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Bella stood over Edward's empty grave, a bouquet of flowers in one hand. "You've been gone longer than I knew you," she told the elaborate headstone. "When we said we'd be together forever, I thought it would last longer."

"Forever's an awful long time."

She turned, startled. "Don't sneak up on me, Jake."

He moved to stand behind her, his hand going around her waist. "You ever wonder if we would be here, together, if he had lived?"

"No."

"Why not?"

She looked down at the matching gold bands on their fingers. "Because I can't imagine my life without you."

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