"What's going on Alice?" I heard Rosalie call down from her room inside, trying to seem her usual collected self but also curious about mine and Esme's reactions and concerned for Bella.
"Rosalie. Call Edward and Carlisle. Get them both back here right away. I think Bella's been attacked and possibly even raped… get Emmett and Jasper back here as well."
At my words and my unusual sense of panic, the family had flown into action, Esme and I leading Bella into the house, nobody else speaking as we heard Rosalie do as I had asked, calling first Carlisle and then Edward; of course Carlisle was on his way immediately, but Edward's phone had gone straight to voicemail.
"Bella, I'm going to take you up to my room." Esme spoke softly, her arms holding tightly to Bella; I was sure it was the only thing keeping her upright at the moment. She didn't object. She didn't speak at all. She quivered once, and as we approached the entrance to Esme and Carlisle's bedroom, she quivered again and I watched as the tears in her eyes began to flow silently down her cheeks, her body nearly crumpling. Neither Esme or I spoke as we helped her up and onto the bed, grabbing the decorative quilt laid across the bottom and covering her in it, noting her shivering as she closed her eyes, the tears continuing to fall.
I didn't know if it would be okay. I was blind to my visions and I used nothing but my senses and my instinct to determine the correct thing to do next, and as I climbed up onto the bed beside her and wrapped my arms around her, I knew it was what she needed. Her arms clung to me immediately, gripping me so tightly that I was sure she would hurt herself. But I didn't stop her. Whatever had transpired after we had left her at her home was heinous and terrifying, it was easy to see, even without my vision.
"Bells? Can you look at me?" I asked her gently a few minutes later. I could hear the sound of Carlisle's car approaching our driveway and I knew he would be here in a matter of minutes to look her over. Rosalie was still unable to reach Edward and I silently cursed him for keeping his phone off… both surprised and angry that he wasn't immediately reachable to Bella. After what felt like an eternity I watched as my sister pulled back from my arms, her face blank but her eyes revealing her terror and humiliation as she looked to me, terrified to speak the words, to tell me what had happened.
"It's alright Bells," I tried to assure her as Carlisle pulled up, the door to his car slamming shut and his movement rushed as he came in and stood just outside the door, meeting Esme there and listening as I spoke to my best friend. Seconds later I heard the sound of feet as Emmett and Jasper returned, thankfully they must have still been close to the house.
"Nobody can hurt you here… you're safe with us." I spoke calmly and tried to believe the words I was speaking, knowing that I needed her to trust us, to tell us what had happened. "Can you tell me what happened? Can you tell me who hurt you?" I nearly whispered the words and had to choke back the disgust I was feeling towards the wretched humans who had done this to her. Their scent was all over her… we all knew exactly who it was, but none of us wanted to believe it… could understand why."
"I… I… Can't…" She stuttered out, her voice gravelly as a fresh set of tears formed in her eyes, following the familiar trail down her cheeks and dripping off of her chin.
"Start at the beginning Bella, just tell me what happened when Edward dropped you off after school…. Start from there so that we can help you Bells," I tried to keep my voice level, calm. But I was anything but calm – the entire house filled with an angry energy, the rest of the family trying to be patient as I tried to get her to open up and tell us what had happened.
"She's terrified Alice… she doesn't feel safe yet," I heard Jasper's voice from where he was now standing with Carlisle and Esme and I nodded my head slightly, knowing that he couldn't see it. A moment later I felt a wave of comfort drift into the room, grabbing me and enveloping me in a safety blanket of sorts, a place where emotionally I would have revealed all of my darkest secrets. Knowing that it was my mate trying to help Bella to feel safe, I was suddenly filled with an amazing respect and admiration for this man that was now in my life. Looking over to my human sister I watched as she physically began to relax, some of the tension in her body draining, her fear not gone completely, but definitely more manageable for her than it had been.
"I was angry at Edward…" She began in a whisper almost too quiet for even my ears. She was looking down at her hands, her eyes still filled to the brim with tears. After a small sniffle, she continued. "I didn't want to go inside… I didn't want to be home and angry and I had a lot of built up energy… so I went for a walk down the road." She paused again and I nodded at her encouragingly to continue. It took a moment, another sniffle, and her hand swiping at the tears on her cheek before she was ready to go on. "I didn't know… I had no idea where I was going; I just needed to walk and sort out my thoughts." She stopped again, this time looking at me, her eyes silently begging me for understanding, for safety.
