Edward POV

One of the consequences of never aging is that to the public you're never fully taken seriously. Especially in this time. I couldn't say I blamed adults for treating teenagers like children, where as in my day they would have been considered to be adults themselves. However, today's adults seemed to forget who was responsible for raising this generation.

Even though I was presently attempting to be in my early twenties, I still looked younger which automatically made people question me. Where was I going, what was I up to, what was I doing here; were all the thoughts I heard as I traveled. I ended my travels in Argentina which drew in even more questions. What was an American doing here? I almost enjoyed the flood of confusion. I had spent the last weeks hidden, it felt slightly better to be seen. I felt the monster sink away as the human part of me attempted to come out.

I tried to keep my thoughts away from the reason why my human self was cut down to size, and instead concentrated on where I was going. The weather was a relief. Even though the sun made humans unknowingly vulnerable, I took it as a test of my replenished control. The market place was its usual madness, but I enjoyed seeing my control hold up as I approached the butcher shop. As I walked in a boy "my age" looked eager to assist me. The place was empty, which was perfect for my purpose there. I asked in Spanish for the owner and the boy looked surprised, but complied.

As the owner came out he took one look at me and stiffened. I smiled. Here, the way I looked would ensure I be taken seriously.

"Hello Nardo." I said, still in Spanish. "Can we speak in private?"

He nodded and led me away, into the back of the shop. "Cullen?" he said as he turned back.

"I believe you know my brother Emmett and my sister Rosalie yes."

He nodded twice. "Would you be asking for what they do when they vacation here?"

"I would."

"I can have it delivered."

"That won't be necessary, unless you're uncomfortable with me coming to pick it up." He didn't say that he was, but I could see it. "Delivery is fine. I'll give you the address and payment for the next few months."

"You don't need to pay that much now."

"It's alright. I trust you." I gave a reassuring smile, but he was still tense. I had made my point and done my business so I figured I'd leave before I gave Nardo a coronary. "Do you have any for me to take now Nardo? Before the first delivery?"

"I don't, but will within the next hour or so. I can have the first delivery sent tonight."

"That'd be much appreciated." I handed him a bit of paper with my address on it and his payment, and left before he broke out in a sweat.

I went to my second stop before I went back to where I'd be staying. It was a short walk from my room in the boarding house to the hospital I'd be working in. I didn't need that convenience but it was better I stayed in one area.

The hospital put me on edge. I left part of myself in one, and now I was seeking some level of fulfillment in another. I got my ID and directions to where I was to check in.

Hospice. The smell of the area was of lurking death. The rooms looked cold. The people in them looked like they were anxiously awaiting their final minute. It wasn't a cheerful place. Yet, it was perfect for me now. There was still something I could do right.

I checked in with the people at the front desk, and got my assigned rooms. I was to be keeping the people who didn't have family to visit them company. I was given three people; Carmen, Marisol, and Jorge. All were terminal patients who didn't get any visitors. I wasn't sure what they'd ask of me, but I needed to be doing something.

I met with Marisol first who was mostly unresponsive. Her chart read that she liked to be read to, though I wasn't sure how they'd even know she was enjoying it though. Still, I read to her in her language for forty five minutes. I made a note to find better books than the selection the hospital had.

Jorge was going to be difficult. He didn't seem to want any visitor s and certainly didn't want to see me. He didn't converse, he didn't ask for anything, and looked annoyed when I tried reading.

Looked like I had two unresponsive patients.

Then there was Carmen. I had a good feeling about her from the start. She didn't even look sick like the other two, but age was clear. Her hair was smoke grey but her eyes still sharp and nearly the same shade of green as mine. She looked at me from her bed with a smirk that suggested she knew my every secret.

"Let me guess, college student trying to get community service credit." Her voice was soft but I could see she still had her wits about her.

"Wrong. I'm here on my own."

"Oh no, you have a reason. Doesn't mean your intentions aren't pure, but you still have a personal reason."

"Are you a fortune teller then?"

