The world is full of suffering. It is also full of overcoming it.

Helen Keller


The plane landed and a short, haggard looking man came running towards the plane.

"Randall, why are you bringing in a westerner, and a woman at that?"

"The UN said that she was needed here, along with your supplies."

The short man turned to address her.

"Your name?"

"Bella Swan."

"Bella, there has been a terrible mistake. We evacuated all western volunteers last week. This is a very dangerous time for all of us, but especially for you because you are a woman and a westerner. The rebels would do anything to get their hands on a captive like you. You must leave. Randall, leave the supplies in the plane and please take her back where she came from, and quickly."

He pushed Bella's legs back into the plane and slammed the door. Randall started the ignition quickly and began turning the plane when angered gunfire sounded around them, the sound of bullets riddling the metal fuselage of the plane. Bella's plane door jerked open and she was grabbed violently from the seat by a tall woman dressed in colorful robes. When she turned to look at Randall, she saw that he was leaning against his door, blood gushing from his arm.

Her voice screeched when she screamed.

"Save him!"

The woman yelled at her in response, her voice bellowing over the sound of gunfire.

"Save yourself! Run!"

The woman grabbed her hand and violently tugged her into motion. The short man followed close behind them carrying the wounded pilot as they ran between the kangas swaying from the lines that hung between the huts, their vibrant colors haunted and tainted by the bullets, terror and dust burdening the landscape. The small group escaped behind the large, drying scarves as the dust from their fleeing feet spit up dust into the warm, blue sky … clouds of confusion made by a path of desperation for escape from the bloodsport of the rebels.

"Our car is over there. Hurry!"

The woman pushed Bella into the open door and slid in behind her, the man maneuvered Randall into the passenger side, starting the ignition quickly as bullets flew past them as they pulled away.

"Anyone hit?"

They looked down as they assessed their bodies. Bella's panic escalated as she cried.

"What the hell is going on? I was supposed to help here for a few hours and then get back to Oputi before dark!"

The short man in the front seat yelled back at her over the sound of gunfire as he drove as quickly as he could.

"Either there was a grave mistake or someone sent you on a suicide mission. We evacuated everyone a week ago. My wife and I were trying to get out ourselves after helping everyone else escape!"

Bella reached into her pocket and flipped open her phone, dialing quickly.

"Sir, what are your names?"

"Eleazar and Carmen Covas."

She dialed quickly; the sound of his voice on his message increased her tears and her panic. She was afraid that this would be the last time she would hear the lovely timbre of his voice.

"Edward, my plane was just ambushed outside of Obo! My pilot was shot, but we escaped with Eleazer and Carmen Covas and we are driving towards … "

The man in front yelled at her as he sped away.

"Tell him I'm heading towards Birango. The rebels will be a few hours away on foot. He'd better get to us there before then or else … I don't know … "

"Edward, I hope you heard that. We will be in Birango. I love you! I love you so (beep)"

She looked at her phone in terror.

"Shit!"

Carmen wrapped her arm around Bella and tried to comfort her as the enormity of their situation began crashing in on them all.


Edward ran into the airport and spoke to the first ticket agent he saw.

"I need to lease a private plane into Obo."

"Not a chance. We lost two pilots already this morning."

Edward was not deterred. He knew there was always a price.

"How much would it take to convince a pilot to risk it?"

The man behind the counter looked at him for a moment, before grinning.

"$20,000 US."

Edward nodded.

"Done. I need to leave now."

"Follow me. You'll pay me and we'll be off."

"Do you have credit card capabilities?"

"Of course. My name is Amun Hajari. "

"Well, then let's get a move on, Amun. I'm Edward Cullen. I need to rescue someone that is most dear to me. You understand why I rush?"

Amun's voice sounded surprised.

"Humanitarian?"

Edward nodded enthusiastically, grateful for any information.

"Yes."

"I heard about a pilot being shot earlier, and he was with a westerner. He called in to let authorities know he was brought by car to Birango, but I'm surprised they made it that far. Very dangerous, where we're going."

Edward suddenly became ever more agitated.