"You're safe here Bella, there is nothing here that can hurt you right now." I spoke calmly even though inside I was a mess… I hated seeing my best friend in this much pain, this afraid.
"I was just wandering through town – going through the streets, not really heading in any direction." She choked out and I nodded at her in encouragement.
"I ran into Angela… if only… she invited me in… I didn't…" she gulped loudly, nearly choking on the air.
"I was about to turn around and head back home… I was still angry at Edward, but I knew that it wouldn't last and that we would work things out eventually.
"As I got to the corner by the diner, I saw them there… I didn't think anything of it. There was a whole group of them and they had never bothered me before… I had no reason to think that they would…. That they would do this to me…"
I felt helpless as I watched my best friend break down again, unable to continue her story through the sobs that wracked her body. Wrapping my arms around her, I did the only thing that I could think of, I held her while she cried, pulling the blanket back up and around her shoulders.
"I… I tried… to get away…" She gasped a few minutes later, her tears slowing down but her grip on me never losing its strength. I didn't interrupt her. I didn't prompt her to speak. Jasper was still sending waves of comfort towards us and I thanked him in a voice low enough that Bella wouldn't hear.
"She's still terrified but she trusts you Alice… just keep doing what you're doing." He spoke calmly, reassuring me that I was doing the right thing for my best friend. It was unusual for me to be so blind… I couldn't see anything from the future right now and I had never experienced what I already knew she had just gone through – this was Rosalie's department, but she wasn't here any longer - she had left to track down Edward.
"It's okay Bella, you're safe here." I repeatedly whispered to her.
"I don't… know why." She mumbled a few minutes later. "They were all there… but Tyler… Colin… and Lee they followed me…" She choked out their names – the three students from our year in school, three students who had never really made an impression on me for any reason - good or bad. It was easy to see why Bella was so terrified, so confused.
"I was almost home… but Lee… he grabbed me and… and… I don't know why I didn't fight harder…"
"Bella. Don't…"
"My dad… Charlie… he taught me… I should have…" She stopped again and I rubbed her back while she struggled to get her sobs back under control. "They pulled me down the path into the forest… and then they… they held me down… and then they… they took turns…" She couldn't say the words and I pulled back from her, nodding my head in what I hoped was a reassuring manner while her eyes seemed to search my face, pleading me for something – understanding… reassurance… something…
"Bella listen to me. This wasn't your fault… there was nothing that you could have done differently that would have stopped them. Look at me. I promise. This wasn't your fault." She nodded her head at me and then bit down on her lip, hesitating, building up the strength to say the words."
"They must have been drinking… I could smell it when they…and they held me down…while they… they took turns… assaulting me…. raping me" Her voice was stronger, but her lip quivered and I knew that she was trying to be strong. She hated showing weakness.
"Bella?" I asked a few minutes later. She had finally calmed down and was resting against the headboard holding my hand. She had asked about Edward and I explained that Rosalie had left to find him… he would be back soon. "Carlisle is here. He's waiting outside the room and wondered if he could come in to look you over… make sure you're okay." I told her softly, while her eyes widened and I could see the fear finding its way back in. She didn't answer immediately and I didn't force her to, letting her get used to the idea before he came in to the room. As she finally nodded her head I heard the familiar footsteps, running towards the house from across the river and I warned Edward mentally not to come in, that Bella was terrified still and he needed to be careful.
"Carlisle." I spoke quietly to let him know it was safe to come in. Opening the door slowly, he came into the room, stopping a few feet in and not moving towards us yet. Bella had frozen at the sight of him and her grip on me tightened as she closed her eyes and took several deep breaths to try and calm herself down.
"I'm okay." She gulped, opening her eyes again and looking directly at Carlisle, trying to fight her newfound and what I'm sure she felt were irrational fears.
Carlisle did come in then. I tried to let go of Bella to give her privacy while he inspected her for any obvious signs of injury, but she looked at me in absolute terror as I began to pull away, her heart rate immediately rising and her shaking increasing. I didn't need Jasper's gift to know that she trusted me and that I should stay. Her fear was evident and I moved back to her side, continuing to hold her hand as I heard Edward pacing outside the door; anxious to comfort his mate. Jasper was speaking to him, explaining her feelings at the moment, trying to make him understand that any male presence right now would most likely set her off if she wasn't ready.
