ONE WEEK LATER

JACOB'S POV

I entered Bella's house warily. I knew how awful it was for her to hear that those people (I had forgiven them nearly everything in light of the incident) she loved so dearly were gone forever. What saddened me more was her reaction, though I was glad she hadn't inflicted any pain on herself. Even so, I feared that Bella was gone forever.

"Any change?" I asked Charlie when I saw him in the living room. He shook his head sadly. Charlie looked paler, and his frown seemed permanent. His eyes were empty, and he seemed to have aged a million years. I noticed him holding an empty whiskey bottle.

"She's upstairs," he croaked, and his voice betrayed his distraught. I tiredly made my way up the tiny staircase to Bella's room. The door swung open with the slightest push. She was lounging on her bed, staring at the ceiling and nodding in tune to the music emanating from her CD player. She noticed me after I shut the door.

"Hello, Jacob," she said quietly, looking up at me. Her face was expressionless. Nodding toward her player, she asked, "Don't you like Clair de Lune?" she asked, smiling blandly. Her eyes were even emptier than Charlie's. I knew that it wasn't Clair de Lune, though. It was the CD of songs that Edward had given her. I nodded.

"Yeah, Bella. I like it." I could feel the hot tears begin to collect under my eyes. I wiped them away, but they were soon replaced.

"Where's Edward?" she asked suddenly. She looked innocently curious, but there was pain behind her eyes.

"He's…he's gone, Bella. Edward's gone," I blubbered. She appeared to be unaware that some of the tears in my eyes were escaping.

"He said he didn't love me," she said gravely, staring at me. "That's why he went away." She was quiet for a moment. "Will you go away, Jacob?" she asked solemnly. I looked at her, and she seemed so innocent that it felt like I was being punched in the stomach. She was like a baby.

"No," I answered, tears streaming down my cheeks. "No, Bella, I'll never leave you."