You all know I don't own this.

I lightly touched the dew that had formed on the waxy leaves of tree I was standing behind. Every day I sat here. Every day I watched Charlie get older. I watched the life drain from his weak, mortal veins. Every day, it was more evident that his time was limited. Likewise, my age didn't show at all, and for the first time it was really obvious to me that I really was not ever going to change again.

I sunk what little bit of nail I had into the leaf, releasing a juicy mess of green chlorophyll onto my finger. It was so fresh -- it smelled wonderful. I looked at the hundreds of other wounded leaves above this one. Each day they were riper. I was nostalgically jealous of how alive they were.

Cold, forced breath blew across my ear. "Bella, it's been months. Please, come home…" he said.

Without looking, I easily reached my arm back and twisted Edward's soft, bronze hair delicately around my finger. "Why do you still worry so much?" I asked, welcoming the distraction from my previous thoughts.

Edward wrapped his strong, stony arms around my waist. "I miss you." he whispered.

I rubbed his cheek with the back of my hand. It felt so different now. He didn't feel cold anymore. I was cold, too. "I'm not leaving him." I said. "His awful, unreliable daughter isn't going to let him die alone.

Edward pressed his lips against my temple. "You knew it would be this way. I told you." he whispered sternly.

He wanted to be frustrated with me, but I could hear the guilt in his voice.

"Edward, don't -- I love this. I love that I can be with you. I can't just leave him alone, though…"

Edward's eyes were severe. "And what are you going to do? What is Charlie going to say -- Thirty-four years later on his death bed and his daughter is still eighteen?" he said curtly.

"He --" I exhaled sharply. I hadn't realized I'd been holding my breath. "He won't." I said sadly. "He's ninety-three. He's not going to…" I pushed away phantom tears, fighting to keep a steady voice. "He's not going to be alive long enough to remember it's me."

"So instead you'll just speed up the process by giving the poor man a heart attack?" Edward asked cynically.

I slapped his arm, unappreciative of his wildly inappropriate remark.

"I'm sorry…" Edward murmured, kissing my cheek.

I pushed him away. "Go. I'll be home soon." I told him.

He stood. "Fine. …Be safe," then disappeared as suddenly as he'd come.

'Be safe.' As if he'd leave it up to me to stay safe. Even now, he listened every minute I wasn't by his side.

I crept closer to the house, feeling my stomach drop further. An ominous tension surrounded the house, and it grew thicker with time. He was slipping….

Comments help me know if I suck or not.