CHAPTER FIFTY-THREE

BELLA'S POV:

Shut up, shut up, shut up, I demanded of the traitorous organ that was pounding furiously against my chest. I was certain that it was going to jump out of my body if it didn't calm down. I was worried that Edward would be able to see the irregular effect he had on my heart, but pushed that thought aside. I was simply overreacting.

Maybe I should have given it more thought though, for it was merely seconds later when I heard the alarm on my heart monitor go off. Why me? I asked the gods that exact question telepathically; they certainly had it out for me. I'm sure I was blushing as well, for I felt extremely flush all over. At least only Edward was in the room to witness this…incident. If Emmett or Alice had been with him, I know I would never be able to live it down. Those two just LOVED to torment me. I can only hope that Edward keeps this information to himself.

Prior to this incident, I could have sworn I was dreaming when I felt Edwards's lips on mine. But then that stupid machine went haywire, and I knew I couldn't have imagined such a strong reaction. It was so embarrassing! Regardless of the mortification, I smiled internally for I no longer needing to convince myself that the kiss really happened. That kiss...that kiss was nothing short of amazing; even if it was a simple, chaste one. If I hadn't already been lying down, I was sure that it would have left me faint, as Edward's kisses had often left me in a temporary daze.

My reaction made me feel unease though; it's been such a long time. Five years to be exact; and yet my body still knows that it belongs to Edward. And now, Edward knows that too. God, he could be so cocky sometimes. What was it he said before leaving me and my betraying heart?

"At least your heart still races because of me."

Uggh, stupid, stupid organ. This was not information I had imagined giving to Edward, especially not when I can't make up excuses for what just happened. Though I'm not a good liar, and I'm sure Edward would see through my justifications in no time. But he couldn't leave it there, could he? Noo, he wouldn't be Edward if he didn't get the last word.

"You have the same effect on me darling, and that wasn't even a good kiss. For our next kiss, I want you ready and willing. So, don't keep me waiting."

Mentally, I scoffed at this remark. If he thought he could just walk right in here and kiss me whenever he feels like it, he has another thing coming. It doesn't work that way; it won't work that way, I told myself. And even though his declaration made me giddy, there were more important matters at hand that took precedence at the moment.

A short while later, I heard the door open and I prayed that it wasn't Edward. There was only so much embarrassment a girl could take in one day. But the person touching me didn't elicit that shock throughout my body. And when I heard the feminine voice of one of the nurses, I knew that she was there to administer my drugs into my I.V. This was certainly my least favorite part of the day. I know I'm a grown woman, but I still quiver at the site of a needle. And even though I couldn't see said needle, knowing that it was in my arm was enough to make me shudder. But I couldn't focus on that right now.

I could feel the fluids coursing through my bloodstream, as the drugs slowly were absorbed into my body. In a sick kind of way, I was jealous that the only movement my body was experiencing was strictly internal. I could already feel that consistent feeling of frustration creeping to the surface. At least it was a break from the previous mortification.

I was in a way fascinated by this deep state of unconscious. A "twilight zone" between life and death; a place few of us ever get to explore. Despite my frustration with the situation, I could feel the creative juices streaming within me, and I craved some lined paper where I could jot notes down before they got lost in the different canals of my brain. Though my trade in life is that of an educator, writing has always been a passion of mine. However, with a kid in the picture, I rarely found time to really sit down and focus on my work. I was able to bang out a poem or short story here and there, and the occasionally therapy letter to Edward, but it was never enough to satisfy that constant itch in the back of my mind.

In no way, shape, or form was I blaming Tony for this delay of my dream. I simply had to put my son and his needs first before my very own. That is what it means to be a parent. I figure once he is a little older, and is in enrolled in school, I may be able to sneak some more time in for myself. Until then, I'm happy educating today's youth, and encouraging their dreams. For now, I don't mind living vicariously through them.

I sat and waited for the I.V. bag to empty, because it was the easiest way for me to keep track of time. Like every I.V. bag so far, I figured nothing would change; however, I could feel a distinct difference this time around. It was almost like a chill was coursing through my body this time. This was certainly new. Was this normal? I started freaking out thinking that maybe this was the end. Maybe my body was finally caving and giving in to the inevitable. But I couldn't let that happen. People were depending on me; my boy was depending on me.

