Thanks to all that reviewed the first chapter. Here is installment number two! Enjoy!

OH! If anyone so desires to make a banner for this I would not argue at all. I am not artistically inclined so…..yeah lol. Ok, on with the show!

I felt eyes on me and could hear faint whispers. The forest around me was familiar. It was the one behind Charlie's house. The one he left me in. I search for the eyes I feel to no avail. Wait, there! A flash of golden eyes. At first I think it's him. But I realize these eyes are shining almost like a dog or a cat, not flat like his are. "Of course, I'll always love you… In a way." The final works he spoke to me echoed through the trees. I wanted to yell at him, call him a liar. He promised me forever. Where was it? Where was he?

The hole that had started in the forest that night seemed to grow larger with each breath I attempted to take. I tried holding it back by wrapping my arms around my middle. My knees fell from under me and I collapse to the cold ground hard. I knew I was crying, sobbing, screaming. The whispers around me started to get louder and louder. The shining eyes are drawing closer to me. So close I can make out the muzzle of some animal. Finally I gave up holding myself together to cover my ears in a vain attempt at lessening the noise as I slam my eyes shut.

"NO! YOU LIED TO ME!"

Bella

"NO! YOU LEFT ME! WHY?!"

BELLA!

I startled awake to Charlie's face inches from me. Breathing heavy, I sat up and automatically wrapped my arms around my middle. The look of concern on Charlie's face still shocked me. Though honestly, it shouldn't be a surprise. I've seen it often enough in the past two weeks.

Two weeks.

He has been gone for two weeks.

And every night, almost like clock-work Charlie wakes me up. Sometimes I was screaming, sometimes just crying. But he always had the same look on his face. Like he was dying inside just like I felt I was. I saw how out of depth he felt with this. Heck, I was out of my own depth. Was this the rest of my life? Nightmares, screaming, dreary faces, and whispers in the dark? I was aware of what was happening to me. Slowly my life was fading around me.

I was not smiling. I vaguely recalled going to school, coming home, doing homework, cooking a dinner that I would be barely touch. Necessities we attended to on autopilot. My job at Newton's was hanging by a thread. Mrs. Newton had reduced me to strictly stocking. Least amount of customer interaction which worked well for both of us. I knew tonight's incident would be diligently reported to Renee, just like every other night. She had emailed me several times trying to get me to open up. But I couldn't tell her what was wrong because I honestly didn't know.

"Ok Bells?"

Charlie's voice drew my eyes to him. I saw the reflection of my own eyes in him. And I felt something. Finally! Something besides the pain of loss. I felt remorse. Remorse for causing him pain with my inability to properly cope. Remorse for pushing away the love and concern I know he and Renee are showing me. I finally realize what he is asking. He's not just asking about my dream or my health. He's asking about my mind, my sanity.

I shake my head at him. "No, dad. I am not ok. Please help me!" Charlie stares into my eyes for a heartbeat before giving a determined nod of his head. "Ok Bells." He grabs me in a hard hug that I eagerly return. Oh this feels good! Touching without fear of my blood being suck or being crushed by marble arms. Just warm, pliable arms, soft skin, and midnight stubble on slightly damp cheeks. "Thank you." I whisper to him. Charlie pulls away and looks in my eyes again. I notice the wetness in his own eyes. Ah, that's why his cheeks were damp. He must approve of what he sees because he just nods again and pulls me back into his arms. I must have fallen asleep at some point because the next thing I know I am waking up to a bright ray of sunshine warming my skin. Huh, a sunny day in Forks, WA. Nice.

Time starts to slip by again. But not as numbly as before. Charlie begins pushing me to eat more. He gets more involved in my work and schooling. He starts asking questions and the he asks, I can't help but answer him. I find myself in actual conversation. How? I'm not sure, but it starts to translate into my social life. I don't care about Jessica and Lauren ignoring me. They are just two bitchy girls who have nothing better to do that to try to bring other people down. But I have missed Angela. She was one of the first people to truly befriend me for me and not because I was the "shiny new toy". It feels so good to be able to talk normally to someone.

I have never been more grateful for her insight. The realization of what I was really giving up finally gets to me. As I listen to her talk about her family, her twin brothers, her hopes for college and a life maybe outside of Forks or returning here to give back to the people who have cared for her all her life, I can't help but feel overwhelmed with disbelief. I was willing to give this all up! For what? An eternity as a cold marble figure? Constantly going through high school over and over? No Charlie, no Renee, no friends without fear of eating them, no stable home to raise children in? Heck, no children! I was giving up my whole LIFE for LOVE. Who in their right mind would do that? LOVE should bring you LIFE. And I knew now beyond a shadow of a doubt I wanted a full LIFE. Nothing less would do.