1918

Edward is dead. Not my darling, but my husband. I am saddened, but I cannot focus on that. Not now. My Edward lies in the bed next to me, dying. I must save him.

"Doctor!" I cry, and I am surprised at how weak my voice is. I feel strong.

A stunning man comes to my side, with golden curls and golden eyes and pale skin. And I gasp. A vampire! In a hospital! Samuel was very controlled, but never would he have been able to be a doctor! But I must not let him know, must not distress him.

"Doctor," I say firmly, "can you not see my son is parched? Get him some water! And can you do nothing for his pain?" I ask, pain searing through me as Edward moans.

The doctor smiles gently but sadly at me, and he says in soothing voice that reopens all my wounds left from Samuel, "Now, Mrs. Masen, please calm down. Let us take care of your son. You are quite healthy, compared to others here. If you concentrate on getting well, you shall."

I scowl at his back as he gives Edward water. But my delirious son notices nothing.

How my heart pains me. It shall not be the dreaded war that takes my son from me, it shall be the influenza. Even I, I who have been denying it for so long, can tell he is dying. And Dr. Cullen seems worried when he looks at me now. He says I have exhausted myself nursing Edward. And I say defiantly, "I do not care!"

My time has come. I can only hope that Dr. Cullen will save my son. Yes! Save him! Samuel said it could be done, if one is controlled, and Dr. Cullen seems so in control…

"Dr. Cullen!" I rasp, and now I do feel weary.

He comes. I reach into the pocket of my skirt, and withdraw a lacy, though crumpled handkerchief from it. I place it in the doctor's bemused hand. Then, with an effort, I draw the long chain that hangs around my neck. I slide the jewel off of it, and hesitate before I hand it to the doctor. It is the diamond heart Samuel gave me…my most prized possession. But I let it go, and it lands softly into the doctor's marble palm. And then I wrench my wedding ring off my left hand, and hand it to him.

"Tie it up in a package, Dr. Cullen, please," I say, and he does.

"Give it to Edward, after I am gone," I command. He nods, eyes sad. I sigh weakly. I am so tired. But I must tell him to save Edward.

I look into his eyes and look as fierce as I can. "What no one else can do, that is what you must do for my Edward," I say. He just stares at me. I close my eyes, too weak to go on.

Before I die, I see my Edward. His skin is white, and his eyes golden, but he is my Edward. I would know him anywhere. He is holding a small, dark-haired girl in his arms. Her eyes are wide and beautiful. He holds her so tenderly, and she gazes at him so lovingly, I would know they are in love even if my wedding ring weren't on her left hand. And Samuel's diamond dangles from her wrist. I tell my son in my mind, "Don't you dare leave her as Samuel left me," for I recognize the to-Hell-and-back devotion in the girl's eyes. The devotion that was once in my own.

And, before eternal darkness sweeps over me, I am once again in Samuel's arms, and I am completely whole and happy once more.

Note: Don't you think it's sad that Edward could forget such a mother so quickly? I always felt Elizabeth Masen wasn't explained enough in the Twilight books, and so I imagined that she loved a vampire once upon a time, and the diamond heart and ring Edward gives Bella represent the two men who loved her long-dead mother-in-law: One, the vampire, whom Elizabeth loves like Bella loves Edward, and the other, the man, whom Elizabeth loves like Bella loves Jake. She loves him, but Samuel is infinitely more precious to her.