This takes place during New Moon, after Edward has been gone for a while, before Bella finds out about the werewolves.

POV: Bella

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I couldn't live like this anymore. I needed some proof that the whole thing wasn't just a dream, that Edward had really been there. For the first time in months, I went to the place where the Cullens had lived. Although I knew it was just an empty house, it was something tangible for me to latch onto; something that held all the memories from our former life.

The door was unlocked.

It was just the way I remembered it: every piece of furniture was where it was supposed to be. I could suppose that the Cullens were just out for the day, that they would be returning that afternoon. I sat on the living room couch, pretending to wait for their return. I knew they wouldn't, but the presence of the house gave me some inexplicable shred of hope. It wasn't enough, though. I still felt the aching hole in my self. The pain was stimulated, as if I was pushing on an aching tooth to make sure it still hurt. It felt better and worse at the same time. I didn't want to leave. I wanted to pretend that everything was back to the way it was before. I stared out the window, awaiting the sight of a car pulling into the driveway. And there I saw it, clear as I ever would.

It was a red car, one that I had never seen before. This was not a car from my imagination. There was actually someone in the driveway. My heart paced. Was this one of the Cullens? Does someone else live here now? I had only caught a short glimpse of the car, but after a few minutes of silence I convinced myself that I had imagined it. My imagination was particularly potent, and I considered whether I would be able to summon the clear sound of Edward's voice again. But instead I heard the unmistakable sound of the front door opening.

I looked over and there was Jasper. "Jasper!" I gasped. Why was he here? Did this mean the Cullens were returning? It didn't matter, I was just glad to see one of them. My eyes filled with tears at the sight of him. He turned and looked at me. "Bella?" he asked, surprised. "What are you-" He sat down on the adjacent chair, and as he approached, I felt all of my anxiety and dark, cold emptiness slowly fade away. As he placed his hand on my lower arm, I felt a sense of bliss take over my whole body, as if a tremendous weight had been lifted.

"Are you okay?" he asked.

"I'm fine," I said, forgetting every reason why I was upset, and embracing the emotional treatment like a blanket. "Why are you back here?" I asked.

"I came back to see how you were doing. Edward is-" he paused. I almost flinched at the mention of Edward's name, but now it came with hope.

"He's not doing so well."

"What? What's wrong with him?" I asked anxiously.

"He misses you too much. It's making him crazy."

"What?" Edward missed me. Did I really mean something to him after all? I didn't know exactly how I was reacting, because I was still under Jaspers soothing blanket of bliss, but I felt the warmth return to me.

"I'm sorry, Bella," said Jasper.

"About what?" I asked.

"This is all my fault. He left because of me."

"What? He did?"

"Because I almost killed you!"

"You mean... Edward still loves me?"

"Of course he does. What did he tell you?"

"He told me he didn't," I choked. The tears streamed down my cheeks, and I felt a little bit of anger. "Is he coming back?"

Jasper sighed. "I don't think so."

I thought of living without Edward for the rest of my life. It would be a life of torture.

"Don't leave," I said. "I don't want to feel bad anymore."

"I have to. I told Alice I would be back."

"Take me," I said. "There's nothing left for me here. I just want to see Edward again."

Jasper hesitated. "Okay. He won't be too happy with me, though."

"Why not?"

"If I lose control again, no one will be able to save you."

"Oh, yeah," I said. "I don't care. I'd rather take the risk. Besides, I trust you, and I promise I won't cut myself. If anything happens, you can tell him it was my fault. You can tell him I threatened to kill myself or something." I looked at him hopefully.

"It's okay. I've already decided to take you. I know what it's like to love someone that much."

My face beamed with joy as the truth sunk in that I was going to see Edward, after all this misery.