DISCLAIMER: Not mine. Unfortunately.

-----

I. PAIN

-----

MY EYES ADJUSTED TO THE BRIGHTNESS OF MY BEDROOM. It must be late noon, I thought. It took me a while to remember why my eyes felt puffy… why I was feeling so rotten. When it all came crashing back to me, I was in another fit of tears and I couldn't stop.

How much hurting can one person take?

Edward had left a few months ago. He didn't want me, he said. The coldness of his voice, the blatant nonchalance of his eyes as he said the words to me pierced like nails in my heart. I was lost for weeks, I couldn't eat, I couldn't sleep and I couldn't focus on anything. I was a walking zombie, enduring every hour of the day, counting every minute, wondering how and when everything will get better.

Despite of this, slowly, I patched myself up. The wound was ever so slowly healing. It will always scar and I will forever bear it, but deep in my heart, I knew that someday I would find the strength to look back and smile at the memories I had with my Edward, no matter how long it would take. I find comfort in knowing that in a way, I had once been a part of his life, once held his heart…

But apparently, it was not enough for me to just lose the love of my life. I had to lose as sister, too. Alice Cullen, my second most favorite vampire, almost like a sister to me…

She is gone.

Shortly after the Cullens disappeared from Forks without a trace, Aro, from the Italian coven Volturi had desperately needed Alice and her ability to foresee the future so badly that he forced her to join the Volturi forces and leave her coven. She refused immediately but Aro did not take her refusal so lightly. Another statement was given: the Cullen family would suffer if she declines again. I could almost see Aro's eerie smile and Alice's pained elfin face. She had no choice.

I could only imagine what Jasper's reaction had been. He'd probably wanted to take down the Volturi by force because of his outrage, but of course Carlisle would never let him. Esme's angelic face was probably full of fear and confusion. Emmett probably wanted to tear Aro's body with his bare hands and I imagined Rosalie embrace Alice and sympathize with her sister. Edward would…

Edward. I was not allowed to think of him.

Alice was only a pawn to the Volturi. After her task, they decided that she knew too much about the coven now and so they disposed her.

How could anyone be so heartless?

I could still her shrill laugh in my head, see her bright smile when I close my eyes. I couldn't believe that it was impossible to see her again. I didn't even get to say goodbye when they moved away.

I heard the door latch open and Charlie walked in. He knew that Alice was dead, Carlisle had sent us a letter, without a return address obviously. Another private letter was addressed to me, to explain to me what really happened. I realized that I was shaking and he held me in his arms. It felt so good to have him there, though I'd probably never admit it to him. It was like the feeling I had when I was six and I had a bad dream. He woke me up and told me he'd make all the bad things go away.

"I'm so, so sorry, Bells," he whispered.

I didn't say anything.

"Bella, I know that she's gone but it's been weeks. You have to pick yourself up some time. Your life doesn't end when the life of somebody you love does. Alice is happy wherever she is right now. She wouldn't want to see you so broken."

"Th-they moved away so suddenly, I didn't even get the chance to say goodbye and now's she's—she's—" I couldn't even say it out loud.

Charlie gathered me in his arms.

***

I stepped on the gas and drove as fast as my Chevy would allow. I didn't know why but I had to go back there. I didn't know if this would only add salt to my wounds but I was restless and I knew where I wanted to go.

When I reached my destination I slowed my pace a little and shut the engine off. My hands were shaking slightly as I got out of the car. It seemed like an eternity passed as I made my way through the unkempt lawn but I was slightly taken by surprise when my hand automatically reached for the doorknob just as I did so many times before.

I took a breath and opened the door to the old Cullen house.

There wasn't a trace of them left. Everything they had; the furniture, the beautiful antique dining table, all of it were gone.

Dust swirled around the room from where the afternoon sunlight entered through the wide windows. I walked slowly across the room, remembering where everything used to be. My heart seemed to have stopped when I remembered where the piano was and how it seemed so long ago when Edward played to me for the first time.

A fresh batch of tears welled in my eyes as a graphic image of Edward with his dazzling smile played my lullaby right here in this room floated in my head. I suddenly felt very weak and I succumbed to the floor. I was sobbing without a damn about the noise I was making.

Edward…Alice…

The wound was open and bleeding again. I couldn't focus on anything but the pain. Was all this pain really worth the short span of time I shared with the two of them? How could they let themselves be so attached to me and just disappear this way? Was it just a big joke to them? Bella and her stupid human emotions, couldn't even deal with her feelings.

I was so preoccupied that I didn't even had a clue that somebody was behind me.

Author's Note: I'm sorry I killed Alice. I didn't want her to die but I want this to be as realistic as possible and her leaving with Edward like some stories I've read just sucks. Everything is also a bit dramatic, hence, the realistic excuse again. But rest assured that I'd write happier chapters as the plot progresses.