I don't want the world to see me
Cause I don't think that they'd understand
When everything's made to be broken
I just want you to know who I am

Sitting across from him is surreal.

Charlie, after much convincing, left the house to visit Billy in La Push. "Tell Jacob I said hi," I tell him. He glances at me, then at Edward, then stalks reluctantly out the door. Since Edward has returned, I have been under constant watch. Gone are the days of camaraderie between boyfriend and father. To Charlie, Edward is the enemy. Charlie can't forgive for what Edward leaving did to me. When I think on it, it hurts to remember how much pain I must have put him in.

Edward sits in patient silence as I eat lunch. Something feels off between us today. Edward has been home, with me, for a week.

His phone rings as I finish my sandwich. His conversation is short: "Okay. Goodbye." His voice is like a melody; my memories, and even the insane delusions inside my head, could never do it justice.

"Bella?" Edward says gently. "That was Carlisle. He wants my help bringing our things inside the house."

"So…"

"I'm going to leave, alright?"

At this my head jerks up. "You're leaving?" To my dismay, my eyes fill with tears.

In one fluid motion he closes the space between us and is holding me, rocking me back and forth, murmuring in my ear. "Bella, Bella, I love you. I will never leave you like that again, my love."

When Edward is gone, I felt dried up. Now I feel overflowing, and I can't stop the tears.

He is like a god, consoling me, understanding me, being with me. Sometimes I feel as if fate is playing a cruel trick on me, and that all of this is a dream. Surely I don't deserve a second chance with someone so unearthly. Reality has never been this kind before.

"I'm sorry, Edward," I whisper. He reaches out tenderly and brushes away my tears. "I haven't had much sleep this week."

The expression on his beautiful face twists to one of confusion. I feel like a villain, like a monster, for making someone so perfect be dismayed. "Bella," his musical voice graces my ears, "I've been with you every night this week. You've had sleep."

It takes me a moment before I trust my voice enough to say, "I guess I've brushed up on my acting skills since you've left."

"What's wrong, Bella? Why haven't you been sleeping?" He looks frustrated, and concerned. I hate how he makes me so guilty. I hate how I am so addicted to his presence. I hate that when he leaves, I fall apart. I can only shake my head and shrug.

"Bella…" He cups his hands around my face, searching, trying to figure out what I am thinking. "Bella, love, are you frightened?"

I nod. He pulls me tighter. "Bella, I will never let the Volturi get you."

I struggle out of his grasp. "It's not the Volturi I'm afraid of." I mutter quietly.

"Bella?" He is so confused, and I hate to see him that way. "Bella…what's scaring you?"

"You are," I say. "I can't fall asleep because what if I wake up and you aren't there anymore? What if I wake up and it turns out that after all you don't…want…to be with me…"

Edward falls onto one of the kitchen chairs, head in his hands. For several long moments, he is silent. He radiates pain, and I want to reach out to him. My heart screams in sympathy, in empathy, because I know he must be feeling exactly what I was feeling all those long empty months when we were apart. But somehow I can't move myself; I feel rooted to the ground.

"Bella, Bella," He moans. I close my eyes. I can't stand to see his pain. "I will never leave you Bella. Never, ever again. When I left you I thought I would be the only one losing out. Can you understand? I thought that you would move on. I truly believed that in the end, you would benefit. I didn't know how much pain I was making you suffer through."

"Edward," I say hoarsely, "How could I ever move on? You're my angel."

Edward chuckles, and once again returns to me, holding me. "Bella, love, I think you're very confused."

"What?"

"You call a demon an angel, and beg him to steal your soul." He brushes a strand of hair out of my face.

"Edward…"

He kisses me gently, making my heart flutter and my pulse race. "Let's not talk about that."

He deepens the kiss, something he rarely does, and I lose myself in him. Too soon he breaks away; too soon he can no longer stand it. I rest my head on his chest.

"Bella," he breathes, "if I go to help Carlisle—and promise to return—will you believe me? Will you trust that I'll return to you, trust that I want nothing more in this world then to be with you?"

I look up at him. "Yes, Edward. I trust you."

He looks at me for a moment. "I could stay…"

I shake my head. "No, Edward. Go help your family."

He kisses me again, swiftly, before walking out the door. "I'll be back soon, my love. I promise."

As he leaves, I sigh. Everything is perfect now; I am whole, and I am, for the most part, happy.

Still, as he leaves, I can't help but worry. And maybe…

Maybe that worry will never leave…

I just want you to know who I am
I just want you to know who I am
I just want you to know who I am
I just want you to know who I am

--

a/n: so, that's the final chapter. so, so sorry about the delay! i've been super busy with the end of school. so about the chapter--i didn't really feel the closure, but my best friend read it over for me and gave me some advice: "see what your readers think." so, what do you think? because it is a nice ending, i suppose.

can't wait to hear what you think.

peace,

candyk8