I stared at myself in the mirror. Pulling my skin down, checking for wrinkles at every point of my face. Sighing, my fingers ran through my hair. No grey hair… yet. I knew it was only a matter of year before the silver streaks started to appear. Pulling at my vest, I wondered if I would always have this body. Would I become ugly? Blinking back the tears, I slumped away from the mirror.
"Bella? You almost ready? "
Jacob's voice called up the stairs. "We have to be at the air port in twenty!"
Rolling my eyes, I concentrated on getting myself ready. Half stumbling down the stair case, I landed in Jacobs open arms. He chuckled. Opening the door, his arms full of packed luggage he made his way out the door. Stepping my feet out into the cold, wet surrounding of Forks, a piece of white paper caught my eye. I stepped back to pick it up. It was an envelope, small - fragile. Twisting the envelope in my fingers, I realized there was a lack of name. "Bella?" I heard Jacob call.
I quickly hid the envelope in my pocket, I'd read it in the car, I decided.
The car ride wasn't long, five minutes or so. I debated whether to mention the envelope to Jake. Surely he must have known about it though. He put it there. Didn't he? Sat on a bench in the crowed air port, I watched Jacob queuing for breakfast. Slipping it on to my lap, I slid my fingers underneath the seal. I remembered the clear script, like the back of my hand.
Dear Bella,
Happy Birthday
Yours forever,
Edward
Tears sprung into my eyes. Instantly my head, flicked around the airport. I couldn't see him. Of course I couldn't see him. He wasn't stupid! It had been two years. Two years, since I had left that life behind me. I was given a choice, it was him and forever. Or Jake and warmth. I couldn't leave Jake, Charlie, Renee… I would be a standstill, a cold stone, whilst everyone I loved died around me. Edward had wanted me to marry him, I ran from the commitment, any commitment. Into Jakes welcome arms.
I read those four lines, over and over again, desperately trying to grasp what they meant. My face was absorbed in the paper. "What's this?" I jumped out of my skin. Jacob snatched the letter out of my loose grip.
"No! Jacob Don't! You can't read that!" I leaned across him, reaching for the single piece of paper.
"Dear Bella…" Jacob started to read, despite my protests. I stood on his legs, reaching above him for the paper, before he could read the next few lines. Out of breathe, I clambered down.
"It's just a letter from a …friend." I answered, awkwardly. "Come on, our plane will be arriving soon."
The plane ride was silent. I knew Jake suspected more than I was telling him. My mother was waiting at the airport in Florida. I ran, leaving Jacob behind, directly into my mother's arms. Her childish features, lit up with my arrival. "Oh, Bella" Her eyes overfilled with tears, that fell, like rivers, down her cheeks.
"Ok, Hi, Mum, I'm here now, and I'm fine!"
"Yes, my Bella's all grown up!" She held me tightly, refusing to ever let me go.
"Jacob?" I called behind me, "Can you get my mother off me?" I heard his heavy foot steps behind me.
"Ok! Ma'am? Uh… Hi, could you not, um, crush Bella?" His voice was overcome with nerves.
"Oh!" Renee snuffled, "Of course," Her eyes flashed, "Let's go home!"
Florida, was as I remembered it. Hot. I was grateful to the change of scenery; the sun was a hidden aspect of my life. Although, since the Cullen's had left my life, everything was a lot warmer. Jacob was my own fire. The letter was just telling me he remembered me. I told myself over and over. It didn't mean anything. I kept seeing the look on Edwards face. The last time I saw him, distraught. On my own accord. The moment Renee pulled up outside of her house; I leaped onto the hard, Florida gravel. I made way for the ocean. Paddling my toes on the edge I walked along the shore. Edwards face shadowed my thoughts. My knees crumbled to the water. I broke into a fit of tears.
"Please, get out of my head!" I yelled to the sky, "This isn't my life anymore!" I swayed slightly further out in the water. I was swallowing, all the water pouring from my eyes. "I couldn't do what you wanted me to do, I'm sorry!" I whispered through my tears. I dropped my head under the water.
I miss him…