~ * * * Chapter 2 * * * ~
"Edward!" I jolt awake again.
Agh! My throat!
It's dark, but the room is full of people.
"Shhh, dear," Esme strokes my right hand softly. " We're all here. Everything's going to be fine."
I feel my left hand gripped tighter and look over to see Rose wiping away tears. She tries to smile, but it doesn't work.
The panic is starting to build again as Carlisle comes up beside Esme. He swipes my hair away from my face.
"Bella. Do you remember anything?" He asks.
I shake my head.
Actually I can't remember anything at all.
A chair beside Rose scrapes across the floor and Emmett's head falls onto the bed, his hands land on my shin and he squeezes.
What is going on?
Alice is at the end of the bed holding my toes. The nails still only half painted on her left hand.
I wiggle my toes, pleading her with my stare.
They have to tell me what's happened! Why isn't he here?
Wait.
Why. Isn't. He. Here?
"Bella," Esme whispers from beside me. "There was a- an accident."
The tears pour down her cheeks, falling onto our hands.
Carlisle offers me a cup and I sip through the straw.
Cold water.
It feels glorious in my dry mouth but stings my raw throat a little on the way down.
"A semi crossed the highway," he whispers. Everyone's grip tightens on me. Emmett's back is vibrating, shaking the bed. "You were the only survivor."
"Ed- Edward?" I whisper.
They all shake their heads, none of them looking at me.
"No. NO!" I shake my head.
This can't be happening. It's not real.
Rose's entire body starts trembling. I turn my head and she meets my eyes. She looks terrified. Then she's gone, her hand ripping from mine as she crumples to the floor.
I slowly turn my head back and stare at the ceiling.
I know there's more. They haven't told me everything yet. But this is all I can handle. I can't take any more.
Around me the room is buzzing.
Someone has flicked on the lights.
But I can't feel it or really even see it.
I'm numb.
And everything fades away.