Just as Jacob was leaving, Sam walked through the door.
"Hey man," said Jacob. "What's wrong?"
"I am here to talk to Serina. Go ahead and go home," said Sam.
"Oh. Okay," Jacob said, and got on his bike and drove off.
"Good Evening, Sam. Do you want something to drink?"
"A margarita mix, some salt, and tequila," he said.
"You're as bad as Leah. Come on in. Have a seat anywhere. Some of the Cullens are coming, too, so we are going to wait a second."
He sat in the recliner.
Just then the door opened, and I heard Bella Swan say, "Why do I have to be here?"
"Because you jumped off a cliff because a vision of me telling you not to," said Edward.
"So?!" she said.
"Your doing it Bella, or I will tell Charlie!"
"Ugh!" Then she stomped into the room.
"Come on Bella," I said, "Monday morning went okay."
"Yeah I guess,"' she said, slumping down on the couch.
Edward came in and slid in next to her, placing his arm around her and kissing her on the cheek. "Thank you," he whispered.
Then, Esme and Carlisle came in. Esme took a seat on the couch by Bella, and Carlisle sat in the other recliner by Sam.
I got up to close the door. "Okay, lets get started. This is a depression Support group and it focuses on dealing with depressive symptoms and managing them in a healthy way. We are going to share stories and swap ideas about coping. All of you were invited to this group because you have become suicidal in the past, and a component of suicide is extreme depression. So we are going to talk about healthy ways to deal with depression.
"The rules for this group are: One, the treaty is extended to my house for sessions, but that does not mean you can hunt during this time around here. Two, this is a closed group, which means if you think someone would benefit from coming here, I need to meet with them and make sure they really would. This is for the group's safety and theirs, and no one can just come and listen. This rule is due to what we discuss in this group. Three, if you are here to start a fight because this is a safe space, you get kicked out. Four, I have to do something if someone is getting hurt or if someones gonna get hurt, intentional or not. Five, because we are going to talk about suicide and self-harm, I can do safety check which entail texting you or someone else and making sure you're okay. Okay?"
Everybody nodded.
"Who would you text?" asked Bella.
"For you, Edward, maybe Alice."
She nodded, looking relieved.
"What requires that?" ask Sam.
"You don't show up to a session without warning. You are ducking my calls. I got a bad feeling that you hurt yourself."
He nodded.
"Any other questions?"
Everyone shook their heads no.
"Okay, today lets just start why we're here. As much information as you feel comfortable with."
"I'll start," said Carlisle. "Um, well I have attempted suicide several times. The first was when I first became a vampire. My father and I were hunting vampires and I somehow got bitten back in London during 1663. During those next few decades, I tried just about anything to die, poison, starvation, drowning, jumping off cliffs. No matter what I did, I lived. I hated myself, knew my father hated me. Soon, I found myself living in a cave like an animal on the moors. I learned that I survive on animal blood, and I learned to live with myself. I studied for two centuries to resist blood and then went to be a doctor. I thought if I could help people I could live with myself."
"And is it easier?" I asked.
"Yes, there are days I almost enjoy what I do. Helping people. For me that is the key."
"Thank you, Carlisle," I said. "Who is next?"
"I'll go," said Bella, "I guess, um I was fine. I was enjoying the twelfth grade, dating a great guy, who was a vampire, and having a ball, and then I got hurt, and the vampires left. It wasn't like a normal break up, it was like someone died. I couldn't eat, sleep, concentrate. I had visions of him when I was in danger, and I liked it, so I tried to put myself in dangerous situations as much as possible. I even jumped off a cliff to keep the vision alive. And what's crazy is now we are back together, and I am fine, no visions, but my dad mad, my best friends mad, hell even my boyfriend's mad. But the thought of breaking up makes me have a panic attack, and I don't know what to do."
"I am so sorry," said Edward, holding her hand.
"You are in a bad situation, Bella," I said. "I am trying to work on that. I need you to promise you will stay safe until I come up with a solution."
"Yeah. Okay," she said.
I looked at Sam. "You're next."
"Well, I was a normal high school senior too, then I phased into a werewolf. I went crazy in the woods for three days, and I did not phase out until I fell asleep. Then I kept everybody at arm's length, not talking to my arm, or Leah, my girlfriend. Then the council found out, and told me everything. They said I had to break up with Leah, but I snuck around to see her. One time, I met her cousin, and I imprinted, and I can't describe the feeling. It was like girls did not exist before I met her. I told Emily I was a wolf, and we went out, but she was ashamed that it hurt Leah, and she demanded that I go back to her. I got so mad, I phased. All I heard was her scream and saw a lot of blood. I ran to the cliffs and threw myself off of them, hoping I'd die. Of course, I lived and then Jared came and told me, Emily was in the hospital and wanted to see me. I haven't left her since."
"Thank you, Sam. Edward?"
"Well, my story is pretty much the same. I got sick of a fever and was turned by Carlisle. I had always considered suicide as a way out of this life. During last fall, it was obvious that my family was not safe for Bella. We left, and I went away, trying everything to get my mind off her. One horrid afternoon in March of this year, I got a call from my sister that Bella had committed suicide. I had no hope. I went to the Volturi and begged for death, and when they would not give it to me, I tried to force their hand. I tried to reveal myself to humans, but low and behold Bella showed up, not dead and willing to take me back. Now nothing can keep us away. But, I fear that my life will end with hers."
Bella choked out a sob. "No!"
"Edward," I said. "We are not going to talk about ending our lives. How can you restate that?"
"Bella gives my life meaning."
"That is acceptable," I decided. "Miss Esme, its your turn."
"Well, I have not been suicidal in years. I committed suicide when my child died. When I woke up a vampire, in Carlisle's arms I was so angry. But then he told me that he had a son named Edward, and I would be his mother, if we married. I got close to Edward, and the rest of the children as they came into our lives. Now, I would not trade my life for anything."
"That is what we all need to do," I said. "Find meaning in our lives that help us handle the highs and lows. This was a great first session. If this time works for everyone next week, we will meet here again."