I was right. The remaining letters were the ones since Jacob had died. Her handwriting was shaky with age and tainted with grief at first. For the first time, she wrote of Jacob freely.

May 17, 2074

Dear Edward,

The war is over. Jacob died two days ago, at home, much to his chagrin. This chief longed to go out in a blaze of glory. If he could have tracked down Rosalie, I am sure he would have liked to have gone down in a blaze of glory like the old chief who battled the golden haired devil woman. :-) He makes me smile even when he is not here. He was my sun. He never questioned me. Though, my letters over the years show how you were never gone from my mind, he knew I had made my choice. He gave me such a good life, Edward. It was the life you kept forcing me to want from day one. The one I didn't know I wanted until I was there. Jacob was a good husband. He was an even better father. Also, the crotchety old grandfather who phased once in a while just to freak out the kids.

I have lost my best friend, Edward. This time...the choice was out of my hands. I am in need of a friend now. I wish you were here.

Longingly,

Bella

The rest of the letters all read the same, as if she was willing something to happen that she just couldn't do for herself. They were like a mantra. It was as if she was trying to summon any remaining magic that was left in her time here in Forks. With each one, I choked back the silent tears that didn't fall. I rubbed my temples as if it would turn back time, and I could grant her this one final wish. The last dozen letters were direct, no doubt because of the limitations that time had put upon her. I wish I had known, Bella...I wish I had known...

Edward,

Come back to me.

Bella

I couldn't take it anymore! I tore from the house. I started running before I knew where I was going. I ran through the thick brush of Washington. I was tearing up a hill through the undisturbed brush. Then in the distance I saw the shimmer of daylight. I ran even faster, and busted into the wide open meadow. I fell to the ground like I was a runner out of breath, but I was a vampire who was out of life. Out of the will to live a life that would never end. I hunched over and sobbed emptily into the ground. My fingers tore into the earth. It wasn't supposed to be like this. It wasn't. How could she have altered a frozen being just for this to be it?

"Bella" I sobbed. "Bella..."

"Edward" She answered.