"Not in this life. Maybe the next one. So what is it you're here to do Mr…"

"I'm sorry." I offered her my hand, careful of her IV. "I'm Edward Cullen."

"For an American your Spanish is quite good. I'm Carmen Villanueva. Don't you dare bother with the last name though.

"Alright then, and my purpose here is to do whatever you want."

"If I was half a century younger I'd suggest some unorthodox things but for now I hear you're a reader."

"I've read to two others yes."

"Who?"

"Marisol and Jorge."

"Sad stories, theirs. Ah well. I'm not much for being read to, at least not when I'm having a good day. I'll interrogate you instead. Why are you in Argentina?"

"My family has been traveling here for years. Thought it would be a good place to stop for a while."

"Where is your family?"

"Scattered around at the moment."

"That's vague." Her eyes twinkled. "Are they criminals or something?"

"Yes. Drifters."

"Marvelous. My own family is also scattered. I imagine my granddaughter has to be your age by now."

"Can I ask why they aren't here?"

"My son and I aren't close. He moved to Germany for business when my granddaughter was a toddler. I don't see them often." She didn't look too sad about it, just stated it like a fact. But I sensed it took a while for her to accept that.

"That's too bad."

"It is. I've long since given up on trying to change it though. People are what they are; you can't run away from it."

I tried to mask my reaction to that statement with a smile. "Well I'm here to keep you company."

"How often will you be here?"

"Every day."

"Man of leisure are you?"

"In a sense."

"You're going to be a mystery, I can see." She grinned "I'm good at solving mysteries."

"We'll see." I smiled back.

We spent the rest of our time talking about lighter subjects. I found out she was seventy four and used to work as an artist. She missed it, I could see that plainly. It was almost like she didn't know what to do with her hands.

"What do you do when you're not visiting old strangers?"

"Nothing of note."

"More mystery."

"Or I'm just classically boring."

She studied me in her way again and shook her head. "No, you're not boring. In fact I have a feeling there's more to you that anyone could imagine. Now that's a story I'd like to hear one day."

I could see Carmen would provide me with ample distraction. I even felt myself relax around her. I could forget everything unpleasant. At least for an hour. Tomorrow though, when I fully started the job, I'd be staying for two hours per patient. When you're a vampire, filling up your time is very important. Especially in my case.

I said goodbye to Carmen and went back towards the boarding house. Luckily the land lady didn't seem to care when her boarders ate so she didn't seem to notice me going up to my room bypassing the kitchen. I did check the small mailroom though and saw my delivery had come while I was out. I picked up the cooler and went to my room. Luckily the room was the most private, and furthest away from the bathroom, which didn't matter to me. It met all my needs. I was even comforted to not have to spend my nights in the woods. I may not be able to sleep, but a real bed was still appreciated.

I opened the cooler and took out one of the eight pouches that were in it and placed it in the small microwave the boarding house provided me with. I put a look on the cooler and placed it in the mini fridge. I saw the note Nardo had left that said when the next delivery would be. I made a mental note to provide Nardo with a bonus before I left here, if I did. The pouches of pigs blood leftover from his shop would make hunting unnecessary for me, which was a relief. I took the warmed blood out and poured it into a cup I had. It wasn't the same as hunting, or as drinking from a human but it felt more civilized, which I needed. Pigs blood was also more appetizing than the game in Argentina would have been. I could almost taste meat and felt stronger quicker and on less than I would have if it had been deer.

I considered calling my family but couldn't bring myself to do it. Another phone number also ran through my mind, but I pushed it back.

"She's safe. She'll have a normal full life." I said to myself as I had a dozen times before. That was most important, and I'd relearn how to live outside of her and I.

The consequence of that was knowing she'd die without me one day. Just as I was likely to watch Jorge, Marisol, and maybe even Carmen die while I was here. I'd watched much death over my time, and here I stayed, unchanging. I drank another gulp of the blood, hoping this was all somehow worth it, and I'd find a reason for this vampire life.