"Bella, I know this may seem terrifying – but would you allow me… or Alice… to take you to the hospital so that they can collect some evidence and file a report?" Carlisle asked cautiously as he finished up his surface inspection, ensuring that she had no broken bones or major lacerations that needed immediate attention.
"No… please… no…" she whispered and I looked at her, wishing there was something that I could do to help her right now.
"Bella, it is important that the boys who did this to you are held accountable and that they aren't able to harm anyone else." He pushed a little further and I saw her nod her head, despite her words repeating 'no'.
"Can… can't you just do it here?" she was beginning to cry again and I was surprised by her question, that she would feel comfortable enough to have Carlisle do the exam. "please… can you do it here… and we can call Charlie… he… he can file the report." She pleaded with Carlisle but looked towards me, her eyes imploring me to understand her request, to help her.
"Let me call Charlie. We'll see if that is acceptable and then I will be back in a little while to do the exam if you are positive that you are comfortable with that." He sighed, not willing to push her too much. Carlisle was a doctor, but he was family first, and he considered her a daughter. I could see the torment in his eyes as he tried to remain professional and calm, his anger no doubt coursing through him.
"Is Edward… is he back yet?" The pacing outside the door stopped and I could hear Edward suck in an unnecessary breath as he waited for the okay to come into the room.
"He's just outside the door. Do you want him to come in?" I asked her quietly and I again saw her bite down on her lip as she hesitated, thinking through her answer.
"Is he… is he mad… at me?" She finally stuttered out and I shook my head immediately, not knowing how to reassure her.
"Not at all Bella. He loves you and you have done absolutely nothing wrong. He is just worried about you and wants to see you, to make sure that you're alright."
"Edward?" her voice was barely audible but Edward opened the door slowly, gradually coming into the room, his restraint amazing to me as he listened to Jasper's advice in the hallway. His instincts were no doubt telling him to run to her, to hold her close and to take her somewhere else, somewhere safe and private.
"Can you stay with me Alice?" she was watching Edward closely. He had frozen in his spot at the sight of her trembling, not wanting to move too fast and frighten her further. I squeezed her hand gently and closed my eyes, trying to give them at least a little bit of privacy. Edward was beside the bed now, sitting in the chair that Esme had brought in earlier, reaching out hesitantly to hold her other hand. I could hear the rest of the family as the anger and the hisses started to come out, each of them wanting to rip apart the monsters who would do this to someone as kind and innocent as my sister. As Emmett worked to calm down Rosalie and convince her not to leave the house to find them and drag them out, Jasper and Esme waited just outside the door; Esme not wanting to leave Bella for any length of time, wanting to comfort her daughter, and Jasper still sending mild waves of comfort into the room, telling me that I was doing great with Bella and to just stay where I was until she was ready to let go. Tuning into Carlisle's conversation, I could hear him in the study – trying to explain what had happened to an irate Charlie. He was on his way to our house, his temper flaring and his worry for his daughter evident.
Edward was still in the room when Carlisle came back. He had moved to the bed with her and she had finally let go of my hand, wrapping her arms around Edward and resting her head against his chest, More silent tears were flowing down her cheeks as he spoke to her, whispering reassurances of his love to her, eventually changing to the lullaby he had written for her.
"We need to do the exam now," as he came closer Bella shrank back into the bed and before I knew it Edward had shifted her behind him and was standing protectively in front of her, a low rumble coming from his chest.
"Calm down Edward." I scolded him as Bella grabbed me, her fear spiking even higher at the unexpected movements and the added stimuli in the room. He didn't move and I shouted at him in my head, showing him Bella's fear and forcing him to look back at her, his defensive position immediately changing at the sight of her curled into me.
It took some coaxing to get Bella back onto the bed and to allow Carlisle to get near to her, Edward leaving the room temporarily while he did his exam. Thankfully Carlisle was skilled and quick, and I was able to convince Bella to get up and have a shower, to clean up, just as Charlie pulled into the driveway.
