Many thanks to my beta Krystih, whom I love unconditionally.

According to my bank statements, I still do not own Twilight. According to my empty bedroom, I still don't own Edward because if I did he would definitely be tethered there.

I stepped out into the hallway, pulling the door to the bare room closed behind me. I walked over to the nurse's station and spoke with the pretty red haired nurse from earlier.

"Would it be possible to speak with Dr. Zafrina now?" I asked hesitantly.

"Of course, Miss," she spoke as she shuffled papers around the desk without glancing at me. "Come with me and I'll show where the doctor's office is located," she said, stepping from behind the desk and motioning for me to follow her.

I walked behind her, down the long hallway, to the last door on the left. She knocked loudly twice and then turned to me, squeezing my shoulder, "go ahead in, Miss," and then she was hurrying back to her desk.

I felt butterflies of nervousness in my tummy as I turned the knob and pushed the door open, mentally psyching myself up as I entered the room. My mouth hung agape as I noticed the rich red carpeting on the floor and the wood paneling on the walls. This was the same office as in my dream, complete with over-sized desk and leather chairs.

Pulling myself together, I cleared my throat and the doctor looked up from the yellow legal tablet on which she had been writing and pointed at the chair across from her, indicating I should sit.

My shoes sunk into the plush carpeting as I walked to the big leather chair. I felt like the frightened child that still hides inside of me, as I sat down under her scrutiny. I stared at my hands as they fidgeted in my lap.

"I-I wanted to apologize for my behavior last night and..." I stammered.

She interrupted me before I could finish with a wave of her hand. I caught the movement from the corner of my sight and jerked my head up to meet her eyes.

"There is no need to apologize. I understand that you had just arrived from your Grandmother's funeral and that you lost your parents... six months ago," she said, reading over the notes in my file that she held.

I nodded my assent, my voice failing me for the moment.

"It is human nature to bottle our feelings up inside of us. Most people think that emotions make us weak," she explained.

I nodded again, taking time to notice the woman before me; I had misjudged her.

She was a tall, broad woman with perfect skin, the color of coffee. Her black eyes boar into my own, showing compassion and understanding. I needed to trust her in order for this to work and, searching her face, I knew that I could.

"You will have to lower your defenses and learn to trust again after this, in order to lead a happy and fulfilling life. It won't be easy," she eyed me speculatively, sizing me up to see if I can really handle what she is suggesting.

I am fully aware of the facts that she has presented me. I am also conscious of the fact that this may be more difficult for me because I am a naturally shy and withdrawn person. I had always been more of the suffer in silence type.

I have already resigned myself to doing whatever is necessary to be healthy, and not the least bit like my parents. I am convinced that while the last eighteen years of life have been out of my control, and I can't do anything to change other people's decisions, I will remain in command of the next eighteen, and more.

While therapy may take a large portion of my time from here on out, I know that these decisions are a step in the right direction. I also realize that just having made up my mind to do something about my life is already a change for the better. I can feel it inside of me. I pondered how mysterious it is that the biggest changes happen inside of us, where no one else can see them.

I shake my head, freeing my thoughts from their musings and look up into her eyes again, "I want to be whole again," I told her wholeheartedly.

She smiled warmly at me then, revealing a perfect row of white, even teeth, "You are a very strong and brave girl, Isabella. I don't envy you what you have suffered thus far, but I look forward to guiding you through this transition in your life and seeing you come out mended in spite of it".

We spoke of many things over the next several hours such as my plans for my future. She was very supportive of my ideas to take the money that Gran had left me and use it for college. She smiled dotingly when I said I'd like to study in psychology.

She asked how I felt about medication and I refused for the time being, even the sleeping pills she offered. I wanted to try this on my own. I recognized that I may need medication in the future weeks or months, and I promised her that if I felt I was having difficulty that I would reach out for help.

We spoke of my living arrangements. The lawyer would read the will later in the day but I felt confident that Gran had left the house to me. Since I was of legal age, if I felt I could handle living alone she encouraged me to stay in the house while I began my college years. She felt it may be of comfort to me and I concurred.

She said she could make some recommendations of good doctors I could see that were not far from the school campus and I agreed readily.

I told her my whole life story. My childhood, my parents, the events leading up to and including their deaths. We talked of my feelings on these issues and by the time I was finished, I felt unburdened. I couldn't remember why I had been so intent on keeping all of this negativity inside of me.

The only thing I did not tell her about was my strange dreams from last night. That was all mine. I felt somewhat proud, that in a weird way, I had rescued myself, from myself. I couldn't help but wonder again if my dream had truly been a foretelling of my future and reminded myself to ask someone for a phone book before I left the hospital.

