Bella

It's a strange scene. To stand in front of your grave, knowing you're not really six feet under and you're not a ghost or zombie. I just came by to visit Charlie and Jake, seeing as how I can't go to Phoenix to visit mom when I happened to stumble upon my own gravestone.

ISABELLA SWAN,

WONDERFUL DAUGHTER AND LOVING YOUNG WOMAN

1988-2006

I died at 18 years of age. And live to be over 116. How ironic. Just then I thought I heard familiar voices. No one really spoke, but apparently I had the same mind reading powers that Edward had. I could also hide my scent and presence (not physically, but basically, let's just say Alice never did find out what happened to me) I heard two unequivocally familiar voices coming toward the graveyard. The first was Alice's. The other was Edward's.

I whipped my head around, and searched far beyond the few trees that surrounded the graveyard. There he was. That beautiful pale young man was striding gracefully towards me and he didn't even know it. Wait. Was he coming to see my grave? Was he going to come to school here as well? What about the two centuries?! I began to feel dizzy at the thought of him walking into Charlie's house later on as well.

I know I should leave. Hell, I was already racing toward the house once again. But should I just leave Forks and come back some other time? Maybe in fifty years I could return…

No. Yes, I am in incredible pain from his departure; I will not deny this fact. But I want to see them. I want to play with Alice as she dresses me up. I want to hug Esme and smile at Carlisle and let Emmett make fun of my fifth fall of the day while Jasper calms me down. I even want to see Rosalie's beautiful scolding face. I mostly want to see Edward, with that auburn hair between my fingers as his smoldering eyes read me inside out once again. I want to feel his cold lips brush against mine, but he would never allow it to happen again. Still, I won't leave. If he truly hates me, he'll leave. I haven't seen these friends in such a long time, and still they're like a second family to me. In fact, they would be my only family if it weren't for his leaving me.

I will stay. Right now, I'll run and cry tearless sobs into my pillow, but I will stay. I will see those eyes once more. Even if it kills me.

Edward

A shift in the wind made me notice it. I could smell her even from underground. Was that normal? She smelt just as sweet, just as tantalizing as if she were alive and well. That was impossible. I glanced at Alice, and she noticed it as well.

'We should go check the records and the house. Just in case.' She thought. I didn't want to think that someone may have changed her. I didn't want to think that she was also a vampire… but if she was…what exactly was I going to do about it?

I reached the stone sooner than Alice and was shocked by what it said. I quickly turned to Alice, her face a proof that my confusion and anguish were very visible in my expression, despite my sad attempt.

'She was eighteen when she died. That means it was the same year that I…' I began to breathe heavily as different ways she may have…'No…she wouldn't. She's stronger than that. Right…?' I asked myself, but remembering her expression when I left her, I didn't know what to think. I turned to Alice once again. She looked at me, concerned. She was worried for my sanity even more now, but I could tell that she also wanted to rip me to shreds for being an accomplice in her almost-sister's death. Pity for my wretched soul was all that stood between her and me.

'No…Alice, please tell me it's not what I'm thinking. I wouldn't mind if I became sadistically self-absorbed in thinking that she would…I mean…oh God…' I croaked between breathless and tearless sobs.

'I… I don't know… what to think Edward. I saw us going to the funeral home, looking through her papers. I just never thought the reason would be…damn it, I should have come on my own.' she though in reply, her voice becoming more and more weak. Still, it wasn't even close to what I wanted to hear.

'Come on, Edward. Let's go see the guy who owns the cemetery. He should have the files on the deceased. Unless you don't think you could…'

'No. If I am the cause for her death, I deserve to go through the pain I should have been going through for the past 98 forsaken years!' I shouted silently. Alice didn't deserve this from me. None of this was her fault. It was all mine. I… I killed the one person I will ever love…

'Oh, Edward…' she breathed shakily. 'Take your time, okay? I know you want to be alone, so just come along when you're ready. I'll be ahead of you.' She said quietly, her voice choking, even through her mind. I curled up in a ball, right over the dirt that was covering my Bella's beautiful body. I reached up for the tombstone, clutching to it so strongly that some of it cracked within my death grip. I tried to lessen the intensity of the grasp, little chunks of stone falling to the ground, but I still held on. I felt as though if I let it go, she would be gone from my life completely. It was the only thing I had left of hers. I would never have her smile, her blush, or her soft lips. I screamed and sobbed, tearlessly, not caring if anyone heard. I'd rip them apart if they dared take me away from this spot. I despised myself. Why didn't I stay with her? I should have stayed… we could have just kept Jasper away from her. I could have protected her forever!! She wanted me to, but I…

I pulled myself up a bit; just enough to hug the stone, pretending it was her. It did not have her warmth. Nor her soft, chocolate hair or embarrassing stories from P.E. It didn't have her voice or her kisses or touch. It didn't even have the rush of blood to her face at my own touch. I knew that. But it was all I could do.