"How much if you can get us out of the Central African Republic after we rescue her? If something should limit the plane from flying that distance, I want you to get us as close to the American Embassy in Bangui as you can."

"Fifty thousand. And I will get you within feet of the Embassy's front door if it comes to that. I have a long range fuel tank that will make this trip much easier."

Edward shook his hand in agreement. His black credit card slid across the desk and Amun smiled a contented smile. He rarely saw a credit card like that and knew that the endangered woman had to be very special to the man paying that kind of price.

After the transaction was cleared, they ran for the small plane.


Edward's phone alerted him to a new voice message and he listened to it as horror flooded through him. To hear the terror in her voice, her desperation … he closed his eyes and prayed that they would beat the rebels and make it before the worst could happen. They were mid-flight already and getting closer with every second.


The bullets whizzed by their plane many times and the sounds of their gunfire whispered no mercy. Amun and Edward were lucky and managed to avoid any wounds. When Birango came into view, they could see people running around the village in a panic.

"Amun, there, if you can. Please, this … this woman means everything to me. If something should happen to me, take her and do what we planned. Please. I'll be back as soon as I can."

The plane came to a halt just outside of the village and Edward jumped out, leaving the door ajar so they could jump back in quickly when they returned.

"Bella!"

His voice carried through the frantic village but he didn't know if she would hear him. The sound of screaming women and children drained all color from his face. He didn't want to imagine the worst.

He used his hand to stop a woman who was running past, asking about the westerner in the village. She pointed at the large hut nearby.

He ran as quickly as he could, screaming as loudly as he could, his voice soon breaking beneath the escalating fear rising within him. He was uncertain if Amun would abandon them, or if he would find her in time. The sound of firearms sounded far off in the distance, and a frenzy of rushing bodies swarmed the dirt path around him.

"Bella!"

"Edward? Edward!"

She ran from the hut, jumping at him with such force that he was nearly knocked over from her jumping into his arms.

He grabbed her tightly to him as he turned, running back towards the plane, where Amun looked nervously behind them to watch for the approaching rebels.

Amun grabbed Bella's arm and pulled her into the seat, Edward following directly behind her. His door was not yet closed before Amun was speeding away from the chaos and gunfire.

She screamed over the sound of the accelerating engine, gripping tightly to Edward's chest as he brought the lap belt over them both, securing them into the seat before taking flight.

"I wish we could fit more people in this plane! I wish we could save them all! The horrible things … "

She was crying hysterically as she shook violently in Edward's arms. Amun steered them away from the horror. He was impressed with the young woman. Despite her rescue and what she'd just endured, she continued to consider the well being of those they had to leave behind.

Their door locked shut just as they lifted into the sky, the sound of Bella's sobs filling the tense air.

Edward held her tightly, shaking with emotions as he desperately wanted to comfort her.

"Are you hurt, Bella? Did anyone harm you?"

She reached around his neck and brought her lips to his, her arms gripping his head in a death grip as her sobs and kisses silenced his mouth.

When she pulled away, she was able to look into his eyes for the first time in months. She shook her head in response.

"I've never been so scared in my life, Edward. I was so afraid that I would never see you again! That I would be raped and then have my throat slit like the women in Birango said happened in another village a few days ago. I can't believe that you made it! That we're safe!"

"It's not over yet, Bella. Amun has to get us out of the Republic before I'll feel comfortable about this situation. If something happens during this flight, he'll try to get us near the American Embassy, and Bangui is a very dangerous city, especially with the rebels so near. Warlords, guns everywhere … "

He turned to look at their pilot.

"Amun, how much would it cost for you to return us to Uganda? Preferably Kampala?

"To see you reunited with your lady love is payment enough. You won't even need to fill my tank. I've milked the situation enough, yes?"

Edward looked down at Bella and smiled.

"I would have given anything."

She smiled in response and leaned into his chest once again, her emotional release taking over after what she had just experienced … at what she had just escaped.

He held her tightly to him as she wept. His tears soon joined hers, a release of his worst fears and the happiest of outcomes. After months of separation, he relished in her closeness – in having her in his arms.

He would never let her go again.