I left her office with my heart feeling a bit lighter. I stopped by the nurse's station again and politely asked for an envelope and a phone book. Back in my tiny room, I flipped through the white pages and found what I had been looking for. Amazing, I marveled. I jotted down a quick note before I over thought it and slipped the stationary into the envelope, sealing it closed.

Soon, a nurse came to advise me that a car was waiting to take me to the lawyers office.

Walking through the halls, I didn't feel as self conscious as I did on the way in last night. Coming out of my selfish stupor had made me realize that everyone has their crosses to carry and that maybe when all is said and done, no one's is any greater than any one else's.

The revelation astounded me. I wasn't alone, like I had previously been convinced. Everyone goes through difficult times. Who was I to judge whether my experiences were more wretched than someone else's? My steps slowed as I pondered this discovery. The nurse escorting me out, appeared frightened by my change in demeanor. After some assuring, she walked along side of me to the awaiting car.

I slipped into the backseat of the sleek black car while the nurse spoke with the driver. He introduced himself as Garrett as he pulled away from the curb and into traffic. We spoke briefly about the weather and other trivial things on the short drive. Soon, we were pulling up to the law offices of Demetri and Newton.

Once inside the large glass doors, I spoke with a receptionist named Jessica who had pink heels and huge fake boobs. She was chewing gum so loud it made me a little sick and I was glad when she ushered me in to Michael Newton's office.

Mr. Newton was a short, balding man whose eyes lingered a bit long on the receptionist. After Jessica was gone, having closed the door behind her, he shook my hand, telling me to sit and make myself comfortable.

He thankfully got right to the point and read Gran's will, which was very short, leaving everything to me. There wasn't much money but it would be enough to get me enrolled in school and keep the house afloat until I could get a job.

He saw me to the door after our meeting and shook my hand again, wishing me good luck. I was going to need all the luck I could get.

A few weeks later.

I had been very busy. Well, busy at keeping myself busy. I had cleaned some things out of the house and moved them to the attic. I had sorted through tons of paperwork. I had scrubbed floors and painted walls a bright, cheerful yellow that made me smile every time I looked at it. The house looked great and I was happy with the progress.

When I wasn't busy with the house, I was busy registering for classes and acquainting myself with the campus. I had found a nice coffee shop and found the location of all of my classes for the upcoming semester.

I also spent two hours a week in therapy with a psychiatrist Dr. Zafrina had put me in contact with. She said I could call her Irina and she was very patient with me for the most part. She was also always on my case, pushing me. I kind of loved her for it. She was like the mom I had always wanted and never had.

"Have you been eating, Isabella?" she asked, like she always did at the beginning of our meetings, the concern evident in her voice.

I smiled indulgently, "Yes, ma'am."

"I am pleased with your progress and your forthcoming attitude. You seem to be doing very well. Do you feel that you are accomplishing what youset out to thus far?"

I took my time thinking over her question, "Yes, I do. I am finding my way. I feel more confident. It is a relief for me to take care of myself and not to depend on others who I worry may fail me," I told her.

"I start school on Monday, and my new job. I am excited to begin my journey. I am looking forward to meeting new people and pushing my limits a little."

Irina clapped her hands loudly, "This is just what I wanted to hear. You are doing great Isabella. I am so proud of you."

I smiled again, blushing a little at her outburst. She always knew the right thing to say to motivate me.

After several meetings with advisors and administrators, I had got the part time job at the campus library that would help me pay some bills. Today was my first day and I was so nervous. The library was the exact same one from my dream several weeks prior. I had been in here many times before today but it still made me jittery. The places in my dream were real places and I couldn't help but hope that the people were real as well.

I stepped in through the side entrance of the building to begin my shift. I knew where pretty much everything was, as I had been given a tour and a detailed description of responsibilities just yesterday. I made my way around the large room turning on lights and computers. At nine a.m. I unlocked the front doors and waited behind the desk for any students arriving who may need help.

The morning went by quickly and soon it was lunch time. I ate lunch at Dojo's down the street. Ordering the chicken cutlet with Japanese BBQ sauce, home fries and a side of green salad. I practically skipped back to the library. I was feeling so good about my progress these last weeks. Just as I stepped into the building I collided with someone and papers flew through the air.

I landed on my bottom and looked down at the papers around me on the floor. Prying my eyes from them, I gasped as I gazed slowly at the man who stood before me.

-

Next chapter will be EPOV, he can't wait to tell his story.