"Bella, I don't want you to come with me." He spoke the words slowly and precisely, his cold eyes on my face, watching as I absorbed what he was really saying.
There was a pause as I repeated the words in my head a few times, sifting through them for their real intent.
"You… don't… want me?" I tried out the words, confused by the way they sounded, placed in that order.
"No"
"Well, that changes things." Surprised at how calm and reasonable my voice sounded. It must be because I was so numb. I couldn't realize what he was telling me. It didn't make any sense.
"Don't do this."
He stared at me, and I could see that my words were far too late.
"You're not good for me, Bella." I already knew I wasn't good enough for him.
I opened my mouth to say something, and then closed it again. He waited patiently, his face wiped clean of all emotion. I tried again.
"If… that's what you want."
He nodded once.
"Goodbye, Bella," He said in the same quiet, peaceful voice.
"Wait!" I choked out the word, reaching for him.
I thought he was reaching for me, too. But his cold hands locked around my wrists and pinned then to my sides. He leaned down, and pressed his lips very lightly to my forehead for the briefest instant. My eyes closed.
"Take care of yourself," he breathed, cool against my skin.
There was a light unnatural breeze. My eyes flashed open. The leaves on a small vine maple shuddered with the gentle wind of his passage.
He was gone.
I felt so numb. I couldn't feel anything below my neck. I went over the moment again and again and again, trying to make myself believe that he was really gone… forever.
I walked unseeing to where he had disappeared. It must have been several hours, and I just collapsed. I lay there; squeezing my eyes tight, for the acid of his words had burned a whole through my chest slowly.
Love, life, meaning…
Over