Safe inside my mind, my head, I will not leave.
Stay asleep, step further in my ecstasy.

~ Natalie Walker, Waking Dream ~

Edward is not real.

At least not in this world. Not in my world.

I run my fingers under the running water before me, checking to see if it is warm enough.

Months have passed since I have woken up from my coma; I am now completely healed, aside from my broken heart.

Edward is not real.

The fact echoes in my mind, haunting me and consuming me for every moment of my existence.

I was delusional; I realize that now. And I wish so very badly that I never regained my sanity.

Edward slips further and further away from me with each passing moment. And I feel pain; so much so in my mind that it now hurts me physically. To breathe. To exist.

While I breathe, I hope. Dum spiro, spero.

I laugh bitterly as I think of this saying and how it once inspired me to find Edward. I feel now as though that is impossible; at least not on this earth.

I step into the bathtub that is now full, slowly lowering myself into the deliciously warm water.

I inhale the smoke from the cigarette that is between my fingers. It is intoxicating; almost near the level of ecstasy I feel as I think of Edward.

My mother disapproves of this new-found habit of mine; she tells me often that it is bad for me. That it will hurt my lungs. I do not mind if my lungs are broken; simply another thing inside of me that no longer functions. A companion for my heart.

Edward and I are standing naked in an ocean, the moon looming over us in all of its beauty. I am myself again; the better part of myself. I am the Isabella Swan who does not smoke. Who does not wear thick black eyeliner and baggy clothing in hopes of hiding herself from the world. Her heart still beats, beating in perfect harmony with that of the angel beside her.

He wraps an arm around me, and I am happy.

Thinking of this, I stare down at the crashing tides below me. I look to my left and see Edward standing there, beautiful as always.

"Bella, don't do this," he softly pleads.

"I have to, Edward," I tell him, removing my jacket and slipping my shoes off of my feet. "You won't stay with me any other way."

And with that, I dive into the vast unknown of the waters. I see the moonlight, and I see Edward waiting for me.

The water encompasses me, and I embrace it.

I embrace the numbing coldness that surrounds me. I embrace the darkness. Edward is here, and I smile. He reaches out to wrap his arm around me.

And I am now floating in the ocean, eyes closed. I open them slowly to see Edward floating beside me, upside down in the waters. Finally, we are back where we have always belonged.

Together.

Twin flames reunited.

I love you, Edward.

My eyes fill with dots as the air leaves my lungs. The bathwater pours over the sides of the tub, and I hear my father calling to me. I hear him banging on the door, frantically demanding that I let him in. I'm sorry, Dad. But you are too late. I do not want to leave you, but I must.

Because Edward is not real.

At least not in this world. My world. And this is the only way we can be together.

I smile, my mind back in the ocean with Edward by my side, drifting through the water.

Together forever.

I no longer have to hope, because I no longer breathe.

A/N: I just wanted to say first of all, thanks so much to everyone who reviewed last chapter. I was so excited to see reviews. :) And thanks to everyone for reading the story. Reviews on what you thought of the story overall would mean so much to me; I hope you enjoyed it! In case you don't understand, Bella was living in a sort of fantasy land. Edward was never real. :(