just something short and sweet to fill the gap between inspirations.

please keep reading and reviewing. I love reading your comments and I always smile when I read them, even when they're negative or full of critism. :)

thanks for all the reviews, favs, alerts, and everything so far.

"People are always telling me that change is good. But all that means is that something you didn't want to happen has happened."

-Meg Ryan-

All That Matters

"What are you thinking about?" he asks me.

I don't look up from our entwined hands - his fingers long and pale, mine shaky and blistered. "When did things get so complicated?" I whisper. "Nothing seems normal anymore."

He shifts beside me, wrapping his arm around my waist and pulling me tight against him. He presses his cool lips to my ear, a kiss and a whisper mixed into one tender moment. "What's complicated?" he asks. "I love you, you love me. Nothing's changed."

I look up into his warm brown eyes and see myself reflected there. I glance back down. "No, everything has."

"What has?" he asks impatiently.

"Me."

There's silence for a moment and then he moves again; he sits up and shifts so that he is leaning over me, our chests barely touching. He presses his forehead to mine, placing his hand against my undamaged cheek. "You're still Bella," he whispers. "Still soft." He turns his head slightly and kisses my cheek. "Still warm." He kisses my neck. "Still vulnerable." He leans forward and kisses my forehead. "Still Bella."

I smile half-heartedly. "I know…but…"

He shushes me, placing his forehead on mine again and gazing into my eyes. "Nothing's changed. I love you, you love me. That's all that matters, right?"

I nod.

He smiles his crooked smile and brushes my hair back from my face. "I love you, Bella."

"I love you too."

And as I'm falling asleep, he leans over once more and kissing my cheek. He whispers to me in the fading light. "Nothing's changed."

But as I close my eyes, ready for sleep to carry me away, I glance over at the window. I see myself there, reflected in the rain. I sigh, and a tear falls down my cheek. "No," I whisper to myself. "Everything's changed."