I probably won't continue until I get at least a few reviews. I don't want to write this for myself.
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I was floating on a cloud in what I hoped was Heaven. I could sense my body hovering over the Earth at a graceful pace. The cloud wasn't exactly as comfortable as I was hoping. I always imagined a cloud to be softer than marshmallow, not as hard as a boulder.
It was bittersweet. I was dead, but I didn't have to put up with all the pain love was causing me. Being dead had both its pros and cons.
Wait…
I thought when a person died, they'd forget all about their former life. Why do I still feel an indescribable hole in my heart and why does my neck feel like it was in a vise? I finally decided to open my eyes. Fluorescent lights screamed out and deafened my them.
I groaned, rubbing my palms against my swollen lids. I opened them once again, slowly, and let them focus on my surroundings. My body stopped hovering across the ground and was placed on something soft. Now, this is the cloud I was talking about!
My vision became clear. This wasn't a cloud. It was my bed. Oh, so afterlife is like my life before me. Got it. Same surroundings, same pain. I turned my head and altogether stopped breathing.
My heart stopped. My lungs stopped. Everything around me ceased to exist, except one thing.
"Okay, this is definitely Heaven." All physical and emotional pain disappeared. I reached out of touch a pale stone hand. It was cold. Cold and perfect. My heated body cooled down. I gulped. I lightly traced my fingertips up the arm that was connected to that glorious hand. My eyes followed the trail my digits left behind and I sat up.
I didn't dare look up, for the fear of being disappointed. My hands pressed against this man's chest. The whole body was so familiar -- so heavenly. I couldn't look up. I couldn't. I didn't want to be let down. This was Heaven though and if this was who I thought it was I'd get down on bended knee and thank God.
I raised my eyes to a squared jaw. And higher to sharp cheekbones and a straight nose.
Could I do it?
I could. I looked an inch higher and my gaze was locked with those intense topazes.
My Edward.
"Heaven is much better than I believed." I smiled, allowing my hand to cup his cheek. I let my fingertips trace from his temples to his chin. "Perfect."
Tears began to stream down my face and my breath was caught in my throat. I would not hyperventilate at a moment like this. I was so incandescently happy; I didn't know what to do.
My fingers drifted from his face as I fell back onto the bed. I grabbed my chest where my heart had once been. Wait, it was still there. It was beating so rapidly. I breathed in and out triple the speed of normality. Hyperventilating was not fun.
My own personal angel sat beside me, trying to calm me down. He touched my cheeks, shushing me quietly.
And then he spoke.
"It's okay. You're safe now."
Of course I was safe! Nothing bad happens after your dead! I was hoping my angel in Heaven would have at least half the intelligence of the original Edward.
"U-u-um…so, are you dead too? Or is this just a wonderful gift from God?"
"I've been dead for over a hundred years. Remember?"
"Let me rephrase my previous question. Are you non-existent on Earth as I am?"
"You're not dead."
"Of course I am. You're here, which means that perverted man strangled me to death."
"Bella…" He spoke my name -- my name. I have waited so long to hear that. It was indescribable. My name had never sounded so sweet.
"Bella, you're alive." He stated matter-of-factly, rolling his eyes.
"Impossible. You wouldn't be here if I was."
"I killed the burglar right before you blacked out. "
"Prove it."
"He's down in the kitchen if you want to see the evidence."
"Okay, let's say I believe you. Why are you here?" I raised my eyebrow, pressing my pointer finger against his marble chest.
"Alice had a vision of you being strangled to death by said burglar." Edward shrugged.
My hand fell to my side and I stared at the ground. "So, I'm alive. And you're here. Right in front of me." It wasn't a question. I was persuaded. And even if it wasn't real, I'd let myself live out my fake perfect life in this dreamland – in this Heaven.
Edward simply nodded and his lips lifted into that angelic, oh-so-Edward smile. I wanted to bad to jump into his arms and embrace him for infinity. But, I wouldn't. He was no longer my Edward.
"Bella, I was so worried about you. Alice randomly found an old photo of you and her and decided to look into your future. Incredible timing, I know. I know you probably never want to see me again and Jacob Black would have a fit if he knew I was here, but I couldn't just let you die. You mean the world and more to m—"Edward cleared his throat, clearly not wanting to finish that perfect last sentence. I let it go this time.
"Are you kidding me? Seriously. You have to be joking." I was still using every bit of my strength not to touch him. "Right now, you and Alice are my personal saviors. Thank you, Edward."
He leaned forward, his lips parted. "Say it again."
"Thank you."
"Say my name."
My eyes widened and blood rushed to my cheeks. "Thank you, E-Edward…" I bit down nervously on my bottom lip and ran my fingers through my chestnut hair.
"Once more."
I finally looked up at him, our eyes locking instantly. My entire face tinted red, while his god-like features never changed. Except for his eyes – they had a yearning in them. I swallowed hard, speaking with more courage, "Edward."
Within a heartbeat his arms were wrapped around my entire body. I was crushed against him in an excruciatingly magnificent embrace. I finally gave in. My arms snaked around him and locked him in. I pressed my cheek against the crook of his neck, taking in his scent. I never realized how much I missed Edward's smell until now.
Our hug loosened and we barely pulled apart from one another. His hand left my back and found my cheek. Edward cupped his hand there, while his other hand traced designs along my other cheek. He spoke my name once more and I all but melted. His lips parted, and mine did the same – an instant reaction. He closed his eyes and I followed as our lips met in the middle. It wasn't hesitant like I remember our first kiss to be in the first few seconds.
I wrapped my arms around his neck, pressing my body into his. My lips danced against his wildly – with so much pent up passion. I let my fingers run through his silken hair and down his neck, to wrap back around his neck. His hands followed the same pattern, over and over again, until I was lying down on my bed and he was straddling over me. Our lips never parted – I would not sacrifice one second of this for air. He was all the oxygen I would ever need. I breathed him in. I tasted him. All of my senses were overwhelmed with Edward. If I wasn't in Heaven, I didn't know where I was.
His hands drifted to the hem of my shirt and stopped. He pulled away and quickly moved back, pressing against the headboard. Edward's face was startled.
"Why did you stop?"
"Unfortunately, your blood smells just as sweet." I could tell his mouth must have been a pool of venom because he spoke through clenched teeth.
"I don't care. Now, where did we leave off?" I crawled over to him, sitting between his legs.
"Bella, that's not the only problem, you know? There's someone called Jacob. Your lover. I believe this is called adultery."
My overwhelmed heart skipped a beat as I swallowed back tears. I inched closer to him until my head was leaning against his silent chest. His body shuddered with a startled reaction and he slowly and gently placed his hand on my back in a comforting manner.
"Bella?" He questioned my action.
I knew I only had to say one word to Edward to make him understand, so I did.
"Imprinted."