I watched her grow throughout all these years. It's been 24 years since she was born and as the time keeps passing, I wonder if the love I have for her will ever fade away. She seemed so fragile when I held her as a newborn and now she's almost a woman. For an old vampire like me, humans live for a split second. I've watched many generations come and go.

I wish I could stop time for her.

But that's a dangerous thought. The little princess must live a normal life, get married, and have children and grandchildren.

Twenty four years ago, I would have never imagined I could be this overprotective especially with an ordinary human like the little princess. I was in one of the many residencies I have around the world when someone pressed the doorbell. I don't know what kind of human would ever have the guts to wake up a vampire but whoever did it was clever enough to do it at a sunny day or else, her or his life would've ended at that exact moment. When I opened the door posing as a human, I saw a baby on a basket-like device on my door completely silent looking at me with her big round eyes.

I didn't know what to do at first. I killed many humans for blood but I had principles and I could never kill an innocent kid or worse, a newborn.

But a vampire could never raise a child and even though, I tried to take care of her the first 2 years, I just knew I wasn't doing it right. I grew very fond of her but she needed normal parents so, I decided to give her to a human couple. I knew they had troubles conceiving a child since the wife was sterile. The husband used to work for me and I did some research before giving her. Even so, I made sure she had everything she wanted. I gave her many presents for her birthday and Christmas. She went to a nice school and university, even traveled around Europe for one year after she graduated.

But somehow, she doesn't seem happy today. She's sitting on a bench in the park. I can't deal with her sad face so I decide to talk to her.

"Is there something wrong?" I ask as I get close to her.

She looks at me surprised probably because she didn't hear my steps.

"No." I can see her eyes getting teary

"Alright, dear. You don't have to tell me what's going on but it's pretty obvious."

Inevitably, the little princess bursts into tears. I feel that I have traveled in time 22 years ago when she was just a little child crying and I was a stupid vampire parent.

"Look, is there something I can do?"

Ugh, I can't deal with women crying.

"No... you're just a weird stranger" she sobs.

Oh, sweetie if you only knew...

"My name is Edward Cullen" I grab her hand and shake it. "I'm not a stranger anymore"

A small smile appears for a split second on her pretty face.

"I'm Isabella Swan but everyone calls me Bella"

I knew that already because it was me who named her. I was born in Italy and Isabella was my mother's name but she died a long time ago. I don't even remember how many years have passed since then.

"Now that we aren't two strangers anymore" I sit next to her and I can feel the warmth she irradiates. "What happened? A breakup?"

Whoever made her feel this way won't live another day.

"My grandma just died"

I don't know what to say.

I embraced death long time ago. All the people I knew from my life as a human has been dead for centuries so I haven't had to cope with death for a really long time. It's a shame but I forgot how it feels.

"I bet she wouldn't like seeing you crying your heart out like this" I say "You have to be strong. I bet she's in a better place"

"Well, she spent her last days in the hospital so wherever she is, she doesn't suffer anymore"

I nod.

"So what do you say about getting an ice cream?"

She used to love it when she was little.

"What?"

She looks at me skeptically.

"It's just ice cream" and I add sarcastically "I promise I won't bite you"

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