My fortress, my love, my strength.
Set during New Moon, when Alice researches her human family.
I couldn't believe it. After far too long a time researching, making phone calls, looking through mountains of documents, this was it.
Two announcements, each barely a few lines, gave evidence to my human life.
First, my birth:
Mr. and Mrs. Brandon are pleased to announce that Mrs. Brandon gave birth to a daughter, whom they have named Mary Alice, on Saturday. Mary Alice is their first child.
Then, my "death":
Mary Alice Brandon died Thursday of a brain fever. Her parents, Mr. and Mrs. Brandon, and her sister, Cynthia, who just last week won the school spelling bee, survive her.
I could not believe it. "Jasper," I whispered, "here are the articles." He crossed the hotel room swiftly, sitting down next to me on the bed. He took the photocopied pieces of paper from me, studied them for the briefest of moments, and then looked at me: "Do you want to go, my love?" The only response I could manage was a nod. "Then let's go."
We checked out hurriedly, then ran the entire way back to Tanya's house in Alaska. We raced up the stairs to our room and shut the door.
"I shouldn't blame them, they only did what they thought was right," I reasoned, trying to keep my composure. "But my sister's accomplishments in my obituary… Jasper, they said I had died. As if I no longer even existed." I was dry sobbing now, and as he drew me into a protective embrace, I felt waves of calm rolling over me. "N-no, Jasper, I need to f-feel it, or it'll n-never g-go aw-way," I hiccupped. The calm ceased, and my sobs began again, but he did not move, just stayed there, holding me.
I do not know how long we stood there, me hysterical, Jasper comforting me with his presence, no doubt feeling my abandonment, pain, and sorrow as strongly as I did. I knew then, even through the emotional haze, that the depth of our love was greater than even I had imagined. I had always been there for him when he slipped up, comforted him, brought him back to sanity, and now he was reciprocating. I knew then, and I still know, that he is and will always be my fortress, my love, and my strength, as I am his.