CHAPTER 16

I open my eyes and for some reason, I can see with a newer clarity in my vision… in my head. I can't feel the fatigue either. I look around and note surprisingly that I am in the hospital. I look around the empty room and see my clothes sitting on a small side table. I get out of bed, pull the room divider shut and get redressed. If there was anything wrong with me then there would be doctors, nurses and Rose close by… but there is no one. Dressed, I walk out of the room, passing doctors and nurses on my way, none of them sparing me a glimpse.

I breach the doors to freedom, the sun shines brighter today than any other, the greens of Forks is more vibrant and best of all, my head is clear and free of fog. I smile to myself, the first in months. I think back on my last memory as I start the small trek towards home, and I remember Rose talking to me, then the pain in my head… I think she said something about bleeding.

In less than ten minutes, I walk through my front door, Rose meeting me at the threshold.

"Oh, crap, you scared me," she gasps. "I was just on my way to see you, how are you feeling?"

I think about her question, then reply truthfully. "Good, really good actually." For now, I add silently.

"Okay," she's taken aback.

"So what happened?" I ask.

"You don't remember?" I shake my head. "You were just really stressed which caused your nose bleed and you were lethargic, you fainted. Are you okay now? Do you need something to eat?"

"Yeah," my stomach growls as if on cue. "I really feel like one of those cheese and bacon croissants the bakery sells, want to join me?" I ask.

"Yeah," she beams. "I'd like that."

We make our way to her car and I automatically hop in the passenger side. "I am happy to see you better Bells, I was really worried… we all have been."

I don't ask her who 'we all' are, that is something I don't want to think about just yet. "Yeah, I know I was a bit… anyway, I feel as though I should warn you it happens more often than not. Little things can prompt it, sometimes nothing at all and nothing seems to help, hopefully this doctor can keep it at bay. I don't like how it makes me feel, Rose."

"I'm just glad you're okay… but why haven't you mentioned this before now… I've never seen you like this."

"You moved out when you finished school, and before that, you didn't really pay that much attention to me… which is understandable, you were a teenager."

"I'm sorry I haven't been there for you… I had no idea."

"Rose, I'm a big girl, I can look after myself, it's not your responsibility."

"I'm not convinced you can…" she shoots sidelong glances at me.

"I always snap out of it Rose, I may have hazy memories, but otherwise no harm done."

"And what if you don't snap out of it next time?"

"I always have Rose, but now I'm getting help."

"You've been seeing the doctor for months now Bells, today is the only progress you have made. That doesn't convince me."

"Rose, if I accepted the medication offered, I would've snapped out of my funk sooner, but I'd prefer not not fix my problems with a pill." I look out the side window, avoiding her gaze.

"I thought stuff like this was caused by chemicals in the brain, not psychological issues. So wouldn't the pills help, not in a fake-high type of way, but a chemical-balance type of way."

"I don't know how it works, but if the doctor thought I needed them, he'd push the subject," I reply, my tone indicating I've had enough of the topic. "So when is Charlie due?" I eye her very bulbous stomach.

"Next month, the third."

The subject makes my think on our current housing situation, and I can't help but think that it might be best for them to make house alone. The house has never been in better shape since Emmett moved in, maybe it is high time I moved on. I don't mention it to Rose, I'll just see how the local rental market is first.

"How has work been?"

"Yeah, good. It has been steady." She pulls up on the side of the road outside the bakery, so we get out and enter the shop where I get my cheese and bacon croissant and Rose get's the same. "Eat outside?" She asks.

"Sure," I reply. "So how much of that loan have you paid off? Have you made the regular payments?"

She rolls her eyes, "you really are… forgetful. Emmett got a business loan through the bank for us and we paid Aro out, I never did like that guy, but I really wanted to come home."

We sit down at a table outside and chow down our grease-balls in the most unladylike manner possible.

"Okay, so we have a situation." Rose says, leaning in close, her eyes bulging.

"What?!" I all but yell.

"Emmett and Jasper have just pulled up, I had no idea they were meeting today, but we can either stay, or bail, your choice."

My eyes widen and my mouth gapes like a goldfish, unable to spit out any words.