:Epilogue:

Edward's POV

After the bell rang, I fled at the fastest human pace I could get away with. I went straigh to my car, shoved the keys in the ignition, reved the engine, and sped off. I didn't know where I was going, so I was sure Alice wouldn't see me.

I needed to get away. Now. To start over - in a place where I would never have to be reminded of Bella. I winced as the thought of her entered my mind, and a blow of pain made its way slowly through my empty chest. Life was absolutely miserable without her. I didn't know how to go on happily if she wasn't there - it was impossible - even more impossible to be near her knowing she'd chose the dog over me. But I'd stayed, as painful as it was - I'd still stayed, with some hope she'd been temporarily diluded and she would come back to my waiting arms.

Oh what I wouldn't give to feel her warmth, to feel the electricity roll through my body each time we'd touched, and the eupphoric feeling everytime our lips had touched.

I stopped there.

The whole point of this was to get away - to do whatever it takes to get Isabella Swan out of my mind - for good. I'd realized I'd be breaking a promise by running off like this. I promised her that I'd never leave again - certainly she'd understand that the circumstances are different now - and also that if she'd outgrown me, or wanted something more, that I'd be waiting in the wings. But I couldn't. I never - in my near hundred and ten years of living - endured such pain as I did to watch her walk away in the arms of another man.

I looked down at the clock on the dashboard, it read 5:43pm. I looked around, trying to figure out where I was going. I noticed I was on the roads that would lead me straight into the heart of Chicago. Naturally, I would go back to my starting point - my first safe haven, my home. I knew I wouldn't be able to stay there long either, too many painful memories lie there, too. I still didn't know where exactly I was going, so I just kept driving and eventually ended up in Chicago.

I drove in circles around the city, still weighing my options. I knew I wouldn't be able to face my family until I got my life back in order. It made the agony worse when I had to see my family suffer with me, especially Esme and Alice.

I pulled into the airport, suddenly deciding that I could go to Ireland. Clearing my head in the pure air there, surely that would help keep my mind off of Bella.

I bought my ticket, made my way through security, and sat down to wait the five hours until the plane departed.

I sat there for a while - thinking - keeping my mind off of Bella. When I heard a broken sob...