I tried to calm myself down, convincing myself that it was I who had control of my body, and that it was about time that I overpowered my mind to take back that control. My mini-freakout came to a halt when I remembered hearing Esme and Edward talk about a new treatment. This must be the case. I was hopeful these were side effects of the new medicine, and that it would allow me to regain function of my currently stubborn body.

Sitting back and waiting to see what this treatment had in store for me, I let my mind wander back to that moment with Edward before. For some strange reason, random lines from that Christa Paffgen song echoed through my brain; I think it's called "Dance, Dance" or something. Not my usual taste of music, but it was there nonetheless.

But it's you that's coursing through my veins,…

…Don't need no drugs, you're my chemical,

Now I'm dependent, swear I'm clinical…

… I need a fix of those heroin eyes.

A sick, twisted thought passed through my brain. What if it wasn't the medicine that elicited this response within me? What if it was…Edward? After all, his kiss was certainly out of the ordinary. And I'm sure he would just love that; Prince Charming here to save the day. However, this was not a fairytale. I was no Sleeping Beauty who needed rescuing. I was just a plain Jane, an independent woman who didn't need a man to survive. I knew that if I was going to pull out of this coma, it would be because of my determination.

Regardless, that silly song was on repeat in my head. I chuckled at that last line; Heroin eyes. I'm not so sure I would classify Edward's eyes as that. I replaced heroin with the word emerald, for that was the only adjective that could classify the green orbs that I often felt could see straight into my soul. I certainly wouldn't mind a fix of those…..I stopped that thought. Bad Bella, bad!

My inner ramblings were interrupted when I felt a strange sensation in the lower half of my body. It was almost like the numbing feeling you get when your limbs fall asleep. You know, when you can't get comfortable until you can shake it out and get the blood flowing again. Yeah, it wasn't so simple in my case. I couldn't do that; not yet anyways. I tried so hard to move my legs, but still nothing seemed to work. I prayed that we were on the right track here though. This had to be a good sign.

I don't know how much time had passed, but it seemed like the numbing sensation had matured, spreading throughout my body. I noticed that doctors and nurses hovered over me, speaking softly to one another, checking my pulse, pupil dilatation, and respiration. They were looking for the changes that my body has already been experiencing, but went unnoticed. I hope they could see that this was working; whatever they had given me was working. I continued to try and grope my way back to consciousness, but my every attempt seemed to be unsuccessful.

I relented to the fact that I could not force my body out of this state. I needed to sit back and let nature take its course. And that's what I did. I focused on the array of noises in the room. I took notice of the different smells of the nurses. I tried to match voices to those smells, so I at least knew who was at my side during the day and night. One of my nurses, I believe her name was Olivia, seemed to spend more time with me than the others nurses. By her gentle touches and her soothing voice, I could tell she was a warm-hearted individual who put a lot of effort into making those she cared for feel comfortable.

As if she knew I was thinking about her, Olivia entered the room. Although it sounds strange, I smelt that it was her before I heard her.

"Hello again, Ms. Swan. It seems that we've made it through the first six hours of the treatment. We haven't noticed many changes on our end, but I hope that something's brewing inside of you. We're keeping our fingers crossed hun."

As she came closer to my bed to administer the next dose of drugs, I could hear her humming a tune quietly to herself. I recognized it as a song that was currently making a name for itself on the radio airwaves. I could see the appeal; it was a catchy tune despite its slow nature. The singer reminded me of a modern-day Sinatra. I heard Olivia hum the bridge of the song, getting ready for the ever-popular chorus. I decided I'd sing along with her in my head, for the chorus applied to my situation.

And I'm surrounded by

A million people I

Still feel all alone

Oh, let me go home.

Oh I miss you, you know….

"Ms-Ms. Sw-swan? Was that you?" she asked tentatively. She heard me? How? What did I do differently that time? Despite trying, I couldn't answer her question, making the nurse feel stupid for asking. "Of course it wasn't. My mind is playing tricks on me Ms. Swan. I think I've been cooped up in this hospital for far too long. I'm going to have me a break before I have me a break down," she said, chuckling nervously to herself.

I didn't want her to give up hope on what she heard. This may be my chance; my breakthrough, if you can call it that. I listened to Olivia bustling around the room, straightening things up while checking my vitals. As you went about her busy work, I heard her continue to hum Michael Buble's song, though she was quieter this time around. So, I tried again, singing the accompanying words.

