CHAPTER 13

The wind swirled around him, sucking and shoving. Its deafening roar drowned his gasps, his cries of discomfort. Though the noise, Edward heard a single beep. It was a constant in the middle of the storm. He closed his eyes and focused on the beeping until it was blaring in his ears, piercing his every thought, awakening him...

Beep. Beep. Beep.

Edward stirred and took a deep breath. It echoed around him as if he was dragon breathing in a cave.

Beep. Beep. Beep.

He detected a faint clicking noise. Curiosity seeped in, but he couldn't bring himself to awaken completely. Something was holding him back. Something stronger than he was at the moment. The door opened and closed. Clothes rustled.

"Vic-Victoria?" A faint, familiar voice. Bella.

"Bella!" A squeal. Footsteps and a small 'oomph'. Edward chuckled internally. Bella hated being hugged by people she wasn't familiar with. "How are you?"

"Uhh, I'm fine. W-what are you doing here?" Her voice hitched. Edward noticed a twinge of jealousy in Bella's voice. Bella never liked Victoria.

"I'm the one who found him. I just...I wanted to stay and make sure he's alright." She found me?

"Oh. How did you..." Bella trailed off.

"Come on, have a seat and I'll explain." Victoria's voice was suspiciously caring.

"I...I don't know what's going on between the two of you, but I know enough about Edward to know that it's bad. I mean, I just... I've never seen him like this before. I'm sure it has something to do with you." It has everything to do with her. "I met him at a strip-club, Bella." A soft gasp. "I'd gone there to drop off something for a friend, and when I saw him, I was so shocked. He was so...drunk and off. I immediately knew there was something wrong. I just never realized how bad it was until he called me yesterday. Bella, I have to tell you. I'm not trying to steal him from you, or anything like that. I just want him happy." Victoria paused before continuing. "I'm positive that he was on drugs when he called, though that doesn't excuse his behavior, but he wanted me to come and take care of him." Bella scoffed. He frowned. She scoffed. Almost as if...she expected this of me. She thinks so little of me? That little bitch. I saved her fucking life. "Of course, I went to him, not to do as he requested, but to help him, and...well, I found him like this."

It was silent for a few minutes until Bella spoke, "I suppose should thank you for saving him. Though, I don't want anything to do with him, I don't want him dead either...for the kids' sake." She...she didn't want anything to do with me? His insides tightened painfully. He didn't know why. He didn't understand his body's reaction to Bella. "Victoria, would you mind if I spend some time along with Edward?"

"Of course not. I'll be right outside if you need anything." More noises and a door closed.

She moved closer; he could feel her. Bella cleared her throat before speaking. "You know, all my life I've felt as if I'm indebted to you, and so when you...left the house that night, I made a promise to myself that I'll give you some time to collect yourself. Perhaps I waited too long, and I will always love the Edward that you were, but I can't do this anymore." Edward's heart-rate spiked. What the hell was she talking about? "I don't know if you can hear me, but it's not just about me anymore. We have kids. I have to think of the kids and what's best for them. And I know if the Edward I fell in love with is still in there somewhere, he'd fight me on this, but I'm not gonna change my mind. We're...done." Her voice broke. There was more noises and scribbling. "I'm done with you. Hopefully, for the kid's sake, you won't put up a fight and just...go through with the divorce."

Edward's brain paused for a split-second before sprinting through all the possibilities. She...she can't actually leave me. She loves me. She can't...she...

"Edward? Edward?!" He felt the world closing in around him. He gasped as the air around him thinned. His heart pounded in his ears. He became hyper-aware of every single thing that was happening around. He blinked, his eyes adjusting to the bright lights... and Bella's concerned face.

"That is such a bullshit excuse. You can't leave me. You can't fucking file for a divorce!" His voice cracked. He stared incredulous at his wife. "You can't leave me. You fucking promised!" He glared at Bella. His blood boiled under his skin.

The shock on Bella's face turned into something uglier: fear. "Edward..."

He struggled to sit up in the bed. What the hell was this woman thinking?

"Edward, stop! You're gonna hurt yourself!"

"You're a liar," he spit out. "You're a fucking liar. You promised me forever. You can't just divorce me. You can't—" He froze at the sudden numbness filtering through his system. His voice blurred as the methadone dunked into darkness.

~.o0o.~

Ugh, why am I still here?

"'Cause you're an idiot." A bitter voice cut clear through his sleepiness.

He smiled lazily. "Vicky, what are you still doing here?"

"I don't know, Edward. I mean, you kinda fucking disgust me, so... yeah, I don't know."

"Damn, harsh, what did I do to you?" He rubbed his eyes. "How long have I been out?"

"A few days. They had to sedate you after your little incident," she sneered.

"What incident?" His head was still foggy, his thoughts jumbled together.

She snorted. "You don't even remember? Well, let me do the honors. Bella came to see you minutes after she heard about you, even after all the shit you've done to her, and you yelled at her."

Shame trickled into his soul. "Why?" He remembered bits and pieces, but not enough to understand any of it.

"Because she grew a backbone and filed for a divorce."

His eyes flew to hers. "A divorce?" he squeaked. Suddenly, he wished he hadn't woke.

"Oh, calm down. From what I hear, you had it coming." Victoria sounded so blasé about the entire situation compared to Edward, whose hands were trembling. Bella was leaving him. Vicky finally turned to face him. "If you don't mind me asking...what happened?"

What happened indeed...

"I...I don't know. I..." He remembered the hate, the disgust, the anger, but he couldn't find them anywhere. He was empty...and alone. "I don't know, Vicky. I just..."

"Made the biggest mistake of your life? Yeah, well, that just sucks ass."