Chapter 1

I stood in the middle of the forest, staring up into the golden eyes of the boy I loved more than my own life. Edward continued his well-rehearsed speech. He claimed that he no longer wanted me and that I was not good for him. I was heartbroken and angry, but not surprised.

"Bella just please promise…." Edward began.

Rolling my eyes, I, angrily, interrupted him before he could continue to ruin our love with more well intended, yet, hateful lies.

"Edward! Shut up!"

He stopped midsentence and stared at me with his mouth agape. A look of complete shock evident upon his face, I took a deep breath to calm down.

"I know you love me! I know you think that you are giving me a chance to have a normal human life. What I don't know is why you think you need to completely derail my self-esteem to leave me, Edward."

He fell to his knees and wrapped his arms around my waist.

"I do love you, but I can't stay Bella." He cried softly, while looking at ground.

He looked back up into my eyes. "I'm sorry I lied. I had to be sure that you would let me go. What happened on your birthday was inevitable. Any of us could, accidently, kill you at any time. Jasper is not the only threat when you are around my family. I have to keep you safe and that means leaving you. Please let me go. Go to college, get married, and have children, Bella. Live a happy, mortal life. The life you are meant to have." Edward pled passionately.

Sighing, I lowered myself to the forest floor with him. He was looking at the ground again, taking deep shuddering breaths. I, gently, grabbed his chin and he allowed me to raise his head. I looked into is eyes and memorized his face in the last moments we would have together. I could not be the reason for him to feel so tortured. I was going to let him go, even if I was already feeling like my heart was being torn from my chest.

"I understand." I said, softly. "I'm going to let you go Edward. I will try my best to move on and do the things you have asked of me. But you have to know; I will always love you! I am so grateful for the time that we have had. You made me so happy! I need you to promise that you will go on with your life, as well. I need to know that you will be happy,"

Edward held me tightly and we mourned together for the end of what had been first true love for each of us. After what seemed to be an endless amount of time and, yet, not long enough, he helped me up and we began walking back toward my house in silence, hand in hand.

As we walked through the bright green forest, it seemed unjust that the birds were singing and my surroundings were beautiful. I felt as though the leaves of the trees should turn color and fall to the ground, just as my tears of moments ago had. My eternal, happy spring had ended and, apparently, the world was not going to change seasons just because my life was changing in unwanted ways.

When we reached the front porch of my house, he turned to face me one last time. He tucked a strand of hair behind my ear and smiled sadly.

"I promise to try to be happy someday. It will take a long time. I will miss you every moment of forever. I will love you for all eternity, Isabella Swan," he said earnestly.

I cupped my hand on the side of his face.

"I'll always love you too, Edward."

He, gently, wove his fingers into my hair and stared into my eyes for a long moment. Then he leaned down and kissed me. The kiss was bittersweet. It was filled with love, longing, and heartache. He pulled away and touched his forehead to mine.

"Goodbye, Love." He whispered.

"Goodbye, Edward" I said, quietly.

He was gone in the blink of an eye. I stood there, unable to fully process that he was really gone for forever. I turned and slowly walked into the house, up the stairs, and into my room. I closed the door behind me and fell face down onto my bed. I held my pillow that still smelled of Edward. I began to cry whole-heartedly. I poured all of my sorrow and heartache into my tears.

"How can I live without my reason for living?" I wondered aloud, just before succumbing to my tear-induced exhaustion and slipping away into blessed unconsciousness.