"Bella?" My mother asked, moving towards me.
I could feel my body stiffen. This was the moment I had been terrified of; the moment that I had never wanted to happen.
"Mom," I said with chagrin. Her face broke out into a smile. I was vaguely aware of the laugh lines that had somehow spiraled into wrinkles; I had imagined her different. I couldn't have imagined her old.
She produced a box from her pocket and placed in my hand. When she did so, she flinched. I could only wonder how cold I was to her; how different I was, how different she was. I just opened the box; letting the ribbon unfurl in my hand. I was careful not to break it. I knew that would disappoint her.
In the box was a necklace. I tested its weight with my palm, shocked at how I could not feel anything. It looked heavy. Expensive.
"How much did you spend?" I asked, imagining her and Phil starving for a week.
She chuckled momentarily, snatching the necklace back.
"Charlie said that you'd be different," she said. "But I see that you're still Bella."
I didn't ask her what she meant. I was all too obviously no longer myself; the murky brown contacts gave me away. As did my skin, and my new face. I just continued staring at her, looking past all of what I could remember. She was sunburned. I wondered briefly if she was hurt that I would not visit her in Florida.
"Of course I am," I did my best to smile sheepishly. "You worry too much, Mom."
She pushed her dark hair behind her ear, and looked at me again.
"But at the same time I feel like it's been too long," she said, holding me in place with her eyes. "I see how much has changed."
I remembered Alice's suggestion to fumble, and so I began to twitter my fingers. It seemed childish. Unreal. I didn't feel anything like a child. I didn't feel like I belonged in my mother's world- the world I had grown up in. The thought made me tremble.
"It's good to see you," I murmured. I could not meet her glare.
"It is." She smiled at me, grabbing my hand. "But would you believe it, Bella? I expected this much."
I pursed my lips, wondering what on earth she might be thinking.
"Expected it?" I repeated, dumbfounded. My voice was musical, and an octave higher than it should have been. I tried to make it coarse again, but naturally, there was no phlegm left in my throat.
My mother tugged on my arm.
"There's no way I would have dreamed that you would look like you again," she said. "I know you're on to other things. Bigger things. Just don't forget me." She smiled yet again, but I could see beyond her teeth and lips. She was serious. Serious that I never lose her- even in memory.
The words echoed around my skin. Just don't forget me. I let them cascade downwards, sinking into my hair, and dripping around my body. I couldn't forget her. I never could.
She was my mother, I said to myself, as I looked at the woman who looked nothing like me- she was half of me. She loved me. She was my best friend.
I lifted my head up, feeble as I did so. I did not have to fake my rough voice now.
"Mom," I said sullenly, "I think that you should meet Renesmee."
I heard a squeal and a scream, although something told me that it was not at all human.
A/N: This will probably be a oneshot, as I write oneshots when I have writer's block. Anyways, review please? Thank you so much! :)
-P
