Where the Streets Have No Name
Chapter 3
2009
Bella entered his room with practiced stealth that she had perfected over the years. He could hear her movements but couldn't lift his eyes to meet her gaze. He followed her in his peripheral vision instead.
She looked... exhausted, slumped. She had been that way quite a bit lately, he had noticed. Perhaps the burden of their relationship was becoming too heavy for her weary shoulders.
And why shouldn't it be? What had he really done to lessen her load?
Nothing.
Not for the first time in four years he wished he had the nobility of character to keep his distance from Bella. That he had the strength to put her well-being over his needs, his greed.
But how could he?
How could he wither in thirst when the elixir of life lay within his reach?
How could he turn away from the willing arms that promised hope? Eager lips that showered love?
He couldn't.
He didn't.
His head dropped even lower in shame, his chin nearly touching his chest.
She came to stand in front of him, then sank to her knees so she could look up to his face. She cupped his cheeks with the gentleness that he had come to take for granted.
"Hey," she said softly. "I was so worried about you. You never come home this late. Are you okay?"
The quiet concern in her voice made him want to weep. He wasn't worthy of her. Never had been, and he was about to prove that he never would be.
How could he live without her? How would he go back to the bleak existence his life was before she ignited the fire of hope in the darkness?
When he refused to meet her eyes or utter a word, she took the initiative to draw him out of his stupor.
"Hey, look at me. What happened? Please talk to me. Did you go to see Mr. Jenks today? What did he say? Is it... is it possible at all?"
AN: Thank you for putting up with my sudden decision re the Drabble War. Please check out the amazing stories these kickass fic-warriors are writing. You can find them in my favs.
Thank you Lulabelle98,HeidiJoVT, and Dinx.
Special thanks to cicig_ and SexylexiCullen for rescuing me from the evil 99 review count! You're incredibly kind for indulging my craziness.