Chapter 28: I came for your explanations

APoV

"You did everything you could" Jasper said once again. He had been reciting the same since I got back from the beach house three days before. We hadn't heard from Edward or seen him since our encounter.

"Maybe I shouldn't have been so harsh. Maybe I should have tried to be sweeter" I said.

"No, you did what you felt was right" Jasper replied again. "It's on him now"

"I guess he just it's not going to do what I expected from him" I noticed the sadness in my own voice. "It shouldn't be so hard. But still, Edward was always my favorite brother. He has never disappointed me before. I guess, there is a first time for everything".

Jasper held me tight against his chest, and I buried my face into his shirt, filling my nostrils with the familiar, yet endearing, scent of my love. We were standing in Bella's living room, while she slept in her room. We couldn't leave her alone since she was still not well.

Jasper tightened his arms around me. As always, only Jasper could give me any comfort. But today even that wasn't enough.

I loved Edward as a real blood brother. And I loved Bella as much as him. So seeing them falling apart because of the distance they had imposed on themselves, was almost as painful as if it was being me.

"You didn't see him" I told Jasper in a whisper. "He looks terrible. He is truly suffering. And so is Bella. She is thinner every day and weaker, even thought there is nothing physically wrong with her. You heard Carlisle. It's just how sad she is"

Jasper nodded and kissed the top of my head. I looked into his blue eyes and saw that he understood too. He loved them both as well. And even though he hadn't been there with Edward and me, he could see him through me eyes. And it was killing him too.

"We will be ok. And so will they, even if they never get a chance to see each other again. Bella is a strong girl. She will get over it. And so will Edward" Jasper said. I recognized the hope in his voice. And his hesitation.

"I wish you are right" I replied. I was the one with the visions. But right now, nothing seemed very clear. All I knew was that my brother was broken and away. And my best friend was lying on a bed a few feet from were I stood, getting weaker every minute because of him.

A knock in the door brought me back from my thoughts. As always, Carlisle had arrived to check on Bella, even when we all knew she was not sick. At least, not in a way Carlisle could cure.

I reluctantly released myself from Jasper's embrace and walked to the door.

It was not Carlisle who stood in front of Bella's apartment.

BPOV

I was coming back to bed from a trip to the bathroom when I heard the knock in the front door.

As I climbed with some difficulty back to bed, I looked at the clock on the nightstand. It was the usual hour for Carlisle's visit.

I smiled a little to myself. Carlisle knew there was nothing he could do to help me now, at least as a doctor. But never the less he kept coming every day.

I guess he was hoping to help me through his affection. And the rest of the Cullen family was following his lead.

I appreciated the effort. I truly did. And so I tried every day to look better. But the truth was I wasn't improving at all.

Although my injured leg was better, I could hardly stand on my own. I was thinner and weaker every day, and I knew it was because I could barely eat or sleep well.

Truth is, it's really difficult to get over and move on when the object of your affection and misery is present in every dream you have every night.

I heard the door opening almost instantly. As always Jasper and Alice were in the house. They never left my side, helping me with every move, even when other members of the family were around.

If Alice was my fairy godmother, Jasper was certainly my guardian angel.

A couple of minutes later, I heard the front door closing. I sat on the bed and tried to look my best for Carlisle, which was not easy. But…he never showed up.

"Alice?" I called curious. The only answer was silence.

"Jasper?". Still nothing

Perhaps they had finally heard my requests and left the apartment. Even thought I enjoyed their company and help beyond any word I could express, I didn't want them to be held prisoners of me. So maybe they had decided to go out and be on their own for a while.

Suddenly, it hit me. I was alone. The sensation that filled me was uncomfortable and foreign. I had been a lonelier almost all my life, but now I was so used to been with the Cullen that the silence seemed suffocating.

I decided to check, just in case. So using all the strength I had left, I climbed down of the bed and headed to the living room.

The lights were off, and the only light in the room was coming from the large window on the east wall.

I saw my own reflection on the glass and it shocked me to notice how little of me was left to see. Wearing only my pajama, I looked sick and hardly alive.

Dismissing the image, I continue towards the kitchen, seeing that it was the only illuminated room in the house.

I braced myself against the countertop, hoping to remain stand and steady, and almost failing miserably. Nor Alice or Jasper was there. They were truly gone. And in that moment I felt loner than ever.

That's when I sense it. Even before I heard him, I knew he was standing on my back. Electricity filled the air and a delicious scent hit me square on the face.

Trembling, I turned around and at the look of his deep green eyes all I could say was his name.

Edward looked thinner and paler, but he was still a sight of pure beauty.

Reaching the countertop to hold myself in place, I prepared myself for what was to come.

EPOV

I saw her from a corner of the dark living room. I thought that my heart would alert her of my presence, since it was beating harder and louder than ever.

Bella looked different that how I remembered her. She was thinner and her health looked fragile, even though her injured leg looked ok.

She walked holding herself on every surface of furniture or wall she could find, and yet it still looked like she could hardly move.

My heart skipped a bit then. I recognized in her weakness the exhaustation I myself felt dew to the nights of no rest. I knew I had caused it.

I followed her through the darkness into the kitchen. She steadied herself on the countertop with her back to me. I saw the moment her body went still as she recognized my presence.

"Edward" she whispered, turning around to face me.

I restrained the urge to run to her and hold her against my body.

Wearing only a short and a tank top, she looked like she could brake with any breeze. But still, she was the most beautiful women I had ever seen.

She looked at me with her innocent deep brown eyes, and I could see the sadness and hopes mixing in her stare.

I made an effort to concentrate and not to lose my mind at her beauty.

Looking straight into her eyes, I removed the book from behind my back and threw it across the kitchen.

"I came for you explanations" I said, but my voice didn't come out as steady as I had hoped.