By the time I got her back to the bed and tucked under the blankets, she was just about asleep; Her mind shutting down after the trauma that she had been through. She still wouldn't let go of me and I didn't know what else I could do but to stay with her. As she gave Charlie a quick breakdown of what had happened, giving him the same details that she had given us, I watched as her eyes began to close on their own. Carlisle and Esme spoke to him next, telling him how she had arrived here and Carlisle handing over the sealed bag with the evidence of her attack in it. Finally she fell into sleep – tossing and turning, her nightmares waking her up just as she would begin to settle. By the time morning arrived, she was wide awake again, her mind much more rational than the previous day as she asked for Edward to come back into the room.
What surprised me was when she asked for Jasper to come in as well.
"Jasper?" I questioned her as Edward pulled back slightly, ready to go into defensive mode at any time.
"He… I know that he can protect me from anything." She spoke quietly, her face flushing slightly at her words, "and… I know he's been calming me down… comforting me all night. I want to thank him." She finished explaining and I smiled a small, tight smile down at her.
Jasper did come into the room, against Edward's defensive position on his presence. He was more than happy to sit by the window and talk to her, answering her questions about the southern wars, his human history, and about Peter and Charlotte. It was refreshing to see her accept him so completely, having barely spoken to him before now. If it had been up to Edward, she still wouldn't be anywhere near him and I could see the frustration and mistrust in his eyes as she asked my mate questions and he answered truthfully.
"Is it alright… can I get up? Try and do normal things?" She asked meekly and I smiled at her, nodding my head and offering to leave the room so that she could get changed. Jasper excused himself and he told me quietly that he was heading out to hunt. He had done remarkably well with being so close to Bella for so long and I was beyond proud of him. As Edward left to go get changed himself, I helped Bella into some clean clothes – leggings and a long top. It was a good thing that Edward wasn't in the room as I helped Bella out of her pajama top, the bruises, scrapes, and cuts littering her back, sides, and arms appearing dark and painful.
"Carlisle wants to know if anything hurts?" I asked her as we left Esme and Carlisle's room, walking slowly down the hall and towards the stairs.
"I'm pretty stiff… kind of sore all over." She answered nervously and I knew instantly that she was downplaying the pain – with every step she took, she winced slightly and her face scrunched up in pain. Carlisle must have known as well, including two small white pills on the tray of food that Esme immediately brought over to her.
I had always known that Bella was a tough person. But in the days that followed, as Charlie had the three boys arrested, and word quickly got around town about what had happened, she showed an admirable strength. She spent the next week at our house, Esme convincing Charlie that she could look after Bella during the day while she recovered. During that time, she had clung to me constantly.
Edward of course never left her side either. But the entire family spoke to her and spent time with her – her comfort in Jasper the most surprising, followed by Emmett. Her reasoning being that they could protect her better than anyone else. She also found a newfound truce with Rosalie who had already begun to soften towards her, but unfortunately now they shared a common trauma.
"I've got to go hunting today Bells," I told her early one morning. My throat had been burning for a few days now and I didn't want to put myself in a position where I would have to test my control on my sister.
"Thank you Alice." She whispered quietly and I smiled at her.
"Are you alright?" I asked her a minute later and she nodded her head in reply.
"Physically I'm healing and fine. Emotionally… I don't know… I'm kind of a mess." She admitted with a shrug.
"I think that's normal."
"I know. But I wanted to thank you for sticking by me this week. I know it's silly – but you are the first real friend I've ever had… my first sister. I… I just needed you; and you were there – you never left, even though I know it had to be hard on you and Jasper.
"Bella, you don't realize how important you are to us – to all of us. We would do anything for you and we just want you to know that we will all be here for you in whatever way you need us, for however long you need us." I told her firmly and she smiled at me.
A few minutes later and I was out in the woods, following the river and catching Jasper's scent – moving to catch up to him. I had meant what I said to Bella, but for a few minutes I needed the comfort of my new mate as well… it had been an emotional time for all of us as we struggled against our instincts to seek out revenge, while still ensuring that Bella was healing alright.
Soon I was stalking my prey – the burning in my throat flaring up but secondary to what I really thirsted for at this moment. In seconds I was flying through the trees, swinging my body around at just the right time to land on Jasper's back, his reflexes just as quick as he pulled me around to his front and wasted no time pressing his lips to mine, my legs wrapping around his waist and my hands knotted in his hair.
