You guys blow my mind. No really, it's blown. Thanks so much for reading and being so unnecessarily kind in your reviews.

Location: Forks, Washington

Prompt: Island

Dressed in a navy blue sleeveless wrap dress, Bella stood right beside her father in the late summer sun, as he greeted guests walking into the funeral home for the service for Renee. Bella had gone through the visitation the day before, spending over four hours greeting people she barely knew and old friends of Charlie's, as they came to offer their condolences, and she was beginning to feel numb.

The feeling of desperation had hit her and she found herself wanting to leave town as quickly as she could, yet again. However, she wouldn't leave her father at the time. As Charlie glanced over at his only child, he could tell she was itching to leave. It was her coping mechanism. When Renee had first come back to town, Bella had suddenly decided she wanted to travel for the summer, after saving up all her money from working the previous year, for college. Now, with Renee gone, Charlie knew Bella was uncomfortable again.

Pastor Webber approached them just before 11am and requested that Charlie & Bella take their seats as the service was about to begin. As Bella walked to her spot in the front pew beside her father, she passed Esme Cullen. Esme gave her a tiny smile and a knowing glance. Bella couldn't help but feel a pang of sadness in the pit of her stomach as she realized that Edward hadn't come. Not that she had expected him to. Considering how they left things, Bella didn't expect to see Edward again.

The service for Renee was fairly subdued, though Pastor Webber did a wonderful job. Charlie gave a short but poignant eulogy where he forgave Renee for her past and thanked her for the best thing that had ever happened to him, his daughter. Bella teared up, even though she tried to stop the fat tears from coming, and Sue Clearwater offered her some tissues from behind her.

Once the service was completed, there was a small reception in the basement of the church. Charlie's house was far too small to welcome the number of guests that showed up, and this was truly the best location. Esme had graciously helped Sue arrange some last minute catering and the floral arrangements and photos of Renee from her healthier days had been moved down to the basement.

As Bella sat in a darkened corner of the room, she found herself feeling rather antsy. The main part of the day was over, and she was eager to get home and change into something far more comfortable. Unfortunately, just as she gathered up the nerve to whisper a quick goodbye to her father and leave, she watched as Edward walked through the door looking saddened.

Edward had wanted to attend the service, but being on a Monday morning, he was due at the school for work. Though school didn't begin until the next week, he still needed to prepare as much as he could, and he was also called in for a meeting with the principal to make sure things were on track. Edward got out of Port Angeles as quickly as he could, but he still missed it.

As he entered the room, his eyes darted around looking for either Bella or his mother. Unfortunately, his eyes found his mother first and he approached her anxiously.

"You're late."

"Don't remind me. I tried my best to get here but Principal Greene likes to talk just to hear himself speak," Edward answered bluntly. "How did things go?"

"The service was lovely, but like usual, Bella was closed off completely. She nodded at people and shed a few tears during the eulogy, but you could tell she wasn't herself." Esme was concerned about Bella's well being and even though she had told on her several occasions that the Cullen Hospice offered bereavement services, she didn't think that Bella would ever take her up on her offer of assistance. Bella was clearly independent and very closed off.

"Is she here?"

"Yeah, she's hiding in the corner, but I think she's going to leave sooner rather than later. I was hoping to get a chance to speak with her though." Esme winked at her son and Edward suddenly rued the fact that he had told his mother how he felt for the grieving girl. "Perhaps you should go talk to her and tell her what is in your heart?"

"I don't think she wants to hear it, mother."

"All girls want to hear that they are loved, Edward."

Edward grumbled unhappily at his mother as he picked up a piece of a roast beef sandwich and popped it in his mouth. When he turned around, he saw Chief Swan standing alone and approached him to offer his condolences. The man was remarkably composed, but this was a result of his job, and the fact that he had time to adjust to Renee's death. He knew it was coming, whereas Bella seemed in denial.

"Thanks again for bringing her home," Charlie remarked sullenly as he patted Edward on the back. "I owe you one."

"Don't worry about it, Chief."

"I think you can call me Charlie now, Edward." Edward nodded softly as he watched as the Chief looked towards the corner where Bella sat alone, nervously fiddling with the hem of her dress. "She cares about you, you know. She just doesn't know how to handle it all."

"That much is obvious," Edward answered simply. "I just wish she would realize I'm here to help her."

"You just need to give her a little bit of time. She wants to run, but she is enrolled at UDub for the fall, so she can't run far. She will come to her senses, even if she doesn't want to. Like John Donne wrote, 'No man is an island entire of itself; every man is a piece of the continent, a part of the main.' Bella just needs to realize she isn't an island, and also, that she loves you too."