For the next few weeks I never left Edward's side. Emmett and Jasper had moved him up to the bed Edward and I shared; so that when he eventual woke, he would be in a familiar place. But the longer that he was unconscious, the weaker we both became. I had started refusing to eat, because I did not want to leave his side. When they brought fresh blood to me, I would just let it sit on the bedside table, allowing it to go rancid. Without Edward, life would be unbearable, so as long as he couldn't eat, I decided that I would not eat.
Eventually, I become so weak that I could barely function. Esme slowly entered the room and sat down next to my side and just talked to me in that caring motherly voice she always seemed to have whenever it came to one of us. She spoke in such a calming voice that all I could do was listen to what she had to say. "Bella, sweetie, you need to take care of yourself. Living this way won't do you any good and it won't help Edward. What would he say if he woke up and found you like this, starved and slowly killing yourself? He would be just as concerned for you as you are concerned for him right now. If you are strong when he wakes, you can be there for him. But, if you continue like this, you won't be able to help him." What she said made sense. Esme continued, "I need you to drink this. It will make you feel better." I nodded my head ever so slightly to tell her that I understood what she was saying and that I would drink the blood. She must have understood, because as soon as I stopped shaking me head, a glass appeared at my lips, slowing pouring warm blood into my awaiting mouth. Once the blood was there, I could not stop drinking. Esme had to call to Carlisle to prepare more blood. After about 8 glasses, I finally opened my eyes and saw Esme's smiling face starting down at me.
"Thank you" I quietly whispered to her, as my voice was so scratchy and sore from going so long without feeding. The look of pure happiness that I saw in her eyes sent me over the edge, I slowly moved to where I could lay my head in her lap and began to whimper. "Esme, what if Edward never wakes up?" I asked in a sad and pathetic voice.
"He will sweetie, he will," was all she said to comfort me and it worked. Her slight reassurances made me optimistic for what was to come. Esme stayed with me the rest of the night. Slowly running her fingers through my hair. Calming me down when I started to whimper, and quietly reassuring me that everything was going to be all right.