We honestly didn't mean to knock down the tree that he pressed me against and the loud thump as it hit the ground caused me to giggle before he attacked me again, stripping me as he ran with me still in his arms, my clothes flying behind him and tangling in the branches around us. Soon we were in our little grotto, connecting together both physically and emotionally – the first time hard, rough, needy – the second time, gentle and slow, binding us.
We spent most of the day that way. Exploring each other and enjoying our little piece of privacy. We spoke about Bella's attack – about the deplorable nature of humans to want to hurt each other in that way or any other. He told me more stories about the south, about the wars, about the various battles he had been a part of. He asked me questions about what it was like to wake up with no memories, wondering if something traumatic had happened to me to cause the black hole in my mind.
After I eventually hunted to satiate the burning in my throat, we returned to the grotto once more, enjoying the twilight while I concentrated on my ability… my new lack of foresight beginning to really bother me. Finally it was like a light bulb turned on inside my head and I was flooded with thousands of different images – endless possibilities for the future. For myself and Jasper. For Edward and Bella. For Carlisle and Esme and Emmett and Rosalie. For Charlie Swan and for other random citizens in our town. Closing my eyes I tried desperately to shut it down – the non-stop influx of images overwhelming even my wider, open, stronger, vampire brain.
"Are you alright Alice?" I could hear Jasper's voice but I couldn't open my eyes. Flashes – bits and pieces of possible futures were running together now and I couldn't stop it no matter how hard I tried. Shaking my head I let out a feral scream, the information flowing through my head almost painful.
I could hear several members of the family running towards us, I could feel Jasper pull me into his lap and hold onto me, attempting to calm me with his gift.
"Talk to me Alice!" Rosalie grabbed my shoulders and I could feel her turn me towards her while Jasper kept me firmly in his lap.
"I don't know what happened." Jasper's voice sounded a million miles away and I struggled to hear the rest of the conversation, Emmett assuming Jasper had somehow hurt me and ready to brawl, Rosalie attempting to get me to open my eyes. Then we were moving, moving against the wind as Jasper continued to hold on to me, cradling me in his arms like a small child. I couldn't move. I was frozen. Sounds and smells fading in and out as the images kept flashing in my mind – never letting up.
"Edward!" Emmett yelled loudly as we slowed down, but it still sounded muffled against the movies in my head.
"Can you see inside Alice's head? What is happening to her?" Rosalie asked and I sensed Edward near me, the silence outside of my head beginning to frighten me.
"I can't see anything. It's like she's blocked – like Bella's always is." He said and I let out another frustrated cry, the only thing I seemed capable of doing in the moment. But it didn't help, it didn't ease any of the pain, the images, the possibilities.
Suddenly I was shifted into another set of arms and I heard the fighting – the splitting trees, the bodies slamming into the ground. Edward was cursing at Jasper – accusing him of doing this to me. Jasper was defending himself, trying to explain.
Concentrating with every ounce of energy I had I worked up another cry, this time managing to say 'stop', their fighting ceasing immediately, both of them coming back to me to see if I was better.
I wasn't and I worked to convey that to Edward. If he could see… then maybe he could… he could try and help me… he could explain it to the others.
"Edward!" Rosalie called out suddenly and the images only seemed to move faster inside my head – images of the future mixed with memories of the past? I had never before seen my mind work in reverse – it both intrigued and frightened me and I heard Edward trying to explain what I was seeing, what was happening.
"Bella… go back inside." Edward ordered his mate and I silently agreed with him. She had been through enough recently. She didn't need to see me this way.
"Alice." She said simply and I felt her warmth as her arms enveloped me, holding me in a tight embrace and then I felt it, the images began to slow down, eventually fading out and finally I was able to open my eyes, to escape the images that had been holding my mind hostage.
Shifting I moved to sit up, Rosalie letting go of me and Bella sitting next to me, holding my hand in the same way that I had held hers for days. Looking across at Edward, I could see Emmett pulling him up off the ground and I realized that Edward had been able to see it all as well, the influx of images shocking him.
"Alice?" Jasper appeared in front of me, his eyes filled with questions, with worry, and with relief.
"I'm okay." I said quietly, unsure of whether or not that was actually the case. There was so much residual feeling from whatever it was that I just experienced that I was having a hard time sorting it all out… it wasn't anything that I had ever experienced before.
"What happened Darlin'?" He asked me and I shook my head.
