Hey my lovely reviewers! Thank you for hanging in there and for reviewing! This is a bit shorter but I wanted to stop right where I did.
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Disclaimer: Don't own Twilight!
Chapter 10
This wasn't happening. This just simply shouldn't be happening. Not now, please just not now.
These same three phrases I repeated over and over in my head as if by some chance the situation that I was currently in would just vanish and I would wake up from this horrible nightmare. I opened my eyes and found myself in the same place I was five minutes ago, riding in the back of an ambulance on the way to the hospital. I couldn't help but stare down at the unconscious body of Edward strapped to the stretcher.
"Excuse me Ms. Swan, we have arrived and we need for you to exit so we can get Edward out safely and properly."
"Oh, but of course." I proceeded to get out of the ambulance.
I looked over and saw the nurses removing Renee and Charlie's stretchers from the other ambulance as Edward was being removed from his. As soon as the wheels hit the ground, they were wheeled into the available examination rooms. I started running after them until I felt someone grab my arm.
"I am sorry Bella, but I can not let you go back there."
"Why can't I be with Edward and my parents?"
"At this present time we don't know what has infected them so we don't know if we can allow you to be around them and risk infection yourself."
"Carlisle, if whatever they have is contagious, I have been around them all day so I would've already been infected."
"Bella, I understand. The problem is that space is limited and adding any visitors at the moment will only lead to less space. We also have doctors rushing around to every patient so they will need space to be able to check up on the patient."
He must've seen my saddened expression because he then said, "I'll see what I can do. The problem is that your parents are on the opposite side of the building from Edward."
"Why is that?"
"We had limited space and the area in which your parents are in is the overflow room."
"Oh. Am I able to stay in the lobby?"
"Yes you are, but if it gets too crowded I may have to ask you to go home and we would alert you if something happens."
"Well Carlisle, you need to get back to work. I'll be in the lobby until you kick me out," I turned around and started walking. I soon stopped and turned back around, "Oh, and Carlisle, do whatever you can to save them, please."
"Of course, Bella, I wouldn't do anything else."
When I got to the lobby, I saw that it was almost completely filled with people awaiting for news of their loved ones' health. My eyes were scanning for a place to sit when I caught the eyes of my friend Angela. She was the only friend that I have ever had growing up, besides Edward.
"Bella what are you doing here?"
"Edward and my parents are sick."
"That's sure a change. You are always the one that's in there."
"I know, Angela. That's why I don't understand why I am not the one who is sick."
"Well I am not an expert in medicine or anything, but maybe it's because your immune system has gotten stronger."
"Where did you get that from?"
"I used to read my uncle's medical books and it said that some people's immune systems strengthen when they get sick a lot. It gets stronger because it learns to recognize and combat certain illnesses."
"That sounds like you copied it from a text book."
"I did." We both laughed. I never thought that I would laugh in my current situation, but Angela is good at cheering me up.
"Bella what's wrong?" Angela asked on our way to school.
"Edward left to visit his grandparents today."
"Aw…you know that he'll be back soon."
"I know, but I still miss him."
"I'll bet my right arm and leg that he is missing you too."
"You really think so?"
"Of course I do. You guys seemed to be joined at the hip. Plus I would sacrifice my right arm and leg to hobble around on my bad side." We started laughing hysterically.
"I can see me now, having someone push me around in a wheelchair because I just have a left arm and a left leg."
"I bet that someone would be Benjamin Cheney," I said between my laughing fits. I looked at Angela and saw that she was actually blushing.
"Angela! Do you like Benjamin?"
"Um….maybe…I erm…we are going to be late for class," she turned around and started running to the schoolhouse.
"Wait up Angela! This isn't over!"I said while running to try and catch up to her.
"What are you smiling about Bella?"
"I was remembering the day after Edward left to go and visit his grandparents and I was sad. You came up to me and cheered me up by saying that you would give an arm and a leg to prove that Edward missed me too."
"Oh yeah, I remember that."
"Do you remember when you blushed and ran away when I asked if Benjamin Cheney was going to be the one pushing you around in the wheelchair?"
I saw that her smiling face fell at the mention of him.
"Angela, what's wrong?"
"It's just that we have become more drawn to each other and I think that he was going to propose to me. The problem is that he is lying in a hospital bed."
"Oh gosh, I am so sorry."
"Bella, it was kind of expected. I mean he works for the publishing company and most of the employees are sick so he was bound to get sick. I am hoping that he pulls out okay, but almost everyone who has gotten sick with this illness has died."
"Angela, do you know exactly what this illness is?"
"I overheard the doctors and nurses saying something about it being called Spanish Influenza. Apparently it originated in Spain and has spread all across the United States."
"My God," I said, trying to keep the tears from flowing. Sadly, one tear escaped, which caused the dam to break and the rest of them started spilling over.
Angela moved closer as we both embraced each other. Both of us were trying to console the other but it didn't do much good considering both of us were crying. Within minutes, exhaustion came upon us and we both fell asleep.
This time the dream I had was somewhat different than the others, but still just as unnerving.
