"Bella your mother and I have had it with your behavior," Father huffed. He was sitting hesitantly on the foot of my bed, lecturing me on the expectations they had for me, and the life I am supposed to live. I was staring blankly at the ground, carefully perched on my dressing chair, but I didn't bother listening to what he had to say. It wasn't as if anything he said was of importance. Usually, I would be thrilled I was getting to spent time with Father. After all, this was the first time either of them entered my room in months; but I could care less. It didn't matter to me who was speaking or how worried they thought they were for me. I didn't want anything unless it came from Edward. When Father realized I wasn't paying attention to him, his face twisted into chagrin and turned into a fiery red colour.

"Isabella Marie Swan!" he wailed, abruptly standing up. I continued to stare at the floor and didn't even flinch when he walked toward the doorway. Father's voice was droned in the back of my mind. What was he even talking about now? I decided I should at least try to tune in. Listening was harder than it used to be. I was already used to ignoring all the voices surrounding me, so I struggled to let the words sink in.

"Isabella, this isn't normal! You have done nothing except sit in your room for over four months! Your mother and I can't take it anymore! I am tired of you not paying attention, not caring, having to talk to your back, or watching you starve yourself! It's been four months, dear. At this rate, when will you ever get back to normal? Lady Jane said she knew a perfect place for uncanny children like you, and we think you should go. It is a very fine place, not very far from here and your mother and I have already taken a look at it. You can come visit us as much as you please and the people there are kind and assertive. I think you would be much happier living there. What do you think about it honey?" He paused for a moment, hoping to finally get some interaction with me.

This sparked my interest. They wanted to leave me in some place like an abandoned child? I couldn't leave, I had to stay here and wait for Edward. What if Edward came back when I was away? What if he's trying his best to get back to me right now? If that were the case, it was decided; I had to stay.

I opened my mouth and sighed before calmly asking, "What have I done wrong, Father? I'm fluent in French, English and Latin, I do most of the things I am told, and I even started taking lessons again. I can walk gracefully with five books stacked on my head, I can read and write poetry, and I can play almost any piece of music on the piano. I haven't done anything wrong."

"Exactly it, it's not normal, Bella, dear. All you do, are the same things over and over again. Other than those things, you never do anything else. Trying to have a conversation with you is like pulling teeth. Trying to make you laugh seems almost impossible. I don't know what to do with you anymore. Your mother and I think it would be best if you leave this place. Maybe when you clear your mind, you'll feel better living somewhere else."

"But, Father, this is where I belong, and I won't go away from it. I want to stay here and there's nothing you can do about it. Father, please, let me stay," I begged. "I promise, I'll change. I promise, Father, please." For what seemed like years, I reluctantly turned around to look into his eyes.

"Please Father?" I asked one more time. He tried to avert his gaze, but shock was evident on his features. He didn't expect me to respond. I tried to make him look at me, the way Edward used to do to. We stayed there for, what seemed like hours, before he cleared his throat and said,

"You can stay, under two conditions: One, you have to meet Jacob Black and two, take care of your Mother. She has been very ill and I think it's a good way to spend some time with her. She won't be going to any meetings because she hasn't been feeling her best," Father said sadly. I nodded and gave him a hug and he blushed.

What was the point in meeting Jacob Black? Did they expect that he would make me forget Edward? Or perhaps they planned on betrothing us? What ever they thought, I was sure it wouldn't work. I decided I would go straight to Mother's room, to see if she needed anything. If she was ill enough to miss anything, it was probably worse than Father was letting on.

After standing up, I uncertainly walked out of my room, and went to see Mother. While I was walking through the halls, I felt lost. It was as if this was the first time I was walking through the castle. The halls seemed bigger and unfamiliar. I passed by many servants, most of which, I had forgotten their names and stared surprisingly at me. I searched each corner of the castle before I unknowingly walked into the Kitchen. As I disappointedly sighed and turned around, I bumped into...a pile of quilts?

"Sorry, didn't see you over the quilts..." a male voice said, then poking his head over the quilts he asked bewildered, "Princess?" It was Jasper. Quickly standing up and dusting himself off, he offered me his hand and helped me up.

"Princess, what are you doing out here?" he asked, while he gently picked up the quilts.

'I'm looking for Mother's room,' I said in my head. There was no way I could say it out loud, though. To forget my way around my own home wasn't something most people did. Before I could answer, Jasper bowed and said,

"Please forgive me, Princess. It's just that I haven't seen you for a while, and I forgot my manners. I will excuse myself now," he stood up and began to walk away.

"Wait, Jasper," I protested. "Where are you off to?"

"The Queen's room," he replied curtly.

"I was just heading that way. Would you mind horribly if I tagged along?" I asked. Taken aback, he smiled and said,

"Why of course not, Princess, I would be honored if you accompanied me."

Once Jasper and I reached Mother's room, I felt the gloom of the servants around. They bowed as I entered the room, and I saw the grimness on their faces. The room was quiet except for Mother's soft moans. She was lying limply in the middle of the bed, sprawled underneath the covers. Her cheeks where pale and gaunt, and she looked thinner than she used to be. Her lips were blue and there were dark circles beneath her eyes; the result of lack of sleep. She meekly lifted her head and called faintly,

"Bella?"

