I was dreaming of him when the telephone rang. One look at the name on the caller ID, and I was instantly awake.

"Oh my god…Edward?"

"Bella…hey. I know it's late, but I…I…fuck, I just wanted to hear your voice."

I should have been furious, but I wasn't. I missed him—missed him to the point of physical pain. To hear his voice was like a cool compress on an angry burn.

And oh, how I'd been burned.

There were so many things I wanted to say to him, to ask him. I was in the process of sorting them out when he spoke again.

"Bella? Are you still there?"

"Yes, I'm still here. Right here where you left me, in our bed. Well, technically, I guess it's only my bed now."

"Fuck, Bella. I'm sorry. Don't hang up. I've been so messed up since I left. I fucked up. I miss you."

He missed me. That bastard. How dare he? All of a sudden, weeks of pain, misery, anger and confusion gushed to the surface.

"Don't, Edward. Don't do this to me. Did you ever once think about the consequences? Ever stop to think how others…especially me…would be affected by your actions?"

"Believe me, I've done nothing but think about what I did. I know I have no right to ask this of you, but is there any way…I mean, do you think maybe, if we talk, if I explain things to you, you might be able to forgive me? Give me…give us…a second chance?"

It's amazing how in the course of a few minutes, one's life can be altered so dramatically. It happened a few months ago when Edward left—it was happening now, in the middle of the night, over a simple phone call.

"Why now, Edward? After two months of, of…nothing, why are you calling me now, in the middle of the night, to tell me this?"

"I saw something tonight and it reminded me of you. Shit, everything reminds me of you, but this was special. I had to tell you. Go to your window and look up."

"My window? What the hell are you talking about?"

"Please, Bella, just do it."

Hauling myself out of bed, I walked over to the window and did as he asked.

What I saw took my breath away.

The sky…

From west to east, a hazy band of light arched across the nighttime sky, as if a higher power had strewn stardust throughout the heavens. It was, of course, the Milky Way Galaxy.

Tears welled up in my eyes as I recalled the only other time I had seen this beautiful sight: the night Edward and I first made love.

A warm summer night in July, in our meadow, on a blanket, with nothing but the stars to illuminate and guide us.

Edward's hushed voice interrupted my memories.

"Do you see it? It's beautiful, isn't it? That's our sky, Bella, ours. Do you remember?"

"I remember."

And then it hit me.

"Edward? You're in Chicago…how can you see the Milky Way in the city? You need to be away from city lights…"

My voice trailed to a whisper.

"I'm not in Chicago."

"Not in Chicago? Where are you?"

My heart was pounding.

"Look down, Bella."

I looked down.

And there he was.

Outside my window, just like that starry night in July.

"I love you Bella and I want to come home. Can I please come home?"

Throwing my phone onto the bed, I opened the window, held out my arms and welcomed him home.