One lie told, two hearts broken. When one dream comes true, can the rest follow?
Bella is standing outside of the Midnight Sun Gallery, trying to gather the courage to go inside. She thought she had put Edward Cullen behind her, but she had been kidding herself. She wasn't over him at all. At best, she had pushed her feelings off to the side, where they patiently waited for the smallest crack to sneak right back in.
Learning about Edward's first photography exhibit created that crack, and the feelings blasted through. When Edward left Bella two years ago, he'd said she'd been nothing more than a distraction to him, a distraction he could no longer afford. He needed to focus on his art if he was to be successful. Tonight is the confirmation to her that he was indeed better off without her.
As Bella looks through the window, she sees Edward, surrounded by his photographs. He smiles and talks with the steady stream of patrons who approach him. She imagines he is answering their questions, laughing at their jokes, enjoying his moment in the spotlight. He is perfectly in his element tonight.
Bella's heart, which she thought was already fully broken, tears a little bit more. Why is she doing this to herself? Because this was Edward's dream, and she wanted to see him happy, regardless of what happened between them. Seeing his dreams come true without her will hopefully allow her to finally move on this time.
As Bella walks into the gallery, she's not ready to face Edward yet. Instead of competing with the adoring crowds surrounding him, she heads to the opposite side of the room to view his photographs.
Edward is having the best night of his life, at least as far as his career goes. He has worked so hard to get his art noticed, struggling for years to make a name for himself. He put all of his efforts into his art at the expense of everything else, but his dreams are coming true tonight.
Never truly comfortable in crowds, Edward is doing his best interacting with the guests, discussing his influences, and answering their questions about specific pieces. As he looks over to the photograph being referenced now, he is shocked to see Bella Swan enter the gallery.
The voices of those around him turn into nothing more than an irritating buzz, like flies hovering around his head. He is no longer interested in anything other than the girl who just arrived, the girl whose heart he broke at the same time he broke his own.
Edward isn't stupid; he knows he and Bella come from two different worlds. He has struggled all his life for any scraps he could get, while Bella's family had all the money they'd ever need. But it never seemed to matter when they were together. Bella always promised he was all she'd ever want, and he believed it was true. He knew he could make her happy forever.
Until Charlie Swan came to see him. Charlie wanted more for his daughter; he expected more for her…more than Edward could ever give her. Edward tried to argue with Charlie. He was in love with Bella, and no one would ever love her more than he did. But Edward let Charlie wear him down. He started to believe he was depriving her of the future he couldn't give her. Bella deserved everything the world had to offer, and he wouldn't be the reason she had to settle for less.
Edward knew Bella would never accept that he wasn't good enough. So he told her a heinous lie - that she was just a distraction, one that was no longer good for him. Bella's selflessness was the only weapon he had to convince her to leave.
But she just walked back into his life tonight, and Edward knows he'll never be able to let her walk out again.
For now, he just watches her as she views his work.
Bella is enthralled by the haunting beauty of Edward's photographs. She recognizes the places in the photos as places that were special to them together. Her heart stutters, and the memories come flooding back as she looks at each photo.
The first is their meadow in the middle of the forest, the ground covered with pink and purple flowers. They had spent so many beautiful days in the meadow, talking, laughing, and making love. As Bella looks closer, she notices a woman, slightly out of focus, sitting on a plaid blanket near the bottom left-hand corner. Bella recognizes herself, even if no one else would. Why would Edward include this photograph in his exhibit? It seems too personal.
As she moves on the next, Bella recognizes the path through the woods they used to hike. She would always joke that this path could be used in horror films if it was lit right. Edward did just that. These stunning photographs on display confirm how talented Edward is.
Just as she's about to move on, Bella notices she's in this photograph, too. Just like in the photo of the meadow, slightly out of focus, unrecognizable to anyone else.
Bella sees she is included in every photograph on this wall, always to the side and a little out of focus. What does this mean? Why is he only exhibiting photos from when they were together? The possibilities are overwhelming, and she feels the tears threatening to fall. Looking for an escape, Bella runs towards the hallway at the back of the room.
Edward had been watching Bella the entire time she was looking at his photographs. He sees the moment she recognizes herself in the first one and each one after that. What is she thinking? He'd give anything to be able to read her mind right now. Can she see his love for her in the photos? That if he couldn't have her in his life, he could at least have her in his art?
Edward excuses himself from the crowd still around him and follows Bella to the back of the gallery. As he turns the corner, he sees her standing in the hallway, her back against the wall, silently crying.
"Bella," he calls out to her quietly.
Bella looks up at him, surprised, and gives him a sad smile. "Your photos are beautiful, Edward. I always knew you'd be successful. Congratulations."
"It's because of you. You make those photographs special. The way I felt when I took them when we were together makes them special," Edward says, hoping she'll understand the truth of what he is saying.
"I don't understand, Edward. You said I was just a distraction. You said I kept you from focusing on your work."
Edward knows her insecurity is his fault. He brought it on with his careless words two years ago. Regardless of his intentions at the time, all he did was hurt them both.
"Bella, I'm so sorry. I'm so sorry I lied to you back then. I thought you deserved more than I could give you. And you do deserve everything, But I was wrong to do that to you…so wrong," Edward apologizes, tears threatening his own eyes now.
"What exactly are you saying, Edward?" Bella is afraid to hope, but that doesn't stop her heart from wanting more.
"I'm saying that I still love you, Bella. I never stopped. Nobody compares to you. And if you still feel for me what I feel for you, I'm going to grab on, hold you tight and never let go again."
Bella's heart soars, and she feels like she is floating. "Nobody compares to you, either. You're once in a lifetime, Edward…and I want you for a lifetime."
They both laugh, full of relief that the darkness of the last two years is over. And just as he promised, Edward grabs hold of Bella with no plans of ever letting go.