Summary: Edward and Bella were together for three years before she passed away. She was diagnosed with a fatal disease in their final year together. Join Edward as he reads the book Bella left behind for him that she wrote about their love.

Prologue – EPOV

I look around and notice all of our friends are here. My family and hers. This little bookstore is completely packed with our loved ones all decked out in their black attire. She loved this little book shop. Next to me, it was her world. She loved the idea that she could add to a child's imagination with just one book. It was amazing to watch her with children. She was so natural with them; she would've been an amazing mother. Unfortunately that will never happen. She's gone.

"Hey little brother, how you holding up?" I look to my right and see my older brother Emmett standing next to me. His eyes are red around the edges. He's been crying too, we all have been. She was like a little sister to him.

"Do you ever wish that you could rewind time? You know, go back and change things?" I avoided his question because the answer should be obvious that I am hanging in there as best as I can.

"That's not an answer." My brother pointed out.

"No, but it is a question." I countered.

Emmett sighed. "There are times, yes that I wish I could go back and change things, but I realize that they happened for a reason. It had to happen to get me to where I am today. I like who I am now."

I nodded. "Good answer." I sat my coffee mug down and started to walk away, but stopped when he spoke again.

"Your turn." He still was waiting for my answer.

I sighed and turned around to face him again. I shrugged and said "She's gone." That should be answer enough. I walked away after that. I nodded at a few people who I haven't seen in a while. Everyone is apologizing to me and I hate it. What the hell are they sorry for? They didn't do it to her. They didn't give her a fatal disease. They didn't kill her. If they're sorry for me then that's a different story. I'm sorry for me too. I lost the best person in my life, the love of my life, my soul mate, my lover, my wife, and my best friend. All in one person.

I make my way to the restroom and lock myself inside. I splash some water on my face and stare at the man in the mirror before me. I stare at him trying to figure out who he is now. I've been hers for the last three years and I still am hers. She still owns every part of me, especially my broken heart. I haven't been back to our apartment since it happened. Since she… passed.

I'm not sure how long I was in the bathroom staring at myself, but I was startled when I heard a knock on the door. "Edward?" Ugh, the pity party is here. "Edward? Son? Are you in there?" Maybe if I don't answer she'll leave, they'll all leave. "Honey, everyone is starting to leave. I thought you might want to thank everyone for coming and celebrating…" I hurried and opened the door then before she had a chance to say her name. It hurts too much to hear anyone say her name right now. My mother keeps saying that we aren't mourning her death, but celebrating her life. Whatever, she's gone. I'm fucking mourning.

"Yeah, sure mom. Let's go." I lead her down the hall back to the front of the shop. I clear my throat and get everyone's attention. "I want to thank you all for coming here today, and sharing your memories. She would've loved having you all here, especially here." I paused and looked around the shop. "She really loved this little book shop of hers. I'm thankful to Angela for agreeing to run it for me, while I keep it open in her memory. Before you leave I want to quote a novel that she had just recently finished reading. The book is called Dear John and it's by Nicholas Sparks. I'm able to relate to this particular quote right now, I know within time that the pain will ease, but the loss will always be there. The quote goes like this, 'Our story has three parts: a beginning, a middle, and an end. And although this is the way all stories unfold, I still can't believe that ours didn't go on forever. I reflect on these things, and as always, our time together comes back to me. I find myself remembering how it began, for now these memories are all I have left.' So I now find myself cherishing the moments I had with her, and I hope that you all do the same. Thank you once again for coming." I said that and stepped off to the side and accepted the hugs and goodbyes that were offered to me.

I hate goodbyes. Even in the end, she didn't say goodbye. God, I miss her. My mom pulls me into a tight hug while the rest of my family stands behind her wiping away tears. "Honey, are you coming back to our house, or you going to your apartment?"

I flinched when she mentioned the apartment. I can't go there. Not yet. Not without her there. "Um, I'll probably be going back to your guys' house, but I want to just stay here for a while by myself. I just need some time, alone. I can feel her here still. I want to soak that in for a little while longer." I said putting my hands in my pocket.

