TEN YEARS LATER

RPOV

I stalked briskly through the La Push woods on one humid August evening. I knew where I was, but I didn't know why I had come. It had been ten years since I left. Though I am in denial of it myself, I cannot hide the fact from anyone that my eyes, once bright and gold, are a now a deep shade of crimson. I am ashamed of it, but what worries me more is the fact that my mother's eyes are beginning to look more and more similar. I haven't spoken to her. I haven't talked with my family for a long time. Only my dad knows what's going on. I knew he would hear me when I approached, so I thought careful instructions to him.

Dad, it's Renesmee. Don't tell anyone I came. I just had to see how everyone was. That was a few months ago. Since then, I've been living in my old cottage. I have steadily tried to get back to my original diet, or at least animals, but I find myself longing for human blood. There are times when I will remember thinking longingly of hunting, and come out of a stupor hours later, blood on my lips and my eyes shining redder than ever. My dad hasn't come to see me. I think he wants to forget about me. Just like…

No, I told myself. I wasn't going to think about that. However, it was extremely boring walking along these worn forest paths. I had to think of something, or my mind would wander to him. My mother's depression. Now there was something to think about. I knew sub-consciously that I had chosen to dwell on this because it was centered on Jacob. Because he hadn't just forgotten me. He had forgotten my mom.

All those years ago, she had approached him timidly, afraid of his reaction. Jacob had sat up quickly, his eyes widening. Mom stepped right up to him. "Oh, Jake…" she murmured quietly. "I'm sorry," he had said, briskly. "I don't have any recollection of knowing you or anyone here. Mom was tucking me in, and all of a sudden I wake up in this weird house full of people I don't know mourning me and the most horrid stenches." Here he had paused, and Mom wept openly. He'd hesitated, but then continued. "I'm sorry. I'm sure you're a great person and all, but I don't know you." "But you do!" my mother had shrieked. "You've known me since we were kids! I'm Bella, Charlie's daughter!" Mom had been absolutely hysterical at this point. He told her firmly that he didn't know a Charlie or a Bella. Though I knew she had been holding it back, Mom went into a full-out depression soon after. Unfortunately, anti-depressants don't work on vampires. She became a bit insane, feasted on human blood every other day, and didn't seem to realize when people were talking to her. I only hoped that the four months of depression I had spent in company wasn't littered with these symptoms. I felt repulsed and sorrowful when I thought about my once cheerful, bright mother. I always cried when I thought of her.

Suddenly, I smelled blood. Animal's blood. I decided that it was time I took another jump at getting my diet on the right track. I sniffed again. Wolf. I crouched, and then…I broke into huge sobs and fell to the ground. It was a wolf! It could be Jacob! Or Sam, or Quil, Leah… I lay pathetically upon the forest floor for a long time. Finally, I felt a warm hand on my shoulder. An extremely warm hand. I knew it was a werewolf. "Nessie?" asked the owner of the hand. His voice was somewhat childish and vaguely familiar.

"E-Embry?" I mumbled thickly. He seemed amazed that I could remember him in the state I was in, but then got over it and lifted me to my feet. He helped me walk through the woods, and when we were finally out, he gave me a huge bear-hug.

"Boy, am I glad to see you!" he chattered. "We all missed you, 'course, we couldn't tell Jake, 'cause, you know, he's mad that he forgot!" he stopped then, and sighed, knowing he had said too much. I realized that coming here had been a mistake. Nothing good would come of this. It was selfish, but I needed to see Jacob. Just one last time. I listed my objectives in my head.

1) See Jacob.

2) Get him to remember me.

3) Don't eat him.

4) Leave soon. With or without Jacob. I wouldn't endanger the wolves. They were my friends, and I couldn't put them in danger. I really did have to leave soon.