Let me go home

It will all be all right

I'll be home tonight

I'm coming back home.

"It was you! Oh, oh, I just knew I wasn't going crazy. Dr. Denali! DR. DENALI!" she yelled, running for the door. In no time, the doctor was back in the room, taking inventory of the situation. "She spoke, sir. She really spoke!" Olivia exclaimed. You could feel the excitement pouring out of her in waves. I couldn't help but get excited myself.

"Miss Swan, can you hear me? If you can hear me, can you try to answer me," he prompted. I tried, and I tried, but I couldn't get a sound out. Why was talking different than singing? Maybe it only worked when I thought I was talking to myself? Before I had the chance to investigate further, the doctor turned to Olivia, and inquired, "Are you sure you heard her Olivia? I'm not getting anything from her now."

"But Dr. Denali, she did it twice. She isn't full out singing; it's more like she makes noises or grumbles to the beat. Here, let me try again," Olivia said, before launching back into humming the song. And like before, I accompanied her, hoping that the doctor could hear me this time.

"Well I'll be damned" Dr. Denali mused to himself. Success, I thought to myself. "Miss Swan, I want you to try and sing another song, one that Olivia isn't humming. Do you think you can do that? It doesn't have to be anything complex. Let's try 'Twinkle Twinkle', okay?" I did as I was asked, unsure if it would work. But my heart soared when I heard both Dr. Denali and Olivia offer their praises to me.

"Wonderful Ms. Swan. I am impressed. It seems that you are more aware of your surroundings now considering you can in some way communicate with us," he said to me. Then, more to himself, he added, "It appears the medication is working. Who would have thought it could be something as simple as a sleeping pill." Turning to Olivia, he inquired, "Did you administer the next dose?"

"That was what I was doing before I…well…screamed for you, Dr. Denali," Olivia accounted somewhat sheepishly.

"Excellent Olivia. And no worries about the screaming; I understand that you were excited. It's a natural response. Now, I want you and the other nurses to keep a watchful eye on Miss Swan here. I want notations on any and all changes you notice. Leave nothing out, nothing is too miniscule in this case. And page me if anything significant happens." Nurse Olivia acknowledged her task, and left the room to go and inform the other nurses.

"Keep up the good work, Miss Swan. Let that medicine work its magic on you. I'm quite sure you'll be up and about in no time. Now, if you'll excuse me, I have some news to share with your posse outside."

Posse? Oh dear lord, do they ever leave? I understand that they are all so worried, but that doesn't mean they have to camp out in the waiting room every day. But even this fact couldn't bring me down from my current high. I was ecstatic at the improvement thus far. I was expecting big things for today. Just like Mr. Buble said, "I'll be home tonight, I'm coming back home." I could only hope it would be so easy.

My room became a revolving door as nurses were in and out checking my vitals and movements to see if they could be the next person to spot some change. And while they were desperate to notice something to gain clout with the doctor, I was desperate to finally rid myself of this never-ending sleep. Nothing of grandeur came about, but that didn't stop the constant prodding the nurses were giving me. I was beginning to feel self-conscious with their hawk-like eyes watching me, waiting for me to do something, anything. I felt like a caged animal in a circus, one they expected would perform a trick for them.

After a short lull in nurse activity, I noticed that Olivia entered the room, but this time she had a special guest with her. Mixed in with her floral smell was that of baby powder. Was this my Tony? I know I "visited" with him this morning, but it wasn't enough. I enjoyed his recounts of his day because it allowed me to see and access this whole Cullen situation. And, it assured me that even in my absence, he was surviving which was my primary concern.

"So you know how your Grandma and Grandpa told you that Mommy is starting to wake up?" Olivia asked my son. I didn't hear him respond, so I figured he must have indicated his answer with some sort of non-verbal affirmation. Olivia continued, "Well, I figured you would want a demonstration of what I saw this afternoon. It'll help you understand the changes we see in her. Now, what's your favorite song, little one?"

"That is a hard question before I have like lots of favorite songs, more than the number of fingers on my hands and toes on my feet!" Tony exclaimed. Olivia chuckled at his declaration, and told him to just sing the first song that came to mind. It was quiet for a few moments. I hoped my son wasn't getting shy. I really wanted to be able to do this with him, to show him that I was still here, and that I was coming back to him. Finally, I heard him hesitantly begin to sing one of our songs.

