Author's Note: My prologue was incredibly short. I guess that's what happens when you decide to post a story at 1 am on a Friday night, ugh. Well, for some reason the spell check on my Word program doesn't work, so I apologize for any mistakes in advance.

Disclaimer: I own nothing.

Climbing the flight of stairs to my fourth floor walk up was not an easy task. Carrying a couple of suitcases didn't make it any easier. I turned the knob to enter the place I would call soon call home, unless Edward came looking for me. Why did I leave Forks?

I had to constantly remind myself of the events that led me to make that decision. It wasn't easy, in fact it was quite painful, both physically and mentally. It caused me physical pain to be this far from Edward. I trembled at the thought of never seeing him again. What kind of life would I live? Would I even bother getting up everyday? I couldn't dwell on the possibilities. At the moment there were more pressing things to think about, like cleaning my roach infested apartment.

I tried to ignore the aching pain in my chest, and started my way down the stairs to buy cleaning supplies. What else could I do? It had only been a day and half, and I was about to give up and head back to Forks. To Edward. How pathetic. "He will come," I kept telling myself and the thought made the pain reside. Stepping out into the crisp fall air of the city awakened my senses.

I had decided on New York for many reasons. I had always wanted to visit the city, and when the time came to chose my place of concealment I had no doubt in my mind where that would be. After graduation, I had patiently waited for Carlsie to change me. I was more than content with spending every moment with Edward. Washington State had accepted me and Edward would join me there in the fall. Everything was perfect, but my patience was wearing thin.

Carlsie had given me his word, but the constant whispering and strange looks gave me the feeling that the entire Cullen family wasn't telling me something. I went against my instinct and refrained from asking questions. I put my entire faith on Carlsie's promise. When August rolled around I couldn't wait any longer.

"I'm tired of waiting Edward. I feel like you're hiding something from me, am I right?" Edward looked surprised by the straightforwardness of my question. He should be used to my probing or so I thought.

"Bella, I love you, you know that." Then came the pause. I knew something was wrong without him saying another word.

"I asked Carlsie to give me until September to find anoth..err…", he stuttered, "alternative."

I coud feel the blood slowly filling my face. I don't think I've ever felt so angry, so betrayed. "Edward, there is no alternative. I thought we had settled this. If you don't do it then the Volturi will find and kill me. Why can't you understand that without you there is no life for me?"

My voice trembled, and my body was burning with rage. How could he do this? Did he not want to spend eternity with me? I thought about the reasons why he would go behind my back and change Carlsie's mind. Carlsie. The man I had trusted. He sensed my change in frustration.

"Blame me, not Carlsie. He was reluctant about breaking his promise but he said he would allow it until you brought it up."

I had been standing in front of the window looking at the thick fog that slowly made its way towards the house. Edward tried to embrace me, but I couldn't be near him.

"Please, just go. I need to be alone." I never thought that I would say that. Not to Edward. I moved from the window so he could climb out. He stared at me but I couldn't look at him. And then he was gone.

There was no one I could talk to about this, not even Alice could help. Yes, Alice had seen me as one of them but that could have changed. Jacob was no longer my friend, and that had been entirely my choice. I was alone. I had to make a decision on my own.

I thought about the chocies I had, and none were appealing. For some sick and twisted reason, I decided to leave Forks . If Edward wanted to spend eternity with me he would find me. It sounded like a good plan, at the time, but a dozen burning questions haunted me as I headed to the convenience store a block away from my Brooklyn apartment. MY apartment, as if it could even be called that.

My new home consisted of a room, a small kitchen, and an even smaller bathroom. In my hurry to leave Forks, I had forgotten little details like furniture. That was a problem for another day, all I wanted to do was sleep on a semi-clean floor.

As I entered the small store, I was surprised by the clerk and a customer arguing in a foreign language, probably Russian. I quickly headed to the cleaning supplies and grabbed what I needed. A balding man was staring at me from the back of the store, his stare caused me to shiver. This was another one of the details I had managed to overlook. A young woman living alone in a large city with her family far away was dangerous. No one knew I was in New York or that I had dissappeared. Well, not yet at least.

I had explained to Charlie and the Cullens that I wanted to spend sometime with my mother before school started. Edward insisted on coming with me, in case Victoria showed up, but I refused. I made it clear that I wanted bonding time with my mother. I know it hurt Edward; me not wanting him around but I had to do it. I had to force Edward to make a choice. I didn't have eternity.

I mailed him a letter before I left, which he should have received by now. I also wrote one to Charlie and my mother. I did not want them to think Edward had something to do with my sudden dissappearance. Charlie didn't fully trust Edward, and I didn't blame him. With everything that had happened the year before it was understandable.

The content of the letters to my parents was simple and to the point. Basically, I told them I needed sometime alone to decide if Washington State was really what I wanted. I pleaded with them not to look for me and reminded them that I was of age. Edward's letter was a bit harder to write.

Telling the person that you love more than life itself that your leaving isn't easy. I felt a pang of pity for Edward, and what he had to go through when he had left me almost a year ago. The letter explained why I had to leave and the only way to get me back. I told him about my decision to find a place where the Volturi and Victoria would have trouble finding me. I'm sure he was pleased that I had at least thought about THAT possibility.

All I knew for sure was that the only way I would be with Edward was if he came to a decision on his own. The decision to change me. There was no other alternative, that I was sure of. As I headed back to my apartment, I tried to concetrate on my surrondings. The city was full of noise. It was incredible. The walk to my apartmetn was too short, and I was pushed back into my reality as I climbed the stairs.

My apartment looked desolate and empty much like I felt at the moment. I stifled a laugh as I realized this. I tried to concentrate at the task at hand. Scrub. Scrub. And more scrubbing. By sunset I was exhausted. I lay my coat on the bare floor, and allowed my body some rest.