CHAPTER ONE

"Excuse me miss… Can you hear me?"

I slowly began to blink, and my eyes hurt from the intrusion of light. What happened? I tried to take in my surroundings. I was in a forest, on the damp floor of soil, and fifty feet away sat the remnants of a motorcycle. I knew the scene had to be the product of a tragedy, but I had no idea of what it could have been. Remembering the voice that had pulled me from my unconsciousness, I looked up.

Above me towered a lanky but exquisetly beautiful man. I had never seen a human so pale, but so breathtaking. He looked to be about 17, with boyish messy bronze hair. He bore a striking, yet subtle resemblance to the man who had been haunting my dreams for quite some time. I didn't know him, but there was a face that often appeared to my subconscious with the same pale features and perfect structure. The familiarity was confusing, but I welcomed it. Was he an angel? Was this heaven? Not exactly what I had in mind…

His concerned face softened into a gentle smile when he realized I was looking at him. "Miss? Are you alright? Can you hear me?"

I opened my mouth to answer him, and was disgruntled to find that my voice sounded shaky and unsure as I replied. "Ye- um… Yes. Could you… tell me what happened?" I struggled to get through the sentence, but he patiently waited. In fact, he looked thrilled to hear me speak at all.

"Of course. My girlfriend and I were hiking through the woods, and we came across the scene of your motorcycle accident. She went to get help, and I stayed with you until that help arrives. You appear to only have minor cuts and bruises, but I'm sorry I cannot say the same for your bike." He paused, and gestured grimly to the torn up scraps of metal near us that supposedly belonged to me. "You do, however," He continued, "appear to have some preexisting injuries. My father is a doctor, and I'm sure he would be willing to take care of those for you." He searched my eyes, awaiting a reaction. "You don't remember any of this, do you?"

I silently shook my head, in quiet shock over what had apparently happened to me. How could this have happened, and me not remember any of it? Could what he said be true?

"Well then," He pursed his lips. "I suppose you hit your head as well. Can I carry you to my house? It is not far from here." He asked warily.

I hesitated. I didn't know this man, or if his story was true. I did not know if accompanying a stranger to his house was something I normally would do, or if it was wise. I looked once more into his kind gaze, and something in me said it was okay to trust him.

"Okay."

"Okay?" He grinned.

"Okay." I nodded in small confirmation, my voice still sounding vile and uncomfortable.

He reached down to pick me up, and carefully maneuvered my injured body into his arms as if I weighed nothing. His arms were seemingly carved out of ice, but I was otherwise comfortable. Once I was settled, he looked down at me softly and began to walk. "I'm Edward, by the way. Edward Cullen. It's nice to meet you, though I wish it were under different circumstances. Do you remember your name by any chance?"

"Umm…" I thought for a minute. After a few seconds of struggling, however, it came to me. "Bella. My name is Bella!"

He chuckled to himself. "Well Bella, I'm glad to make your acquaintance."

He began to tell me all about his family, so I would know where I was headed. I think he was secretly just trying to keep me awake in case I had a concussion or something, but I didn't mind the distraction. I heard firstly about his girlfriend, Alice. I couldn't help but smile as his face lit up while he went on about her exuberant ways. He probably would have kept going too if I hadn't politely intervened. "So is it just you and Alice then?"

"Oh, forgive me. No. There are my adoptive parents, Carlisle and Esme. Carlisle is perhaps the most compassionate and kindhearted man alive," He stopped to laugh at something, but I didn't get what was funny. "Carlisle is the doctor, and he will be examining you. Esme is a perfect match for him. She's a dear, and it takes her about two seconds for her to welcome you into her heart completely. I think you'll like her." As he continued telling me about the tenacious Rosalie and goofy Emmett, I couldn't help but notice that I was nearing a home where everyone was paired up. Was Dr. Cullen some kind of adoptive matchmaker or something?

As we arrived at the house, Edward finished his summary of its inhabitants. "And then there's Jasper… He's a very interesting man... He- Well, I guess you'll see for yourself." He finished as he walked me into the door of the fairytale-looking mansion. Of course. It's only fitting for angels to live in mansions.

Edward walked me straight up the staircase, leaving me little time to observe the beauty of the house. We came to a door and before he even raised his hand to knock, someone answered. "Yes Edward, bring her in."

I closed my eyes, hoping for just one moment of peace before I let myself fall into the care of yet another stranger. I couldn't process what was happening to me or where I was, and it was entirely overwhelming. Why couldn't I remember my home, or my family? Was my life so insignificant that it was so easily forgotten? And most of all, why was I able to remember the face of a man I've never met? The cold but loving gaze of an inhuman lover, who only appeared in my dreams?

As Edward led me through the door, I held onto the one thing I knew: Bella. My name is Bella.