I do not own Twilight or New Moon. Stephenie Meyer does!

Truth

Bella was in pain. She didn't look it but I could tell. Her breathing was heavy, each breathe a struggle, each breathe painful. She closed her eyes, concentrating. I could see through her act.

"Do you need me to call Carlisle?" I asked her quietly.

"No. I'm fine." She said quickly then went back to concentrating on her breathing.

"You'll tell me when it gets too bad, won't you?" I asked.

She opened her eyes and smiled. "Yes." Then she closed them again. I sighed, wishing there was something I could say or do that would make her feel better.

"I think you should get some sleep." She sighed as I said this and tried to sit up. I quickly grabbed her and lifted her so that she was sitting upright against me.

"That's all I ever seem to do lately." She whispered.

"Bella…" I started, but I stopped, realizing I was completely unsure of what to say to that.

Bella chuckled. "What a way to go. At least this is better than those horrible hospitable beds."

I froze. No, she couldn't think like that! Then it dawned on me. Bella knew. Bella wasn't stupid. She knew she didn't have much time left before this thing killed her. Hollowed her out as Carlisle put it.

"Edward?" She asked.

"Hmm?"

"What's wrong with me? I know that you know."

Once again, I froze. I couldn't tell her this. If I did then I would be accepting that it was real. That she really was sick. But I couldn't lie to my Bella.

"You don't need to know."

"Yes, Edward, I do." She said sternly. I sighed and thought of how I could put this best, but no matter what way I thought of, it all came out wrong and too horrible to be real.

"Tell me, Edward." She ordered. I stood up and walked to the window. Looking out of it, I thought back to out first day in the meadow. I remembered how happy she had been, so curious, so trusting, and so… healthy.

I looked down at the ground, ashamed for what I was about to say. "I can't."

There. I had admitted how weak I was. I was pathetic, useless and not worth this angels love.

I looked at Bella, waiting for her response, but her face showed no expression, so emotion. She looked away.

"There's something I should probably tell you, but I'm not sure if it's really all that important. However, I still think you should know." She said after a moment of silence.

I walked over to her side and took her hands in mine. "What is it?" I asked.

"That day… when you called me- telling me there was a stranger in the house…"

She stopped and I waited impatiently for hey to continue. "Yes?" I encouraged her.

She looked at me and I could smell her tears that were starting to form. "I got in my truck and started driving to the pool. On the way I felt a prick in the back of my neck and then I thought I saw a black figure move across in the back of my car. It was more of a blur actually. I just thought I was imagining things." She looked away as she said this, clearly ashamed. Why didn't she tell me? I could have stopped this.

"You're mad." She said quietly. Yes, I was mad- furious actually, but not at her. This was not her fault. If anything, it was my fault. Here I am, stronger, faster than anything alive in the world and I couldn't even protect the one thing that mattered to me.

"Not at you." I whispered, gently kissing her on the hand.

"I'm so sorry I didn't tell you early." She said quickly. Tears ran down her cheeks and I felt my stomach clench.

"Don't be sorry. It's not your fault." I soothed her. She smiled warmly and then yawned.

"Come on. It really is time you got some more sleep." I lay her back down and watched her as she fell asleep. Swiftly, I jumped out her window and ran to my house. From what Bella had told me, she had been injected. Injected with what? I didn't know. Was there a cure? I had to find out. There was really only one way to do that. I needed to talk to Alice.

Not the greatest chapter. Hope you still liked it though :)

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