I opened my eyes to find myself curled up in a ball on the floor. I took in my surroundings and noticed that I was alone and that there was nothing here except a vast amount of never-ending darkness.
"Hello?" I called out. I heard no response. I got up and started to walk around and continue calling to see if anyone happened to be there.
It felt as though I kept wandering around in circles. No matter where I walked, I always found darkness...nothing else. After what seemed like hours of wandering around, I finally saw a glimmer of light. I ran at full speed toward the light. Of course as I was running, I ended up tripping over myself. I cursed my feet as I saw the light slowly drifting away from me. I immediately go back up and started running faster, in hopes of catching up to the light. As I neared it, it started getting bigger and bigger, but as soon as I was in reaching distance, it started shrinking away from me until it just completely disappeared. Once again I was left all alone in the darkest depths of the world.
"Edward…where are you?" I heard myself cry out.
"I'm right here, Bella," A voice echoed off in the distance.
"Edward?" I got up immediately and started to frantically search for him, "Edward I don't see you. Where are you?"
"Bella, I told you that no matter where you are, I will always be with you in your heart."
"Edward. I just want you here with me. I need you to wrap your arms around me and tell me that you are here safe and sound," I cried out even louder than before.
"Bella, you know that I can't always be with you. You are a strong and beautiful woman without me standing by your side."
"Edward, I just need you here with me."
"I am sorry Love, but I can't stay with you any longer."The whisper in the dark faded out, leaving me broken and alone once again.
"Don't leave me Edward…"
"Bella….Bella there is someone here to talk to you," I heard Angela's voice say.
I opened my eyes and saw Angela staring at me with cautious, tear-stained eyes. Out of the corner of my eye, I see Carlisle standing there, looking at me with a sorrowful face.
"I am sorry Bella, but things have taken a turn for the worse. Like all of the other patients, the Influenza virus spread throughout their bodies quite rapidly. The good news is that since both your parents and Edward's immune systems are very strong and healthy, they will probably live a bit longer. I am sorry, but as of right now, we can't do anything to help them besides give them morphine for the pain."
"Thanks Carlisle. How much longer should they live?"
"From the looks of things, they should live about 12 or so more hours. All we can do now is just keep praying and hope that a miracle will happen."
"Thank you Carlisle, but before you leave, promise me that you will do anything and everything to try and save them?"
"Of course I will, Bella."
As soon as Carlisle left, I completely lost it. Through my tears I just sat there and looked at my gorgeous engagement ring that I got about a month ago.
"Oh Bella, I am so sorry," Angela whispered as she pulled me into a hug, "Would you like to go and talk to Ben before he leaves?"
"Of course I do." We got up and headed over to the room where bed was literally laying on his deathbed.
"Hey Ben, I would ask how are you feeling but I already know the answer."
"Hey Bella, how's Edward doing?" He asked tiredly.
"He's in the same situation as you."
"Sorry about that Bella."
"It happens." I looked between Ben and Angela, "I better go talk to Renee and Charlie and let you two be alone."
"Okay, well it was nice seeing you Bella, take care."
"I will. You do the same." I said as I walked outside of the room. Renee and Charlie's room was closer than Edward's was so I decided to visit them first. I walked inside and saw them lying side by side with their hands joining them together.
"Hey mom, hey dad."
"Oh Bella, it's so good to see you," Charlie and Renee cried.
"What are you doing back here, Bella, you are going to get sick."
"Mother, I am fine. I probably should've gotten sick by now. Anyways, I just came to talk with you guys for a bit."
"Anything to distract us from what's going on right now."
We sat there for hours and hours reminiscing about the certain situations I would get into and just talking about life in general.
"Bella, dear, how's Edward doing?"
"I don't know, I came to see you guys first."
"Edward is sick?"
"Yes, he collapsed when I opened the door and found you two lying on the floor."
"Well why are you staying here talking to us, go to him."
"Are you sure?"
"Of course Bella. If he caught it the same time we did, he doesn't have that much time either."
"I love you Mom. I love you Dad. I'll be back in a bit."
"Love you too Bells," Charlie and Renee said at the same time.
I proceeded out the door and practically ran to the other side of the hospital so I could talk to him. When I got there, he was silently resting on the bed. I pulled up and chair and sat right next to his bed. I started running my hands through his messy, bronze hair.
"Bella……" I heard him whisper.
"Yes Edward, I am right here."
"Why? You are going to get sick too."
"I have been doing well so far."
"You never know, this virus just attacks you and makes you feel completely helpless."
"In any case, I am here for you." I yawned, hoping that Edward wouldn't catch it.
"You are tired Bella. Please go home and sleep."
"I am not leaving you or my parents."
"Bella please."
"No Edward, I want to be with you." I lay my head upon his bed and quickly fell asleep with my hands still running through his hair.
"Bella, Bella you need to wake up."
"What is it Edward," I said groggily.
"Its Renee and Charlie, you should go and make sure they are alright."
"I will. Promise me that you will still be here when I come back."
"I promise. Now go to your parents."
I ran out of the room hoping that I would be able to say goodbye to my parents and hoping that Edward will still be alive when I return.
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