"You are my sunshine,

My only sunshine,

You make me happy

When skies are gray…"

I quickly joined in with him when I realized his song choice, which must have surprised him because his singing halted. "Is she…is she trying to talk? What did she say?" he asked the nurse.

"She's trying to sing with you. Her mouth is still tired, so the words aren't coming out exactly right, but this proves that she can hear you. Keep going, you'll see," Olivia pressed. It didn't take long to convince Tony, and in no time, his rendition of the song continued.

"You'll never know, dear,

How much I love you.

Please don't take my sunshine away".

Apparently I had sung with him again, for this time I heard him clap his hands, and reach towards me and give me a hug. Or what I would call a hug despite the wires and tubes that were limiting our close contact.

"MOMMY! That was good. It was hard to hear you though. You should practice some more, because Miss Angela says that practice makes perfect. I think you're perfect Mommy, even if you are not singing that good yet. But if you practice, then maybe we can put on a concert for Grandma and Grandpa and Alice and everyone."

"I think that sounds like a great idea Tony. Now, let's give your mom a kiss on the cheek, and we'll get you back to your Checker game with Sophia, okay?" Olivia pressed.

I felt a wet kiss placed on my cheek, and Tony leaned close to my ear and whispered, "Bye Mommy. Keep waking up. And keep practicing. Love you!" My heart tugged at his words. I can't wait until I can give him a proper hug, and remind him how much I love him. He was being so strong, and I couldn't wait to express how proud of him I was.

Now alone in my room, I turned my attention back to myself. I noticed that my body was tingling from the second dose of the treatment. With the medicine in my system, I began to become even more aware of my body. It no longer felt like a blob of mass. Instead, I felt sparks shot through my body, shocking me back to the surface. I began to truly take in my environment. I was lying on stiff off-white sheets. They were slightly damp beneath me due to the sweet accumulating from my lack of movement.

My lower half of my body was warmer than my torso, which I attributed to the cotton blanket that was swathed around my legs. One leg felt bulkier than the other, and was more uncomfortable. Was this a cast? A brace? I had a strong desire to itch it, despite the fact that my hands still couldn't act out on these wants quite yet.

Another nurse entered the room, one of the other regulars who I had become accustomed to over the course of the day. Unlike Olivia, this nurse, (who I believed was named Vicky or something) was more of a cold-hearted person, or that's what she seemed like based on her mutterings to herself. She didn't want to be here looking after me; especially not when there was 'God's gift to women' somewhere roaming the hospital hallways. When she was taking my pulse, it seemed like she was applying more force than necessary. As a reaction to this new pain, I felt my right hand twitch. It was as if it were trying to stop her; only instead of complying, she pressed down harder. And as a result, I felt my right hand twitch again due to the manipulation of my pressure point. What was this lady's problem?

"Oh this is too perfect. Dr. Denali is going to appreciate this shit. Then maybe he won't mind me taking an extra long break so I can hunt down Mr. Schmexy. He definitely looked like he needed some cheering up, and I have just the right medicine for him," she purred. I don't know who this Mr. Sexy, or Schmexy was, but I hoped she found him, leaving me in the capable hands of better nurses.

The nurse wasted no time in reporting her findings because Dr. Denali was quick to appear at my bedside. I seriously began to question if I was his only patient, because he never seemed too far away. He applied pressure to my wrist, just like Vicky did before, but thankfully his pressure wasn't as hard. Once he got the desired result, he switched sides, grasping my left wrist and repeating his previous reaction; and another twitch was seen. Thank God, I exclaimed. Finally, some movement!

Dr. Denali agreed. "You're getting there Miss Swan. In two hours, we'll give you another dose. I think that should do the trick. Now, keep trying to flex those limbs, and work on getting your mouth to cooperate with the rest of you. I want to hear you loud and clear by tonight missy! I'll be back to check on you again shortly." Moments later I heard the sound of my door opening and closing again.

After some mental encouragement, I tried to get my limbs to cooperate with my body. This time, I started smaller, working on my neglected toes as opposed to arms and legs. I felt no difference at first, but by the eighth or ninth attempt, I could have sworn to have felt movement. Unfortunately, this was one of the few moments I was left to myself, and had no one to share the news with. And of course, when the nurse did come in to give me another hit of the sleeping pill, I couldn't perform on command.

