I lay there for what seemed like hours, maybe a day. The movement of the boat never varied. The sun never moved from its place in the sky. The gentle breeze kept me comfortable and I'm sure I must have nodded off a few times. I had stopped crying, and I lay there staring into the depthless blue abyss before me. I heard the wind brushing over the water... and then a voice.

"She saw everything," the disembodied voice was faint but clear and managed to disorient me even further as I looked around searching for its owner. "I wouldn't think you of all people would risk aggravating the Volturi at the moment."

"She doesn't know what she saw," a calm, even voice now. "She was in the wrong place at the wrong time. She was a good friend to our Bella."

"She may keep quiet for a while," I recognized the tribal woman's voice now. "But if word ever got out that we knew what she had seen and released her… We must end her now for all of our sakes. She is your responsibility Carlisle, but, as she is a friend of Bella's, we'd be happy to make her disappear for you. Keep your hands clean."

She was talking about murdering me! Just because I had witnessed their superhuman meeting she would put me to death. Who was she? Who were these people that they could talk so casually of my death while they kept me prisoner in what must be my own mind.

"No! Carlisle, there has to be another way. She's just 18 and a good person, a good friend. She has hopes and dreams, so much more living to do. I won't let this happen."

Bella! I was overjoyed to hear her voice. Fierce and protective. Surely she would help me. I looked around but my scenery was still unchanged. Waves and waves, rippling in all directions.

"Of course, of course," the male voice again. "I could never live with myself either. But Zafrina is right in a way. She can never be safe. If anyone else on the field glimpsed her, if what she witnessed ever got out, her life would be gone as quickly as ours. We can't force this life on her, but we can give her an option. We can give her the facts, give her a choice, and hope that disappearing won't sound more appealing."

"We can take it from here Zafrina. Thank you for bringing her to us. We will take responsibility for her. Travel well."

It sounded like Bella was dismissing the Brazilian women who'd found me. Her voice was more authoritative and confident than I'd ever heard it but sounded somehow smoother and more lovely too. What had she been through since her wedding day? It had been only a couple months and yet she sounded like a new person.

Abruptly the ocean around me vanished and I was in a modern, upscale living room. Well lit with pieces of art the quality of which I'd never seen outside a museum. I grasped the sofa I was lying on like a lifeline.

"Is this real? Really real? I was lost. Bella you sav…" my voice trailed off as I took a closer look at my friend. I suddenly became more aware of myself as I faced her and the man. I felt the same subtle revulsion I had when facing the Brazilian woman. "I had been wondering if you had always been…different, or if you had changed for him. You have changed."

"It was barely a choice for me, Edward and I.." she didn't have to continue and I nodded. Anyone who had seen them together would understand.

"Are you superhuman? Did you take a potion or something?"

"Not quite that easy. And I'm sorry to say the choice will be much harder for you. I had more time. I knew the life I would be getting into and I had the choice to live another life as well. Unfortunately, your options are less pleasant. We can relocate you, hide you away in a remote town to live out the rest of your days in peace. Or you can become like us. More strength, immortality, and a terrible curse. Either way the old Angela has to die."

They both looked down in pain and regret.

I thought for a long moment, "What are you now?"

"I may be able to answer your question, but I'm afraid, for your own safety, you'll have to choose first."

"So either way, I'll have to leave my family and friends behind, and they will think I died?" I reiterated my voice breaking.

"Yes, though, if you choose to...change, you would be welcome to stay with us as long as you'd like to."

"We'll give you a moment, just call whenever you're ready."