My mother nodded and hugged me tightly once more. "Call us if you need anything, honey. Take as much time as you need. We'll see you when you get home okay." I flinched again when she said home. My home wasn't here anymore. My home was buried six feet under the ground eight miles down the road in the local cemetery.

"Okay sure Mom. Thanks, you guys for coming and putting up with me these last couple of days. I know I haven't been easy to deal with." I hugged them all.

"Edward, you've suffered a major loss, we all have, but you're suffering more. We understand. We just want to be here for you like you were for her. We love you." Alice said as she cried into my shoulder.

"I know Alice. I love you all too." I released her and then watched them all leave. I locked the door behind them and then turned to face the empty bookstore. I began to wander around the little shop and I found myself behind the desk. I began to look through the drawers to see if there was anything important that needed tending to. I opened one drawer and my heart stopped. There in the drawer lying in front of me was an envelope with Edward written across the front. It was her handwriting. I would know her handwriting from anyone's. I pick it up and fall back into the chair that's behind me.

Should I open it? What is it? Was I supposed to find it? Then I flashback to a moment with her.

FLASHBACK

I'm sitting on the couch with my head in my hands and she kneels in front of me. "Edward look at me." I remove my hands from my face and she takes them in hers. "I will make sure you are ready. I will take care of you. I know you. I know how you'll react when it happens. Trust me; I will help you through it even if I'm not here physically to do it. I love you." I pull her into my arms and hang on for dear life.

END FLASHBACK

That decides it. I open the envelope and all that's inside is a small piece of paper. I flip the paper over and am slightly confused. All it says is, Romance, Case 3, 3rd Shelf, #1095. What the hell? I start to turn the envelope around like a crazy person, trying to find some directions or something. I find a small note on the inside of the envelope flap. Two words, Trust me.

Okay, so Romance must mean the Romance section here in the store. I get up and go to that section. I walk down to bookcase three, and look on the third shelf. I look across the books on the shelf, but do not find #1095. I look across the books one more time and then begin to check the other shelves, but still no #1095. Frustrated I throw my head back and let out a huff, luckily I happen to see a book taped the bottom of the third shelf when I do that. I pull it off the shelf and peel away the tape and there on its binding it says, #1095. I flip it over to look at the cover to see what the title is and why it would be important to her. My breath catches when I see the title and the author's name. One Year with You, by Isabella Cullen.

I feel the tears already pouring down my face. I slump to the ground against the bookcase behind me. I run my fingers over her name on the cover. God, I miss her. I edge my fingers over to the side and flip open the cover and find a dedication with a note below it.

Dedicated to the love of my life, my soul mate, my lover, my husband, and my best friend. Edward Cullen.

Dearest Edward,

Knowing you, you paid no attention to the significance in the directions I left on the note that led you to this book. So I guess I will have to point them out to you sweetheart. Okay, first Romance should be obvious, since our story is after all a romance. Case 3 and Shelf 3 are representing the 3 wonderful years we were blessed to have with one another. I cherish every second of those three years. The #1095 also represents our 3 years together; well it represents the number of days together. There are 1,095 days in3 years, so hence book #1095. The title I know seems rather odd since we were together for more than one year, but I know you know where the title came from. This last year together, we knew, was our last year together. So I thought the title was fitting in that sense, but in this story I will not just be focusing on our final year together. I will tell the tale of all our time together. This is our book, sweetheart. Ours and ours alone. I do not want anyone else to read it, because it is not their love story, it's ours. I wanted to leave something of mine behind for you and for you alone. So I have left you my two most prized possessions. Please take care of these and hold on to them. I have left behind my heart and my love for you. My heart you cannot see, but trust me it's there lying next to yours. My love for you, however, can be seen in the following pages. Read and remember, my love. I love you eternally.

All my love,

Bella

P.S. Make sure you follow ALL the directions. Trust me. I love you.

I run my fingers over her handwriting and relish in the fact that she had touched this very page. I wiped away some tears and took a deep breath as I turned the page to begin reading our story.

Okay so tell me what you think! :)