Breaking Point-Chapter 10

Bella POV.

A/N: I got a great response for chapter 9. Well, I don't really want to over-state things...let's just say that every one of my reviewers, whether that number was plentiful or not, was very enthusiastic about this story. I normally reply to each of my reviews individually, and I wanted to do that, but I decided instead to buckle down and write the next chapter for you guys. So I'd like to thank everyone for all their reviews right here. I read all of them--thanks SOOO much. Same goes for messages...I had one especially endearing message. ;)

REVIEW REVIEW REVIEW. If you like this story, the only way for me to know is if you review. Story alerts are nice too, but really--why would you mark this but not review it? And messages are awesome too! If I don't get a good response, I'll just stop writing. I'm not being mean or anything, just honest.

For anyone who has read Now or Never--is it just me, or is this story becoming very much like a forest-situated version of that?? I seem to rock at Edward-Bella reunions in New Moon, so I guess I won't stop until I completely run out of things to say. (Or if no one reviews, of course).

Also: Is anyone interested in Ed POV? I honestly don't really want to do it, but I can try for you guys if everyone would love it.

Disclaimer: I don't own Twilight, Bella, or Edward. If anything, they own me.

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My world had always been divided.

The way I see it, there is time, and there is reason. There is realism.

And then there is Edward.

Right now, I was so heavily submerged in that parallel universe of my life—so completely and utterly choked by it, that it would be impossible for me to contemplate anything pertaining to my other world. It seemed ludicrous to hold Edward to same height as my actual life. They were entirely different, separate spheres—separate species. All the time I spent with Edward seemed more a dream than reality, like I was only partly conscious.

My emotions were so complex, so intense and dizzying, that they weighed my body down and made it painful for me to concentrate. It was like seeing and feeling and hearing through a red haze…the light hurt my head, and the result was far-sightedness.

Edward drifted away from the ambulance. I could still see the red flashers where they reflected onto his cheek, and I could hear the shrieking siren. She's getting away—she's getting away!

No one followed us.

Edward watched me, and his eyes were so intense that they hurt to look at. They magnified when I turned my head in his direction, completely obscuring my vision from seeing anything else.

I felt…confused and tired…and weary. But at the same time I was completely aware of the immense, all-consuming love that was beginning to strangle me. It was a familiar sensation…and especially intense, as if it was angry with me for restraining it for so long.

My body took a long time to change emotions. It was like the seasons changing…the temperature was scorched, but the sea water was still cool from winter. My body was like that. Slowly, carefully, realization was trickling through me, inching along my veins like a thick, hot liquid, and my body absorbed it.

I wrapped my arms around his neck, and fitted myself against him. His arms tightened.

He walked slowly and smoothly through the damp forest. I cool feel the soft pattern of his footsteps hitting the leaves, and I couldn't remember when he had ever walked so gently. It must be torturous for him, I thought.

The moments dragged on, heavy and steaming. His motion felt light and effortless beneath me. I knew that he could carry me to the ends of the Earth and never tire, and I wished for him to do just that. I wished that I would never have to let go of him.

The breeze played in his hair, like it was there just because he was. The breeze followed Edward's hair everywhere.

He was just as beautiful as I remembered. He was more beautiful than I remembered.

Edward suddenly stopped, and gradually fell to the ground. He positioned himself against a tree trunk, resting me in his lap and keeping his arms wound around me. I didn't let go, and I hoped that he didn't expect me to.

I shifted my body so that I could face him, and he closed his eyes, lacing his fingers into my hair on both sides of my head, and holding my forehead to his. His breath swirled into my face.

I tried to breathe evenly and as quietly as I could, but it wasn't working. I wanted to be able to hear him, to feel the unnecessary gasps of air he drew in through his lips. He was so close to me.

It seemed like the past six months had been my only existence—an entire lifetime in half a year. Always, for as long as I could remember, Edward was too far away. He wasn't just gone from my life; he was gone from the world. He was immensely distant, further away than I could imagine. Too far for me to travel in a thousand years. Immeasurable.

Now, he was practically welded to me. It was discombobulating, having him so close, so quickly. His proximity threw my breathing and heart beat patterns into oblivion. I was not used to this.

He folded his hands against my hair and leaned back, pulling my head against his chest. I curled up against him, my legs draped over his, resting on the leaves of the forest floor.

I wondered how long this moment could last before someone would take it away from me. Would time be so generous? It seemed unlikely. I was unsure if it was even possible for us to stay here forever. But that didn't matter.

I would starve before I moved out of his arms.

I would die.