I casually walked over to the side of her bed and sat down. "I'm here, Mother," I whispered.

"Oh, Bella," she sighed, and leaned forward. One of the servants quickly appeared and thrushed a wooden bucket in front of me. Another one, Emmett, pulled me away from my seat. Standing me up and patting my head, Emmett asked me if I was alright.

"I'm fine, Emmett, but how is Mother doing? Is she getting better?" I asked.

"I'm afraid she's getting worse everyday, Princess," Esme answered, suddenly rushing over to my mother's side. She wiped away the bile on Mother's mouth, and took away the bucket. She then tied mother's hair back and left, entering only moments later to put a cold, wet cloth on Mother's forehead.

"I'm so-sorry, Bella," Mother stuttered, trying to get up again. Esme gently pushed her down and told her not to strain herself. I couldn't stand it anymore, my mother lay there, so helpless and weak. I decided it would be best if I left. So I kissed my mother goodbye, and I tried to find my way outside to the garden.

***

I was sitting down on the swing Edward made me so many years before. Somehow, it made me feel better, made me feel closer to him, knowing he was the one who made it. I felt as though he were standing behind me, waiting for me to be securely on the seat, before pushing me. I tried not to look at things that reminded me of Edward, but I couldn't help it. He was everywhere I looked. The garden hadn't changed since Edward left, there wasn't a single leaf out of place; but it didn't look the same. Without Edward working on it, it wasn't as wonderful as I remembered.

Four months have passed since I last saw Edward. Contrary to what everyone says, time does not heal the wounds, or the pain that is left behind. Instead, it just softens the blow, and tries to stitch you up. It makes you hurt, makes you feel, and makes you know that what isn't there anymore was real. That what you're missing and what hurt you so badly was truly there and not just some fragment of your imagination. Time does not stop you from hurting, it just stops you from trying and tries to fill in the spaces.

These months that went by felt like a dream. No, a nightmare. Each moment that passed me felt like an eternity. The days that elapsed felt impossible, like there shouldn't be another day. Each day lulled past, and dragged me unwillingly. Why must people go on, when the things they love aren't there? I couldn't believe that I continued to exist without Edward. Without him my world didn't shine like it used to. I felt the loneliness and emptiness, and the discolor in the way I saw things. Nothing seemed to matter to me anymore, and everything that mattered was gone. Why was everything so difficult? And why was it that the outside world went on the way they did, as if nothing ever happened?

I heard the distant the sound of a large carriage pulling up to the castle, and I assumed it was another on of Father's meetings. I waited patiently for someone to tell me it was time for my piano lesson, or Lady Jane scolding me for missing idling, but no one came. The silence was peaceful. It made me forget the things I wanted to say, and focus on trying to stay here. Mother and father were serious about making me an orphan. Where they that concerned over my health, or were they just tired of me being a burden? It didn't matter what their reasons were. I was determined to stay where my memories were buried.

"You seem mighty lonely there, Miss," a low, husky voice said, shattering my thoughts. I looked up and saw a tall, muscular boy with russet skin, shaggy black hair and dark eyes in front of me. He was wearing a gold dublet with royal blue piping, worn over his loose white shirt and a maroon breeches with gold buttons, a gold sash around his waste and lacing, with more royal blue accenting it. He had a mischievous grin on his face and was standing straight like a like a proper gentlemen; but there was something about him that made him look child-like, calm and relaxed.

"Isn't it quite rude to ignore my greeting, Fair Maiden, though you are hardly fair?" he asked, arching his eyebrows.

"Kind Sir, please excuse me. I was shocked to find such a handsome young gentlemen, and stranger, standing before me. Shall I curtsy and ask for your forgiveness?" I replied.

"Why of course. It would not be a full apology without the Princess kissing my feet, and begging for forgiveness," he mused. I smiled and he smiled back at me.

"Perhaps I should beg now?" I said, carefully getting off the swing.

"I suppose you shall," the boy laughed as he bowed and I curtsied. He then walked towards me and I offered him my hand, which he kissed it lightly.

"You must be Prince Jacob Black, am I correct kind sir?" I asked, already knowing the answer.

"You are correct, and might I be so bold to assume that you are Princess Isabella Swan?"

"I am she," I smiled. "Dear Prince, we have not yet spoken more than a thousand words to each other, and yet I feel like I already know who you are."

"That pleases me, Princess, for I too feel the same way," Jacob said, then added, "Please, call me Jacob, for that is my true name."

"Jacob," I repeated. "Then if you'd like, please call me Bella."

"Bella," Jacob laughed before he said, "Would you mind terribly if we stop speaking like this? My tongue is no longer use to old English, Bella." I nodded politely.

"Of course not, Jacob. Would you like to have a cup of tea? Maybe after that, we can sing a little song?" I asked, while he smiled with me. 'Jacob,' I thought, 'Maybe he isn't so bad.'