"I promise I will talk about it, but give me a little bit – I'm still feeling overwhelmed by it all." I said again, my voice subdued and everyone's faces showing their concern for me.
"I'm going hunting." I said a minute later while everyone continued to stand around me, their faces all identical, wondering, worrying.
"You just hunted a couple of hours ago?" Jasper questioned and I shook my head at him shrugging. Whatever had happened had drained me completely and I knew I needed to regain my energy. Hunting would give me time and space and allow me to recover enough to explain what happened – all that I saw – everything that I now knew.
"I'll come with you then," Jasper stated and again I shook my head at him.
"Alice…"
"I'll be fine. I promise. I just need to sort it all out on my own. I'll be back soon." I stood up quickly and then I was gone, racing through the treetops to track down my next prey.
I did hunt… quickly and efficiently, cleaning myself up in the stream and once again running through the forest, bouncing between running on the ground, and swinging through the trees – my usual preference. Mid run I realized I was heading north and I knew why. I knew someone who could help me with this and quickly I placed my phone to my ear, waiting for him to pick up. I didn't have to wait long.
"Alice?" Carmen's gentle voice rang through from the other end – not exactly the voice I was needing but I took it anyways.
"Is Eleazar there Carmen?" I didn't mean to sound harsh, but I knew I did… my voice unusually strained as I remembered image after image, trying to sort them out in my head and understand what had happened. Seconds later he must have taken the phone from his wife and I heard him say my name, shaking me out of my thoughts.
"Can you meet me in British Columbia? I'm heading North now and could really use some of your insight." Again, I knew I came across different than usual – I wasn't the same Alice and I knew that they would also hear it.
His reply was immediate and I heard him begin to run before he hung up, agreeing to meet at a little cabin that Carlisle and Esme owned at the base of a mountain in Northern British Columbia. I ran solidly, keeping a steady pace and sticking to woods as much as possible until evening fell, the darkness covering my movements and allowing me to move quicker. As dawn broke, I finally answered my phone, Jasper's name lighting up the screen as it had done several times since I had left.
"Alice? Are you alright? Where are you?" He asked worriedly, his accent thick and familiar to me – it sounded like home – he was my home. But I needed to do this. I needed to sort out what had happened before I could go back. There was far too much information floating around in my head, far too many possibilities for our entire family… I just… simply… knew too much.
"Alice?" Jasper breathed into his phone and I could hear him running.
"I'm okay Jazz. I promise." I said quietly, slowing down as the cabin came into view.
"How's Bella?" I asked him before he could say anything else, worried for my friend. I hadn't wanted to leave her with everything that she had been through, but I felt I didn't have a choice.
"Bella's fine… she's concerned for you. We all are." He answered softly. "Edward explained what he saw – how your mind was flashing visions constantly. He told us he couldn't really see any of them… they were moving too fast for him to catch them… what did you see Darlin'? Where are you?" He asked again and I sighed, not wanting him to follow me.
"I needed to get some space and sort it all out. I saw a lot Jazz, and I… I just need a day or two to figure it all out. There was too much and my mind is overloaded right now. I've just gone North to meet a family friend – Eleazar… Carlisle can explain why I wanted to meet him." I tried to explain, unusually exasperated with myself and my lack of verbal eloquence.
"Are you sure I can't join you?" He tried again, sounding slightly hurt that I hadn't brought him along.
"I'll call you later today… we can talk about it then… okay?" I asked him, not answering his question directly.
"Ally…"
"I've got to go… I promise I'm alright and I will call you in a couple of hours." I didn't wait for a reply, hanging up and pressing the power button on the phone, shutting it down completely. It wasn't that I didn't want my family to contact me, and I did appreciate their concern… I just needed time before I could manage to speak to them again.
Walking towards the door to the cabin, I didn't look up as I heard the two sets of feet running through the woods at the edge of the property and I took a deep breath, bracing myself for what I was about to learn… knowing that it could possibly change me forever – something that rarely happened among our kind.
"Alice? Are you alright? Where's the rest of the family? Is everyone okay?" Carmen was the first to reach me, looking me over, no doubt shocked by my disheveled appearance – her own face as concerned as Esme's no doubt was.
"Everyone is fine… I just need Eleazar's help. Something has changed with my sight and I don't understand it. I don't know if I want to understand it. It could mean that I will have to make some serious choices soon… we all will."