Edward grabbed my arm, and the pleading look coursing through his golden eyes nearly sent me to my knees. He hadn't ever touched me before, and I froze in shock. I still hadn't even quite gotten over seeing him for the first time in months, even if he was just a hallucination. It was as though my brain had decided to take me down quickly after all.
"Please, Bella, stop this."
I had to tear my eyes away from his to be able to respond. "It's my life."
"What can I do? Please, I'll do anything." For a moment, I let myself believe him. But then, my eyes narrowed as a sharp stab of anger ripped through my heart. It was a peculiar thing, to feel angry at something again, especially directed towards Edward. I hadn't felt anything close to anger in months.
"You won't do anything. You know that. Now leave me alone," I snapped, but I regretted my words as soon as they left me. The hole in my chest smarted, and I wrapped an arm around my abdomen. The other arm I tightened around the thick tree branch I was clinging onto. "Don't leave," I whispered, but only the empty wind heard me now as it carried my words through the trees.
I looked down. I really wasn't that high up, but I knew that if I fell, I would definitely have some explaining to do to Charlie. Removing my arm from my waist, I resumed working on what I had come here to do. It took some time, but I was eventually a fair distance off the ground, precariously seated on a branch against the vast trunk of the tree. I slowly, while working hard to maintain my balance, moved my gaze from the forest floor to the expanse of green sea stretching around me, hiding whatever other secrets and mythical creatures I may have not yet known about, and took a deep breath.
"It's my life," I whispered.