Thank you for all the kind—and not so kind...haha—reviews! All the feedback is very helpful. I read each and every one of your reviews, but sometimes it's difficult to reply without giving too much away.

Please be understanding with any grammar errors or mistypes. I try to go back and edit these chapters before posting, but I have little ones at home who distract me. I write on my phone, so a lot of words get autocorrected too which is sometimes helpful, but also...annoying.

I'm so glad everyone seems to be responding so well to the unconventional directions I have taken the story. I know the ending I want, but I go back and forth on a lot of the ways we could get there. I have been using this story as a bit of a creative writing exercise. I will sometimes make Iris say something random just to see how the other characters would react to it. It helps me keep the other characters...in character...haha! These chapters are written, edited, and posted in real time btw. I have some stories which are written ahead of time and waiting to be posted, but with this one I'm having fun making it up as we go! : D

As always,

Happy Reading!

Ch. 52 On The Road Again

I was still floating along, enjoying the warmth and ambiguity of the space while humming to myself. I belatedly recognizer the tune as "Yellow" by Coldplay. I couldn't get the notes out of my head. They seemed to play again and again and again...

"And you know, For you I'd bleed myself dry, For you I'd bleed myself dry..."

"You are singing." The male voice stated.

"I am, and you know what? You're my best friend, man."

"Alright, Iris." He answered blandly.

"You should say thank you."

"Thank you." Again it was a simple reply.

"Put some emotion into it! I just told you that you're my favorite!"

"I have neither joy nor distress at your approval of me."

"Ugh. I think I like woman better now."

"Thank you, Iris." The female voice stated just as simply as the male voice had.

"You sound like a robot too." I noted. God, I was bored.

"I am neither here nor there. I am made of everything and nothing. I could not be a robot."

"You guys are really something sometimes."

"I don't know how to respond to that."

"Of course you don't, robot." I rolled my eyes.

"I am not a robot."

"Ok, robot."

"I am not a robot."

Ugh...this could go on forever. I don't know why man or woman even bothered answering me. No matter how hard I tried to get a rise out of them, they just didn't care.

"Iris!" Wow. Now, that's some emotion. Bravo, dude. It was kind of refreshing to hear the panicked voice. Wait, that's not the male voice I had grown accustomed to hearing. Who was that?!

"IRIS!" The man was more insistent...maybe even a little...angry?

"Man, that's not you is it?"

"I am many things, and I am nothing. What, in particular, do you think I am?"

"The screaming! Can't you hear it?!"

"I am neither here nor there. I am neither—"

"Argh! Shut up!"

"Alright."

"Iris, please!" He was calling. I felt a tug originating somewhere from my center, and I didn't fight it. It felt somehow...right...to let go.

•PTaT•

"Iris!" I woke up to someone still calling my name. I blinked, trying to open my eyes, but they were very heavy and closed right away.

"Whaa..?" I croaked in my blindness. My mouth was dry. I felt like death. My head hurt. My back hurt. It all hurt, and I felt like something heavy was sitting on top of me.

"Iris? Oh, thank God." The male voice sobbed in relief.

"What...who...is...it?" I was wheezing. I had to take shallow breaths and cough weakly to clear my throat enough to force any sound to come out. The male voice was so smooth, so familiar. Why couldn't I put a name to it?

I tried again to open my eyes. They were watering and stinging as I blinked furiously. I couldn't see anyone immediately, and my body was too weak to look any further than where I laid. I was in a bedroom, my room, I recalled. It was quiet besides the man's voice.

"I thought you were gone...You were so still, so pale. I can't lose you." He murmured through his sobs. He sounded terribly upset. I wanted to reach out to him and console him, but where was he? Then I felt a cool hand encircle mine and it all came back. Edward. How could I not remember Edward?!

"Yes, I'm here." He moved into my view. He was so handsome. Perfect. His eyes were a bright golden hue. I'm so proud... "Thank you, love." He smiled and leaned over to brush his lips against my cheek.

"What...hap—" I still struggled to catch my breath. What the hell was wrong with me?!

"Don't try so hard please. You are weak. I can read your thoughts, remember?" He chuckled weakly, the tension still present in his voice. Then he fully sobered. "You're sick. Carlisle says it's bad...incurable. You have been febrile for the last week."

A week? A week?! I had been sick...and Edward was here? Why was Edward here...? Edward is here!

"Carlisle came to find me. He was worried that there was something else going on. He wanted me to try to read your thoughts while you were unconscious..." He looked to be in pain. He shouldn't be here. This was too hard for him. "I'm fine for now. Iris, don't worry about me...Your mind...it was totally blank. You weren't here. What happened?"

I showed him the place I had just come from, and he nodded. "I see." His voice was low, disappointed. I hated the expression on his beautiful face. It didn't fit, didn't belong there. "Iris. We have to change you. I'm sorry. There's no other way. I can't lose you. Not now. Not ever."

Wait! You said I'm sick? What's wrong?

"It's pneumonia. We have tried antibiotic therapy, but the disease is quickly spreading in your lungs. We can't stop it."

Which antibiotic?

"The strongest he has at his disposal...Neosalvarsan."

What the hell is that? No, he needs a penicillin in combination with something stronger.

"I don't recognize that name. It's not something we have..." He sounded distraught again. "Iris, what should I do? I can't stay much longer..." I looked into his eyes. They were almost a golden brown. He was struggling again. "Carlisle!" He called.

"Yes...oh Iris! Well done, son." He clapped Edward's shoulder. "Iris, how are you?"

"I—" I began, but had to cough. Carlisle frowned as he watched.

"She's not well. She can barely keep her eyes open. Her fever is higher. She says she need a stronger medicine...Penicillin?"

Carlisle's brow furrowed. "There was talk in London about a possible new treatment option for bacterial infections, but it's still in its trial phases. It won't be available for some time. We have to change her. Iris, I'm sorry, but it's your best chance."

Shit. They had to change me. I was dying. I could feel it.

"I'm sorry, love. I know how badly you wanted that future." He sounded like he might cry for me. He wanted it too. As soon as I heard the pain, the loss in his voice, I knew what I had to do.

"No, Iris, you're too weak! What if you can't find us in time?" He was panicking again. I could see his eyes were darkening still. He couldn't be around me much longer.

Oh mister 'you can do anything! Follow our love!' Now you choose to doubt me?

Edward choked out a pained laugh, and groaned. "Iris...you're so sick. I don't think you understand."

I will do this for you. You deserve a happy ending even if I don't. I'm strong enough...I think...no, I am. I can fight this for you. Wait for me, my love. I smiled as best I could.

"Always..." I heard him say as I closed my eyes and focused on the future...

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