"Alice…can I ask you something?"
"Of course." Alice said, a little suspiciously.
The cafeteria buzzed around us as we leaned across the table towards each other. Edward had left for the afternoon to go hunting with Emmett and Jasper.
"Promise me you won't say anything to Edward?"
"Bella, what's wrong?"
"Alice, how much of Edward's past do you know?"
"A fair bit…Bella what's going on?" she asked, frustration creeping into her voice.
I debated on whether or not to tell her, and then decided if I was truthful; she would probably tell me what I wanted to know.
"Edward gave me his old diaries, and there are…certain things…that I don't understand."
"Ok…but bare in mind that I don't know everything…what do you want to know?"
"Well, I was reading part of it last night, and it was before he had become a vampire…and he was getting ill. And…it mentioned a name. Someone called Eliza." I finished in a whisper.
Alice's face was suddenly full of panic. But she soon controlled her expression.
"Bella…there are things in Edward's life that you don't know about…it's not my place to tell you."
"But Edward wants me to know." I argued, panic leaking into my voice.
"Yes…but I think Edward wants you to find out for yourself. You know that I would help you…but in these circumstances…you know I can't. I think you should just keep reading."
My face fell. What was going on? This Eliza person was obviously a big influence in Edward's pre immortal life…but why? And why wouldn't Alice tell me? She's never kept secrets from me before.
*
There's a white angel. He keeps coming to see me. The beautiful imperfect angel. The angel tells me she's coming soon…my Eliza. The world seems different. People are crying and the angel tells them that everything will be fine. Mother lies on the bed next to me. I can tell she's slipping away.
I was crying again at Edward's words. It was hard reading of his suffering, and his writing had changed. His beautiful calligraphy was becoming harder to read, it looked like the illness he was suffering from was worsening. Again, I was puzzled by the mystery that was Eliza. And now there is a "white angel". Why on earth would Edward want me to read this? Did he not realise how much it would hurt to read of his past and read of a girl who clearly had a big impact on his life, but whom he had never mentioned before to me. I picked up the book again to carry on reading, but the writing had changed again, it was more legible and was a different style. The first line caught my eye and took my breath away.
Miss Eliza Mason 12th February, 1918.
My brother requested that his diary be finished. He said he has a feeling that he does not have long left, but he wants his final days to be recorded. So this is my final gift to him before I leave to America and before my dear little brother passes the golden gates of heaven.
His temperature is sweltering hot and the doctor says that it's only a matter of time, so to be prepared. Mother passed away a few hours ago but I don't think Edward has realised. He keeps speaking of a white angel, but I don't know what he means. As I write this he looks up and smiles.
"Eliza, dear Liza." And closes his eyes.
The doctor has come back. Edward seems delirious. He keeps saying,
"Here is my angel. My white angel."
The doctor has a strange beauty around him. It's entrancing.
The doctor has just told me it's time. I must say my goodbyes and leave. Edward's breathing has got heavier and even something simple as breathing seems like a struggle for him. So these are my final words for Edward. Rest in peace my dear little brother. Suffer no more. It's all over, you can rest now.
To anyone who reads this diary, know this, Edward Mason, was a courageous and wonderful person. There is no one like him who has the same kindness and who has a heart bigger than his. But for now I am of to the Americas, and Edward will eternally rest.
At the bottom of the paragraph, Eliza had signed her name. The girl I once envied, now became the girl I was thankful was there for Edward in his time of need.
"It's quite interesting reading about his life, isn't it?"
Alice had just climbed through my window.
I glanced up at her, tears sticking to my eye lashes.
"I never knew… I feel so terrible. He lost so much."
"Not to depress you anymore… but it gets worse." Alice whispered, pointing to the next diary on my bedside table.
I picked up the book, and hugged it close to my chest.
