Chapter Two (The… Incident)
It had been only a couple of days since the… incident. I hadn't spoken to anyone, not even Esme, during those days. It was like my throat was constricted. I didn't want to speak, ever again.
The day after the… incident Alice went with me back to Charlie's house. When Charlie saw me, he knew right away that something bad had happened.
" Bella!" He rushed to my side, grabbing onto my arms and looked into my eyes. " What's the matter?" When I didn't speak he turned to Alice, I looked at her too. " What happened, Alice?"
" Charlie." Alice's voice broke with despair. " Edward is… dead." Charlie stood there, still holding onto my arms, letting Alice's words sink in.
" Oh." He breathed out. " How?"
" There was a hiking accident. A mountain lion attacked him." Alice cried out. Charlie's eyes went wide, and he turned back to me. I had looked away from Alice when she lied about the… incident. It made his… absence seem so normal, instead of the nobility it really was. He had… gone missing to save me. Me.
" Oh, Bella." Charlie's voice was thick. " I'm so sorry, Bella, Alice. I didn't… I don't…" He stuttered over his words.
" It's ok, Charlie." Alice whispered, her voice was also thick. " The funeral is in a couple of days. We've already had him cremated. We thought it best, after such a brutal attack." Alice paused. " We've asked Bella to keep the ashes." She whispered, and looked at me, begging me with her eyes to talk.
"… Uhm…" I made a choking noise deep in my throat, not even bothering to open my mouth. I didn't want to deny her, and I couldn't deny myself. I wanted his ashes. I wanted him near me everywhere.
" Bella." Charlie said my name, obviously seeing something on my face that hurt him.
A couple of days later the Cullens and I, among others from all over went to his funeral. Everyone from Forks attended. There were many vampires that attended. The Denali coven, some nomads and the werewolves attended. It was the first time I'd ever seen the Denali coven, and I could tell right away who was Tanya. She looked horrible.
Her eyes were dark gold with sadness, and her shoulders hunched over. She was grieving for my Edward. If I didn't know any better I'd say she was grieving the loss of her mate. It angered me to no extent that she was so crushed by Edward's… absence.
I sat next to Esme and Alice, with Charlie standing behind me, his hand on my shoulder. Jacob was standing next to him, his hand on my other shoulder. It was meant as a comfort, but it didn't work. I was tense, as I stared at the urn. It was a beautiful urn, a nice golden color, just like his eyes. Specks of jade green flecked through the gold. It was small, and precious to me.
" The death of this young man, will not be unseen by the Almighty. This young man will live forever in the hearts of many. We shall never forget this young man, Edward Anthony Masen Cullen." As the priest said these words I felt my throat clear, and I released one long strangled sob. Everyone looked at me, and I felt the tears start again.
" Oh, God!" I cried out. " Just take me too!" I covered my face with my hands, and sobbed into them. " Take me, and give me my Edward back." He sobbed. Esme and Alice stood my up and took me away from the funeral. They took me down the hill we were all on and down to the car.
" Bella." Esme said, her voice was soft and loving. " We found something that Edward wanted to give you."
I sniffled as I looked to her, she was holding Elizabeth Masen's ring. The one Edward proposed to me with. Esme handed it to me, and I readily took it, placing it on my left hand, third finger. I looked at it for a while, before Alice spoke up.
" They're waiting for us, Bella. We should go back." I didn't look up from the ring as they took my back up the hill, and through the crowd, back to our seats. " Sorry. She's been holding it in." Alice explained in a pained voice.
Without hesitation the priest started the ceremony again. I tried to pay attention, but my mind kept wandering back to the night I said yes to Edward.