I decided to take a break because I had already seen more change today than I had all week. I must have zoned out some because at some point I was graced with a visit by another non-nurse caller. I didn't even hear anyone make an entrance, but I sure as hell felt that familiar spark; the current tingling in my body seemed to skyrocket due to his presence. I felt my heart beat speed up again, just like before. However, I was able to calm myself down with some simple breathing exercises I learned from when I was pregnant with Anthony. If Edward had noticed my minor freak out, he didn't mention it.

In fact, he didn't mention anything. All he did was sit by my side. I could feel his eyes on me, watching me for some sort of sign. It was rather unnerving. I think I would have preferred Edward's cocky self to this silent mysterious type. I wished I was a mind reader so I could get a sense of what he was thinking. But I didn't need to be a mind reader; all I needed was someone to come and ask Edward the questions I could not. Apparently that someone came in the form of my once BFF, Alice Cullen.

"Hey. We were getting ready to leave, figured we'd get a couple hours of sleep. You coming?" asked Alice. There wasn't any answer from Edward, so she continued. "I figured you'd be in here. I mean, where else would you go in Forks? There aren't many places to hide." She still got nothing. Com'mon Alice, time to bring in the big guns; get him talking, I thought.

"You do know that watching Bella isn't going to make her wake up any sooner. It's just making you more aware of how slow time is moving. Tick, tock, tick, tock…See, no difference. Why torture yourself?"

"Alice, I came in here for quiet. You yapping your mouth just isn't going to fly right now," Edward snapped. Yikes, apparently a quiet Edward means a cranky Edward. Most people would have taken that as a clue to scram. But not Alice; she pulled up a chair and sat down right next to him.

"Sorry Mr. Prissy Pants. What crawled up your butt and died?"quipped Alice. That line made me chuckle; oh how I've missed her and her strange sense of humor.

"Ughh, Alice. Can't you just leave me alone," he whined.

"But you're not alone Edward. Bella's here."

"You know what I mean. I'm just….trying to….there's a lot of things on my mind right now, a lot of things…and I just need to work them out," Edward explained. A good enough reason, I'm sure, but once again, not for Alice.

"Edward, we all know you are your own worst enemy; you over think everything. Let me help you work this out. Two brains are better than one, right?" Alice pressed. It was silent once again, so I didn't know which way Edward was leaning.

Finally, his walls of defense crumbled, and he started to speak his mind. "It's just…Dr. Denali told us about the changes; the noises, the hand movements, whatever. She's waking up."

Alice squealed, "I know. Isn't that just great news?"

"No. I mean, yes of course it's a good thing. Uggh, what I'm trying to say is that Bella waking up means shit is going to hit the fan that much sooner. I just wish we can bypass all the messy stuff, but it's inevitable. Five years need to be hashed out. I need some answers. I have to get some answers."

I heard furniture scratch on the floor. Alice must have scooted closer to her brother. "You'll get your answers Edward. It's the least Bella can do for you. And if I know my girl, I know she will come through with those answers."

"Your girl?" Edward interrupted, causing Alice to huff.

Even though she was angry with the intrusion, she humored him with an answer. "Just because we haven't spoken in a while doesn't mean Bella isn't my best friend anymore. We're blood-sisters. That's like, the most sacred bond ever. Time away can't break us apart. No one can."

"It doesn't work that way Alice; it's not that simple. You can't just walk out of a person's life and have everything go back to normal. No matter how much you may want it to." It seemed like the last part of his statement was more for his benefit, but we heard it just the same.

"I'm not saying everything will go back to normal. Things have changed Edward. People change. I am a different person than I was five years ago. Bella is a different person than she was five years ago. I mean, hello, she's a Mom now."

"Tell me something I don't know Captain Obvious." The insult didn't deter Alice though.

"Heck, you're a different person than you were two days ago. The Edward I met when I landed in Forks was shouting from the rooftops, 'All children are spawns of Satan.' Now you're practically 'Dad of the Year.'"

"Dad of the…? What? Alice, I'm trying to be serious here. Do you have to joke about everything?"

"But I'm not joking Edward. You went from calling that boy Bella's son to acknowledging that he is your own. That is a big step. Everyone is so proud of you and the amount of growth you've had on this trip. We're starting to see the Edward we once knew, the one that has been missing these last couple of years."

"Well, have no fear. The old Edward is still within. I can feel the monster brewing inside, ready for the upcoming battle."

