All characters belong to Stephenie Meyer

Chapter 21 - The End

BELLA

Edward had brought me books and flowers galore. He sat at the hospital, talking with me about the future, and the more he spoke, the more I realized I couldn't hold him back. He was going to be a great doctor and do amazing things some day. I wanted to hide away in a library, and he wanted to travel the world, saving people's lives.

When he talked about me going Ivy League with him, I laughed, and he pouted. I knew there was no way I could afford it, even with the scholarships I had won. With those, along with the grant money and maybe a couple of large student loans, I might be able to get through the eight years it would take for me to become a librarian at a cheaper university. I'd just be paying it off for the rest of my life.

Being a doctor would require Edward to be in school for at least another eight years as well, but he would be going to school to help others. He would be going so he could make the world a better place and touch the lives of others. I was going so I could have a legitimate reason to hide in the library all day.

I knew I wasn't good enough for him, but he hadn't seen it yet. I would be leaving the hospital soon, by the end of the week if things healed well with my lung. Dr. Cullen seemed optimistic about my chances of getting out of here.

Edward had gone home to shower and eat, when Dr. Cullen walked into my room, accompanied by a blonde-haired woman.

"Hello, Bella, how are you feeling today?" Dr. Cullen asked. He seemed more nervous than usual.

"Good, is everything alright?" I asked worried.

"Everything is fine, dear. This is Dr. Jane Turley. She's a woman's doctor, and OB/GYN. Sue has brought it to my attention that your and Edward's relationship is rather serious and suggested you see Dr. Turley."

I blushed a deep red. My boyfriend's father was the last person I wanted to talk with about sex.

The woman chuckled at me and patted Dr. Cullen's shoulder. "I can take it from here, Carlisle. I don't think she wants you around for this part."

He nodded and slipped out, not needing to be asked twice.

Dr. Turley smiled at me and pulled up a chair next to me. "So, do you mind if I call you Bella?"

"That's fine," I shrugged.

"Okay, Bella, I'm going to ask you a bunch of uncomfortable question, but I need you to answer me honestly. There's no need to be ashamed or embarrassed. I do this for a living and ask everyone these same questions, alright?"

I nodded yes.

"First, it's important for me to know, are you sexually active?"

I was pretty sure I wasn't, but I kind of was.

"Let me rephrase that. Have you had sexual intercourse?"

I shook my head no.

"So, you're a virgin?"

I nodded my head yes.

"Do you know if your hymen is still intact?"

"It should be. I haven't done anything to it."

"Okay, I'm going to do a less-invasive exam on you then, alright? I'll be doing an ultrasound to make sure you didn't damage anything in the fall, and then I'm going to do a pap smear. The first one shouldn't be uncomfortable; however, the second test is not so fun, but I really need to do it before we start you on birth control."

I just nodded my head yes, and she stepped into the hall and came back in, wheeling an ultrasound machine. She fired it up and then uncovered my stomach, squirting a warm blue jelly-like goop on me, before running a little wand thing across my abdomen.

Everything checked out, and I was cleared to have the birth control shot. It was surprising how relieved I was to be covered in that department. I was sure Edward would be happy about it as well.

Then I realized I'd most likely be broken up with Edward by the time my body was fully recovered enough to have sex. I doubted he'd be pushing me to go any farther than we already had, before I was fully healed. Apparently, I was getting on birth control for nothing. My depression and medication knocked me out again.

When I woke up, Edward was asleep beside me again. I looked down at him longingly, running my fingers through his hair. He said my name and smiled in his sleep. I looked up at Sue, who smiled at me. "I'll be off for the next month to help take care of you."

"I'm sorry I'm so much trouble." When Edward heard my voice, he said my name and smiled again.

"You're not any trouble, honey. I think he loves you, Bella."

"He doesn't know any better."

Sue frowned at me, and Edward stirred in his sleep.

He was beautiful. I couldn't hold back the tears.

Edward woke and made it worse. "Love, what's wrong? Are you okay? Are you in pain?" he panicked.

I shook my head no.

He wiped my tears and kissed my forehead. "Tell me what I have to do to make it better."

I smiled weakly at him. "I want you to go on to be a doctor and save people's lives."

He kissed my lips lightly. "I will, I promise."

I looked over at Sue, and Edward looked behind him for the first time.

"Sue's here. She's taking off work, so she can look after me. You can go on to football camp, you've only missed one day of it," I said trying to get him to leave. It would be so much easier to break things off with him, if I already knew he wasn't anywhere near me.

"I don't want to go until you're better, Bella," he complained.

"I know, but I'm not going to be all better until school starts. I'll be going home tomorrow. I know Emmett and Jasper are waiting for you. You can't let them down."

"They'll hold my place on the team. Emmett is team captain."

"Edward, it's not fair to put him in that position."

He actually looked ashamed of himself. I pulled him over and kissed him softly. "Do it for me?"

"I don't like being away from you," he whined.

"I know, baby, but I'll be fine. We knew this was coming."

He let out a heavy sigh. "Are you sure you don't want me to stay?"

I smiled watery-eyed at him. "Of course I do, but I need you to go. Your life can't sit on hold waiting for me; that won't do either of us any good. I need you to go, for both of us." And I truly did.

There was no way I could end things otherwise.

"I'll give you two a moment to say goodbye," Sue said slipping out the door.

I let out a deep breath and pulled him to me.

I kissed him for the last time. I put everything I felt for him into it. I never wanted him to doubt how I felt about him. "I love you. I'll always love you. Always remember that, okay?" I pleaded with him.

He smiled at me sadly and kissed me softly again. "I know, you remember it, too." He kissed me a little more intensely.

I loved the way he could make my whole body come alive. When he pulled away, I was panting.

"You remember that I'll always love you, Bella. You're my Bella, and I'm yours and only yours." He kissed my nose. "I don't want to leave you, but my evil girlfriend is making me. I'll write, and I'll be home before you know it." He kissed my cheek, and I gave him a tight smile.

He walked to the door. "I love you, Isabella," he called to me.

"I love you, too, Edward," I called after him, and he smiled widely, before he disappeared down the hall.

Sue came in, and as soon as I saw her, I burst into sobs. She hurried to my side and held me as I cried. I didn't know when it was, but I finally cried myself to sleep. When I woke, Sue was going over my care with Dr. Cullen. He looked over at me worried. I suspected he knew something was up with Edward and me. I just hoped he didn't tip Edward off.