"Death is not the greatest loss in life. The greatest loss is what dies inside us while we live." Norman Cousins
Chapter 10:
EPOV:
Not taking the time to alert Sidney of my plans, I rushed out of the club in a frenzied haste. Bella's text troubled me. I knew I had to get to her as swiftly as my feet could take me. I decided to forgo the public transportation, knowing full well that running would be the only means that would get me to her faster. A fraction of what it would entail if I was at the mercy of humans to transport me to my destination. The sight and sounds of Christmas wafted through the crisp holiday air. The excitement radiating from the people around me would have been infectious at any given day, but not today.
I tore through the crazy holiday rush, trying to appear normal despite my hurried movements as I headed straight to the forest. As soon as I was out of plain sight, I took off as fast as I could, letting my instincts guide me. All I could think of was Bella…..and Joe. Could it be?
I sped through the thick forest vegetations focused on getting to the Hamptons as quickly as I could. I leapt, jumped and sped through the wooded area in a blur. It was nine o'clock in the morning when I received Bella's text; my projected arrival was at 9:30 am. It would be sooner than expected but I'd be crazy if I just stood around and killed time for the sake of appearances. I needed to see her. Every single inch of my being wanted to be with her, even in any capacity. I could live with it.
The wind exhilarated me. Every swooshing sound that my feet created told me that I was getting closer to her. Then there was the thought of Joe…. every part of me screamed for Bella, but I didn't want him to pass on… I wanted Bella to be happy and he was her happiness. I was a wretched fool to long for my own misery, but her joy meant to more to me than my own sense of pleasure.
I didn't stop running until I cleared the forest where I continued at a slower pace under the close scrutiny of the locals. I walked towards the address that Bella provided on her text. I was a mere mile away when I smelled the stench of death. I knew what I would be coming upon soon. I searched for Bella's thoughts amidst the rambling of several people in the vicinity in my head, but none registered as hers. This worried me greatly. I only heard sobs followed by silence.
I went against my better judgment; I started jogging towards the house followed by stares of people walking by. I was well aware that I was a stranger in this quiet town and I tried to look nonchalant despite the growing apprehension that I was experiencing at that moment.
I finally reached the little white cottage with blue trimmings and I circled the property first to ascertain myself that I got the right house. I knocked gently on the door, forgoing the doorbell and waited.
NOTHING.
No one stirred inside the house. It was eerily quiet. A lone heartbeat pounded erratically in its rhythm with the continued sobs that my sensitive hearing picked up. A little humming started just as I was ready to kick the door open but I didn't want to make a scene in this quiet and sleepy neighborhood.
I'd be damned if I would wait a minute longer. I looked around to check if anyone was paying attention to me. The neighbors were going about their business and I carefully let myself through one of the unlatched windows. It was tricky weaving into a little square opening but I managed to squeeze my body in without ripping my clothes.
The sight that I found in the living room made the hair in the back of my neck rise. I knew what to expect but nothing prepared me for the actual experience of finding Bella with her arms around Joe. The fireplace had long extinguished and the embers were but a build-up of ashes. It was eerily cold inside the cottage. Bella was humming a tune that she associated with Joe. I made cautious and silent steps towards them, careful not to startle Bella by any means.
One good look at Joe's immobile body confirmed what I already knew. He was dead and by the scent in the air, he had been dead for several hours. The odor that floated around validated my worst suspicion. The process of decomposition had already started. If my guess was right, Joe died in his sleep.
"Bella?" I whispered her name softly.
No answer.
"Bella?" I repeated myself. "I came as fast as I could."
Her humming continued, accompanied by heartbreaking sobs. She was broken. The sound penetrated my soul and I felt myself break into pieces as her silent lamentation reverberated inside my head. She said nothing, the emptiness said it all. I leaned closer to see her face. She was looking at Joe, her eyes were bloodshot from tears that continued to fall quietly and relentlessly.
I decided to place my hand lightly on her shoulder and with this she seemed to snap out of her depressive trance. She turned her head in my direction but kept her hands around Joe. Her eyes were empty but showed a little sign of life when she looked at me, like I was heaven sent.
"Why isn't Joe moving, Edward?" her barely inaudible voice croaked.
I debated whether I should be the one to break the news to her of what I thought she refused to admit. She was clearly in denial being in the position she was in at that very moment.