"Why does it have to be a battle Edward? You are allowed to be upset, I'm sure Bella is anticipating that response from you. But it doesn't have to get ugly."

"I'm just so angry Alice. How could she do this to me? To us?" Edward released a heavy sigh, before elaborating. "There is so much that I want to say, and yet, I am scared to say anything. What if I say the wrong thing, and poof she's gone from my life again? That they're gone from my life? I can't go from having everything to having nothing again Alice, not when I had a glimpse at what the future could hold."

Did he…did he just say 'they're'? They're as in…me and Tony? I didn't get a lot of chance to dwell on that because Alice moved to her next point.

"Well, as harsh as it may sound, this coma has turned out to be a blessing for you Edward. It's given you a chance to face your fears and realize that maybe you were wrong all those years ago for letting Bella walk away. It's given you a chance to get to know your son, and show you what it's like to be a father. And now, it's given you the chance to contemplate your feelings, and decide how you want to approach this situation."

"Time isn't helping me though Alice, it's just making me more nervous," he said, and I could make out the sound of his knee bouncing from said nerves. Alice must have placed a hand on his knee because the bouncing immediately stopped.

"It's not helping you because you aren't using your time wisely. Sitting here and just waiting for what's to come is getting you nowhere."

"Well then, apparently you're the know-it-all. What am I supposed to do then Alice?" Oh Edward, you just walked right into that one, I thought. Alice loves to plan; she'll have your next ten years planned out before you walk out of this room.

"If I were you, I would go back to the hotel, and coop myself up in my room. Then I'd write down my thoughts on paper. I need to work things out visually, and I've always liked brainstorming ideas and putting them in the proper order. Then, I'd draft out what I'd like to address."

"Like a script?" Edward asked. I noticed that his voice appeared somewhat calmer than when this conversation started.

"Not word for word, no. But an outline of everything I want to say, put into 'safe' sentences that won't kill my argument before I get anywhere. But you can write something word for word, like a letter, if you think that will help you more. Isn't that what Bella did for you in those letters?"

Letters? What letters? I never sent him any letters, I thought. He can't mean my…..those were….he went in my closet? No one was supposed to see those letters but me! Oh hell no.

"Those were MY letters Alice. You better not have read any of them," he roared. Angry Edward was back!

"Calm down, I didn't read any letters. I'm just guessing; I mean, Dad said they were next to the photo albums at her house. You don't need a doctorate to be able to put two and two together."

"I'm sorry. Its just, those letters….they were personal. I don't want to share them. Not yet anyways. Not while I'm still processing everything."

"That's understandable." There was another pregnant pause. I wasn't sure what these two were waiting on. It didn't seem like the conversation was over with to me.

"Thanks Alice. And…I'm sorry about before. Things just got overwhelming for a bit there. And then there was the confrontation with Black at the pizzeria, and I started to think about things, and I just didn't know what to do."

"Whoa, whoa whoa. Hold up. Step back. No one told me about Jacob. How could you hold out on me bro? Please tell me you didn't sock him again."

"No, though I wanted to. He just kept stressing to Tony that he shouldn't get to close to us. That we're all leaving him, so enjoy it while it lasts."

"That asshole! I swear, you shouldn't be allowed all the fun; I want to get a swing at him. We're not leaving Tony, or at least not in the sense that he's implying. Tony's stuck with us now, whether he likes it or not." By the time she finished her rant, Alice was practically screaming. I wouldn't blame her; Jacob was trying to manipulate my boy, and I didn't appreciate it.

"Shh, I know Alice. We just have to make sure that Tony understands that. He seemed really quiet on the way back here."After a slight pause, Edward added, "I guess I'll come with you guys…can you just give me a minute?" Instead of an answer, I heard the door open and close, signifying Alice's exit.

And we were back to where we started, silence and tension. I heard Edward get up from his seat, and make his way over to me. Please, not another kiss, I begged.

"This is not good-bye, Isabella. It's simply good-night. Dr. Denali thinks you will awake tomorrow, so enjoy your last night of dreams, and I'll see you bright and early." Apparently, the gods were listening to me this time, because Edward simply took my hand in his, and then placed a kiss on my bruised knuckles before retreating from the room.

Maybe, if I wake up fast enough, I can be out of the room before he comes back. Lord, give me strength. Tomorrow is going to be a hellish day, and I don't know if I can make it without you on my side.