"Is she okay?"

I can feel someone touching my forehead and I just want to bat the offending hand away.

"I think she's fine. Just fainted"

Alice. I must be dreaming. That or my brain has finally cracked. That has to be it because Alice and Rosalie can't be here. They're gone.

"Come on Bella open your eyes"

Yup, I've clearly lost my mind. Last time I checked Rosalie is never nice to me. Usually she glares at me or makes a snide remark. Hello insanity I've come to keep you company.

I slowly open my eyes to find Alice and Rosalie kneeling next to me smiling. Shell is standing behind them looking relieved and holding her cell. I shake my head trying to clear the fog in my brain and realize that they are still there. THEY ARE STILL THERE!

"I'm not imagining this am I?"

"Nope. We're actually here and living a few doors away from you", Alice replied happily. They both looked the same as the last time I saw them. My memory of them didn't do them justice.

"Hey Bella? Are you sure you're okay? I could get you a bottle of water from the vending machine downstairs, if you'd like?"

"Thank you but I'm fine. Really", I replied. She really was a nice girl.

"Well if you're sure. I'm going to go head out and meet a few more people on our floor. Here's my number in case you change your mind. I'll see you later Bella", she said with a smile before heading back out to the hallway, closing the door behind her.

I slowly stood up and looked around the room. The bed on the right was Rosalie's. I could see a picture of her and Emmett on the nightstand. Her bed was a deep shade of red and the thick comforter looked like velvet. A dozen pillows were placed on top of it. On the ceiling near the corner of her side of the room were lanterns in various shades of red. On the wall was a poster size picture of her and Emmett standing next to her car. It was in a black wooden frame and I couldn't help but feel envy at how they held each other.

Alice was a complete opposite. Her bed was purple and silk. On the bed sat a little cowboy bear and I couldn't help but smile at that. Her walls were covered in fashion sketches and various fabrics. Her desk had a large sketch pad on it and a row of colored pencils. I didn't see a picture of Jasper anywhere and I didn't expect to. Their relationship was always on a different level. You had to simply see them together to know they loved each other, it was all in the way they looked at each other. The cowboy bear was enough.

I looked at Rosalie and then at Alice. I was at a loss for words. What was I suppose to say? Part of me was beyond happy that they were here in front of me but another part of me was, well I don't know how I felt.

"Why are you guys here?"

Rosalie looked at me sadly while Alice moved to stand closer to me. Rosalie stood up and went to sit on her bed. She took a deep breath and looked at me.

"When Edward started seeing you Bella I couldn't stand you. I hated you being with him. I hated you being around my family", Rosalie started to say.

"I'm sorry…."

"No, let me finish. Please" I simply nodded, waiting for her to continue.

"I couldn't understand why you wanted to be a part of this. I never had a choice in this. I missed out on having children. I'll never grow old. I missed out on a normal life. Don't get me wrong I love this family and I love Emmett but I will always wish for the rest. You could have all that and yet you chose Edward. It was frustrating. I was filled with anger and resent for your choices and for Edwards choice in being with you", she told me. Part of me was starting to wonder whether or not it was such a good idea to let her continue. I couldn't help but wince at her words. She noticed of course and smiled apologetically before continuing.

"Then Jasper decided to try and take a bite of you. I couldn't help but smirk at Edward. I couldn't help but think to him this is what you get for choosing a human. I was elated when he decided to leave Forks and begged as all to follow"

The pain in my chest started to increase as I listened to her. I felt my lungs struggle to get air. I closed my eyes knowing she wasn't done yet.

"But I was wrong Bella. I was wrong in thinking that we would all be better off without you being a hindrance to our lives. My family is in shambles without you. For months Alice wouldn't speak to Edward. She refused to even look at him. Jasper was and still is filled with guilt for his actions. He blames himself for Edward's decision. Esme tries to put on a happy face but she mourns as if she's lost a child and in a way she has. You're like a daughter to her. Carlisle feels hopeless. He's trying to keep our family together. Emmett doesn't joke around as much as he used to. He's angry at Edward and angry at me because he feels like I encouraged his choice. Edward is a shell. He doesn't play piano anymore. He wouldn't even let us take into our new home here because he can't stand to look at it. He sits in his room all day. The only time he moves is when he needs to feed. I can't stand to watch my family fall apart anymore. I want to see my brother happy. If that means having you in his life then so be it because he needs you Bella."

At that point Alice is hugging me as I stare at Rosalie in disbelief. Doesn't she know? They act as if Edward left me unwillingly and it was the complete opposite.

"Bella we understand if you're mad at us for leaving you behind but we hope that eventually you'll let us back into your life", Alice said. I shook my head as pulled away from her. I needed a little space from them at that moment. They watched me with sad eyes as I continued to step back.

"You don't understand. Neither of you do. I'm sorry for how everyone is taking me not being a part of the family anymore. I really am because I love you all so much. Edward left me.."

"He only did it to protect you Bella! He thought keeping you around a bunch of vampires at all times was putting you in constant danger! He did it to protect you because he loves you", Alice interrupted.

"That's where you're wrong. He left because he stopped loving me. He wasn't in love with me anymore. I wasn't good enough for him! I never was and he had finally realized that. He was sick of pretending to be something he wasn't. He didn't want me anymore. I've spent the past year with a hole in my chest. I've been empty for so long now because without him I'm nothing. I'm trying to live my life the best I can now. I won't sit here and listen to you both telling me he loves me when it isn't true", I nearly screamed at them. I turned away and headed toward the door.

"Please Bella. You're mistaken", Rosalie pleaded.

"No. He wouldn't have lied to me Rose. He wouldn't have. He doesn't want me and now that you're all here I'm going to make damn sure he doesn't have to be around me either", I promised as I opened the door and walked out.

They were wrong. They wanted things back to how they were before my birthday but it wasn't possible. No matter how much I wanted to believe them I couldn't. Edward made his choice and I was going to honor it. I loved him enough to stay away.

I hope Dartmouth was big enough for me to do that.

Well there you go.

I didn't expect to end up here. I just started typing up this chapter and BAM! this is where I end up.

Please lemme know what you think of this chapter. Did I overdo it?