"Bella, I think Joe had left us," even my voice broke with the declaration. I dreaded what was to come.
"No, no, no! I think he is just slumbering Edward," her words established what I feared, this wouldn't be easy.
"Joe is gone Bella, it's time for you to let go….."
"He is not, he will awaken in a little bit..." she didn't even let me finish as her words of denial rang in my ears. What should I do at a moment like this?
"Bella, we need to call the mortician to pick up Joe's body now…"
I found myself in foreign waters. Death was something I only see but would never have a chance to experience, for I would forever be in existence. I placed my hands on both her shoulders to help her up but she resisted and hugged Joe's limp body harder. I decided that she needed more time to digest the reality of Joe's demise, ignoring my concerns with the fact that Joe's body was already decomposing. His eyes were closed, but his mouth was a bit ajar with what seemed to be a little smile. Joe passed on peacefully and I took comfort in that and that he no longer suffered any pain.
I walked over to the window and decided to wait until Bella was ready. I looked outside and remained in the very same spot, unmoving. I tuned myself to Bella only. I felt every emotion that flowed within her now.
Dead? No! It can't be! Joe wake up now! We are going to walk on the beach! Joe! Joe! Joeeee, please answer me. Edward is here! C'mon Joe…
Bella started shaking Joe's body, gently at first as if she was rousing a sleeping person. "Joe? Time to get up honey." She repeated herself several times as her voice broke with every call of his name. There was nothing I could do but watch from afar as she started shaking him harder, her eyes finally registered recognition. Soon after, her wailing began…the shrill sound of her voice resonated inside the house and I couldn't keep myself away from her anymore. Every thread in my body wanted to comfort her and to tell her that everything would be alright. Would it be enough?
I moved to where Bella was and pried her away from Joe and this time, there was no resistance from her but her gaze was still averted in Joe's direction as I turned her around to face me. Her eyes were a large pool of tears, her mouth contorted into a pitiable line and she was gasping for breath. I tilted her chin up so she would look into my eyes as I rubbed her back to relieve her knotted muscles. "Bella, I am here for you…tell me what I can do for you…."
She finally lifted her eyes to meet mine. "Bring him back to me….." her words stabbed me deeper than I could ever imagine.
"It's time to let him go Bella. Let's get Joe and you home." I said, feeling all the grief that Bella was experiencing. She didn't utter a word when she buried her face on my chest and wept.
***** Time to click on the playlist. Can be found on my profile.*****
Oceans apart day after day
And I slowly go insane
I hear your voice on the line
But it doesn't stop the pain
If I see you next to never
Then how can we say forever
CHORUS:
Wherever you go
Whatever you do
I will be right here waiting for you
Whatever it takes
Or how my heart breaks
I will be right here waiting for you
I took for granted all the times
That I thought would last somehow
I hear the laughter
I taste the tears
But I can't get near you now
Oh can't you see it baby
You got me going crazy
REPEAT CHORUS:
Wherever you go
Whatever you do
I will be right here waiting for you
Whatever it takes
Or how my heart breaks
I will be right here waiting for you
I wonder how we can survive this romance
But in the end if I'm with you
I'll take the chance
Oh can't you see it baby
You've got me going crazy
REPEAT CHORUS:
Wherever you go
Whatever you do
I will be right here waiting for you
Whatever it takes
Or how my heart breaks
I will be right here waiting for you
Waiting for you
A/N: Let's take a moment of silence to digest what just happened in this chapter. Joe is gone... now what? I need you guys to give me your best guesses on what you think will happen next. Would Edward be able to help a grieving Bella? Would she let him?
I would love to hear from my quiet readers. Make me smile! Thanks to three awesome ladies; EE, SK and Keye. You guys rock!
By the way, there's this story that I am co-writing with SK and I'm wondering if you guys would like to read it. It's an original fiction and if you are familiar with the Lord of the Rings, Black Dagger Brotherhood and the Demonica Series, this story is in the same genre. The title is Shaletan Code- I think you might want to give it a whirl!
http(:)/www(.)thewriterscoffeeshop(.)com/library/viewstory(.)php?sid=4686&chapter=1
Please don't forget to remove all the parenthesis.
I can assure you that you won't be sorry for checking it out. Please take the time to give your reviews every chapter. Thanks.