feed giraffes in the rainforest, be adventurous,"

"Unfortunately, giraffes don't live in the rainforest, Gar," I explained.

"I don't fucking care where they live, you are going to feed a giraffe," he insisted. "Live life on the edge not standing behind the crowd where you can't even see the view," Garrett got very meaningful when he was intoxicated.

"Make a list, man," he grabbed a pen and paper from his cluttered desk. "Everything you want to do and when,"

" Maybe tomorrow," yawning from the night activities, I decided to leave Garrett to his latest project.

"Wait. C'mon, man" he whined. "I'll start it"

He thought for a moment and then scribbled down vigorously his idea. Interested I peered over his shoulder. Written in sloppy block letters was "1) Feed giraffes at 22"

I grinned at his insistence and continued to watch his attempts to plan my future.

2) Dump Tanya at 22

3) Sleep with a Brazilian at 22

4) Set your friend 'Garrett' up with a supermodel at 30

I laughed at his interference. But I noticed as I got older things got a bit more serious.

26) Get a properly functioning car at 31

27) Get a permanent job at 32

28) Build/Buy a house at 33

It was a long night of laughter and even more advice.

≈ 13th June 2015 ≈

I smiled at the fond memory. I began to think about some of the more memorable points of the list. Strangely some even came through. Each step was lay out perfectly down to the age he had predicted. The next day, I dumped Tanya. Garrett was now married to a supermodel Kate whom he had met at my 30th birthday party. I now owned a Aston Martin.

Curious now, wondering whether my friend was psychic or a really good guesser, I got up from my desk and headed to the box of old photographs from my childhood under my bed. Getting distracted I flickered through pictures until I finally came to my travel diary. Stuck between pages was I faded and tattered ruled copy page. Unfolding the page I glanced through his predictions

Surprised, I suddenly began agreeing with all of his predictions. Every single one had come through. From the simple everyday ones to meeting the president at 29. Freaked out I sat on my neatly and pristine white bed clutching my future.

33) Buy a dog at 38

I had, not 2 weeks ago, bought Spencer a black labrador puppy from a shelter. I read on to the next point curious to see if it had come through yet. It was the last one. When I did I dropped the list to the ground, nearly fainting from shock.

It couldn't be, not yet…

34) Fall in love with the love of your life at 38

How is this even possible? Feeling like I was in the twilight zone I threw the list onto my bed in anger. I wasn't lonely. I didn't want commitment or a relationship. I ran my hands through my hair frustrated. I wasn't ready for this, not now.

A dawning realization came over me.

I was turning 39 in a week…

I was going to meet the love of my life in a week whether I liked it or not.