Then

When Bella first moved in with her grandmother, Helen made sure to place a protection spell on her. The protection was from her aunt. She'd done it because she knew that what Bella wanted more than anything else in the world was to see her parents one more time. Her fragile heart wouldn't have been able to handle the vision that Tanya would surely show her.

Tanya's gift was intrusive in a way. She was able to show people their deepest desires. Most of the time she was able to control the gift - to use it only if she was touching the person. Other times, when she was stressed or overwhelmed or sad, her gift could affect anyone within a five mile radius.

And when her brother died, Tanya was devastated. Since Helen had the gift of foresight, she'd seen that this would impact Tanya's control. So, she placed the spell on Bella before she arrived. It was true. At that time in her life, Bella wanted her parents more than anything else. She would have been devastated if she'd been affected by Tanya's ability.

Years later, when Bella was in her senior year of high school, her yearning for her parents still hadn't gone away. She knew, however, that they were never coming back, and as a result, the freshness of an unfair heartbreak made her want one thing a little more than she wanted her parents.

She and Edward had decided on a clean break. Well, she had decided on a clean break. He wanted to try, but she took it as a sign. Even though she'd placed a spell on him to make him love her, the universe still wanted them apart. She'd ignored his calls that had dwindled from every day, to once a week, to once a month, and then stopping altogether.

Bella functioned. That was the best way that her grandmother could describe her. She did everything she was supposed to - attended school, did her homework, worked at the shop. That was all she did, though. She didn't have the same zest that she'd had before. Even her flowers had stopped growing.

That was what worried Helen the most.

So, she asked Tanya and Alice to stay with them that week. She believed Bella needed a distraction. She didn't have many friends. Helen noticed one or two girls would stop in the shop and chat with Bella, seeming kind enough. There didn't appear to be anything beyond that, though. When Alice informed her that she couldn't head home due to college final exams, Tanya hopped on a flight alone to see her niece.

Several hours later, she showed up with a suitcase in her hand and a smirk on her face. It was rare that she had quality time with her niece. Alice and Bella were always running off to gossip with one another. Tanya was looking forward to her time alone with Bella.

The first day she was there, Bella was polite but aloof. At this point, Bella had been used to setting her feelings aside to do what was expected. She knew that if she thought even for a moment about what had happened between her and Edward, she would fall apart.

So instead, she shielded herself.

By the end of the second day, Tanya had broken down most of the armor. She asked a lot of questions. Bella, while she wasn't ready to talk about her broken heart, was ready to at least talk.

They were in Helen's kitchen. Helen was resting while the two of them conversed. Tanya shared what it was like growing up with Charlie - Bella's father. Bella had heard stories from her grandmother about the mischievous good looking boy who managed to get his way all the time. He was the only boy, too, and looked exactly like his father - Bella's grandfather. He had the family wrapped around his little finger - just as Bella had him wrapped around hers.

"He had a special ability to read the people around him," Tanya smiled fondly. She loved her brother and missed him, but it didn't hurt quite like it used to. The loss had been felt when he passed. "It's why he made a great cop."

Bella wondered if he read minds or feelings. She never had the opportunity to ask him about his gift.

"He really loved you, you know," Tanya continued. "You and Renee were his favorite people."

That made Bella lips twitch. She loved her parents, and she had a great relationship with the both of them. Her relationship with her father, though, the daddy daughter dates - they were very special.

"I still miss him," she admitted.

"Me, too," Tanya reached across the table and placed her hand over Bella. They looked at one another for a moment. They both had a lot in common. Bella knew that Tanya had shaken up the house a few times with her tantrums as a child. Bella had done the same. In times when they were overwhelmed, their gifts impacted those around them.

"Aunt Tanya?"

"Yes?"

"Your gift...it's very special. Why is it so awful if you lose a little control?" It was a question that Bella always wondered.

"Some people are afraid to know what they want more than anything else," Tanya warned. Her eyes darkened for a moment, and Bella wondered if there was more for her to share.

"That sounds silly to me," Bella frowned. "What is wrong with knowing what you want?"

Her aunt was quiet for a moment. From what she had seen, her ability to make people visualize their deepest desire was shocking to some. Most were unsurprised, but there were plenty still who were shaken by discovering what they had been denying to themselves.

"Some people are content remaining ignorant."

Bella thought about that for a moment. She'd wished she was ignorant of the yearning she'd felt for the boy who had stolen her heart and then moved across the country.

She thought about the letter she'd received with no return address - the one addressed to her in familiar script. The envelope in which it was sent remained unopened.

"I understand that," she whispered.

Tanya looked at her for a moment. She knew about Bella's first love, about the spell - Helen had explained it to her. They both refrained from sharing their opinion with Bella. She deserved to make her own decisions about the effects of her gifts.

"And sometimes it's nice to know what one desires more than anything else," Tanya replied.

Bella made eye contact with her aunt. "I understand that, too."

That night, with some courage from the moon, Bella opened the envelope that had been addressed to her. She pulled the piece of paper out of the envelope and unfolded it. There was no signature. There was only one handwritten line.

As long as I breathe, I will adore you.

Bella read the line over and over again.

Then, she made a wish.

What do you think she wished?

Thank you again for reading and for sticking with me. This story is so fun to write.

Next update is Thursday :)

-Bravery