I didn't wake up to a brand new day. I woke up minutes before midnight to the sound of scattering in my room. A rat? I clenched my teeth and grabbed a flashlight from the drawer in my nightstand. Rats didn't scare me, but I'd rather not step on one, or worse – have one gnawing on my toes. I switched the flashlight on, narrowing my eyes towards the light. I scanned my room and shuddered as a soft breeze danced around me.

I quickly turned towards my window. It was open. What? I could have sworn that I had closed it. I shrugged and made a path to the window with the beam from my flashlight. I put all my weight into it and forced it shut. Note to self: tell Charlie to get new windows. I snickered and dragged myself across the room to turn on the light.

"Here, Mr. Rat, here. Where are you?" I looked around the room and shined the light underneath my bed. Nothing, but that oh-so-forbidden-shoe-box. No rat. It must have been a dream. I went back and turned off the light, before hopping back into bed and covering myself. Unfortunately, now I had Edward on my mind. Edward. I so much wanted to say that name and let it roll eloquently off my tongue. What would be the point of reciting such a name? He wasn't here to listen to it. He wasn't here to say my name back. Such a dull name could seem so beautiful when he spoke it. AH! Stop it! Stop it! I shook my head and crammed the pillow against me face.

"Jake…Edward…what have you done to me?" I mumbled underneath the pillow between quiet sobs. "Did I ever make the right decision once?" I could only imagine what Alice must have been going through if she ever continued to read my future. Her visions must have changed back and forth with me. "Alice…" She was my best friend. Carlisle, Esme, Emmet, Jasper, Rosalie… How could I have traded them all in for…

No, I can't think like that. Jake was a wonderful man. Is a wonderful man. I couldn't help but shout beneath my pillow, "WOE IS ME!" Then I laughed at myself for being so emotional over problems that I created on my own. I chose Jacob knowing that he may eventually imprint on someone. Was I being selfish?

I let out one muffled scream of rage, hoping to God that it didn't wake Charlie. I didn't have either man in my life any longer – I'd have to live with the decision that brought me to this conclusion and bear with the consequences. Sleep was a haven for me now. God, please don't take away this one good thing I have right now. And so I slept.

I woke up around noon, knowing I had the house to myself since Charlie was at work. I jumped out of the bed, trying to will myself to start the morning with a good attitude. I stretched, yawned, threw a robe around me and walked out of my room, down the hall towards the staircase.

Tip toe. Tip toe. CLASH! BANG!

My eyes widened and my heart stuttered as I stopped at the top of the staircase. Why is Charlie home? At least, I hope to God that is Charlie. I gulped.

Thump. Thump.

I slowly made my way down the staircase, being as quiet as I possibly could. But, of course, the belt around my robe fell loose and I tripped over it, stumbling down the last two stairs.

"Ack!" I spat out.

Silence.

"Charlie?" I spoke with a quiver in my voice.

No answer.

"Charlie, how come you're still home?" I clenched my teeth and stood up, while peering into the kitchen where I suspected the noises came from.

No one.

"Charlie! Are you okay? Did you fall somewhere? I heard a crash…"

Still nothing. I don't know what I wished for more at this moment -- Charlie lying unconscious somewhere or a burglar.

I silently walked towards the kitchen and pulled out a steak knife from a drawer. My hand shook as I wrapped my fingers around the handle of it. I walked a few steps, turned my head, and peaked into the hallway.

That was definitely not Charlie. A tall man wearing dirty, holey jeans was standing on the other end of the hall. His face was covered with the usual ski mask and he was holding Charlie's safe in his arms. He just stood there. I wished so much that I could see his expression right now. Was he scared? Confused? Homicidal?

"GET OUT!" I screamed with every ounce of adrenaline-based courage I had. "Drop that and leave now!" I stood my ground, holding out the steak knife in front of me.

"Not on your life, sweetie." The deep voice escaped from the orange ski mask and pierced through, shattering every bit of courage I had built up.

I took a few clumsy steps backwards, tightening my grip on the steak knife. He took a few steps forward, after placing the safe on the ground. "Actually, I'm in the mood for some fun right now." I could tell he had a large grin behind that mask. I cursed the moment I put that robe on as I took a few more steps back and tripped on that belt once more, falling down with a quick thud. The knife slid across the ground. I reached for it as soon as he kicked it away.

"Please…" I wasn't the begging type. But, after everything I had been through, I just didn't have the will or energy to fight back any longer.

"I like 'em pitiful." The man chuckled and bent down next to me, wrapping his fingers around my neck. My breath caught in my throat quickly and I grabbed onto his forearm, trying to push him away from me.

"H-h-help…" My head began to feel light and a sharp pain pierced through it. He let go, but before I could take a deep breath, he grabbed my neck once more with more force. "Kidding, darlin'."

The masked man pushed me up against the cabinets and I kicked at him from underneath, trying my hardest to escape his death grip.

Right before I died, I heard a grunt and a soft thud.