I sat at the desk in the front of one of the most prestige hospitals in the country, I was not the secretary, I was only filling in until she showed up. My rounds were already behind and since this newbie had yet to show up we were picking up the slack.
"Hi," a girl said.
"Please tell me you are Andrea." I said.
"I am, I got stuck behind an accident on the freeway," she said.
"And I'm the doctor stuck at your post while I neglect my patients," I said irritated.
I stood up clad in my designer clothing and walked around the desk, "we have a new doctor starting the information is in the computer, I suggest you take a few minutes to learn how to use it."
I grabbed my charts and walked off.
"Doctor Swan, Code blue. Doctor Swan room six, code blue."
I groaned and pulled my lab coat on and raced down the hall.
Tossing my charts I worked on my patient, I went over the patients chart in my head.
Male, age 57, weight 258, hospitalized for breathing issues and cardiac issues.
He coded, I called it.
"Time of death, 8:17 A.M December 4th."
A coworker told me she would take my rounds. I walked outside, I hated this part. It made me wonder why people did this.
"Bella?" A sing-songy voice called my name. I had shed the doctor's coat and stood outside in a tank and heels.
"Esme," I said whipping my face as she hugged me.
"Oh, sweetheart."
I was confused.
"Doctor Cullen, it's nice to have you join our staff. Doctor Swan, Maria has taken your rounds," he said.
"Thank, Chief. Something I'm still not used to doing is calling it."
They looked a little stunned. I walked back into the hospital and went to change into scrubs. When I came back out Esme was waiting.
"I'm proud you did something amazing with your life," she told me.
"Thank you," I said as calmly as I could.
I was paged and before I could leave she made me promise to come to their home that night. As much as I didn't want to I did.
I walked out of the office that night into the cold air and hurried to my car.
Zipping up my jacket I pulled out of the lot and headed to the Cullen home. I hadn't seen them since I left for college. The fight I had the night before with Edward ended our relationship, I was never the same.
"I am not some child that you have to protect from the world!" I screamed at him.
"I never said that!"
"You don't have to, Edward. You keep thing from me like I am not old enough to understand, you are pulling us from your brothers and my best friends! What are you going to do when I'm in school in another state? Lock me up?"
"No, I'm coming with you."
He stated the information like it was silly of me to think I was going alone.
"Are you kidding? You're going to Harvard!" I grabbed my purse and shoes, thankful for the summer air.
"Where are you going?" he asked. He was pinching the bridge of his nose again with his eyes closed, I hated that.
"Home, Edward. Would you like to know how many steps it will take to get there or how many cars pass?"
"Let me drive you," he said grabbing his keys.
"No, I can't do this anymore. You're suffocating me!"
I ran from the house and didn't look back. I drove out of state the next morning, and changed my cell phone number and dorm room.
I walked up the walkway that was eliminated by low lights along the path. The house hadn't changed; it didn't seem as huge now though. I knocked on the door and it song open. I was met by a very rounded, pregnant Rose.
"Bella!" she screamed and pulled me as close as she could get me.
I realized then on how much I missed in the seven years I was gone.
"I missed your wedding," I said as I started to cry.
"I tried to find you," she told me.
"Oh, Rose!"
"Come in, it's cold. You have to meet Alice and Jasper's baby. She had him last month."
They were all there, with the exception of Edward, in the living room. Emmett was cooing over the tiny bundle in his arms, he looked as big as ever, the man was built. Alice sat there watching him in awe, she had grown out her short pixy hair, it was longer than mine now. Jasper wore his hair longer too, pulled back.
They all looked like the family I left behind.
"Ali," Rose said softly.
"Yeah?" she said turning to us. Her eyes pooled over and she rushed from the couch to pull me into her arms. She was still strong for how short she was.
"Bella!" she said as she cried.
"Hey, pixi."
I knew I looked worn out, my day was crazy like always.
"Where have you been?"
"All over, I finished my residency last year and was offer a position fulltime at Seattle Grays."
"So your home?" she asked.
"Sure, pixi. I'm as close as I can get."
"B is a fucking doctor!" Emmett said.
"Yes, bear. I am a doctor, watch your tong," I said with a smile.
"It hasn't been the same since you left," Jasper said as I heard the front door open and close.
"Bella?"
Oh god, that voice sounded the same. It was re-breaking my heart.
"Edward," I said turning.
He looked broken; I could tell I did that. He grabbed my wrist and pulled me close to him.
"I'm sorry," he told me.
I could only nod as I sobbed into his shirt. I was a mess still, and the only person I had trusted over the last seven years was sitting alone in my house, waiting for me.
"I can't stay long, I have an early shift at the hospital," I said.
I held Jasper and Alice's little boy; I talked to Esme assuring her that I was alright despite my breakdown. I made a promise to Rose to keep in contact and gave her my cell, pager and home phone numbers. They asked me where I lived, but that much I said I wasn't all that comfortable sharing yet.
When I walked into the house I was found in strong arms that felt so right and so wrong at the same time.