Author's Note: Just a short chapter to let you know that she's going to be okay. Physically, at least. Psychologically and emotionally…I don't know. Why don't you read on and see for yourself? :) Enjoy!

Disclaimer: I do not own Twilight.


Chapter 33

"Bella!" His voice echoed in my head. It was the one voice that I'd hoped never to hear again. The resentment was still there, even in hell.

I turned on my heels and ran. I ran away quickly, away from the voice. I didn't want to face him.

But suddenly, he was right there in front of me. I was running too fast to stop myself quickly, and I tumbled into his open arms.

I struggled violently, but it was no use. He was too strong for me.

"Bella, please listen!" he pleaded desperately. "I'm sorry! I know I did wrong! Please listen! Bella! No!"

I succeeded in escaping his arms, and I turned to leave. He caught hold of my wrist and swung me back around to face his handsome face.

"Bella…" he whispered, pulling me closer. "Forgive me." He leaned closer, intending on pulling his lips over mine…

And I realized that I couldn't move. I couldn't escape his embrace or his kiss…

I was trapped.

The worst thing about his kiss was that it was intoxicating. He was kissing me with such passion and familiarity that it was hard to pull away. Instead, I just melted in his arms, and I let him kiss me.

Gaining confidence by my weakness, he tightened his arms around me and crushed my body to his.

I felt safe and warm in his embrace, but I also knew this was wrong. Everyone had been wrong. We hadn't been made for each other. We weren't fated to go through life with each other. It had just been a silly crush that had started all this…

The crush had been the first mistake. The next mistake was marriage. And the others… He'd made it himself. He had killed our baby. The affair.

He was going to have to live with that mistake for the rest of his life. Life with the guilt.

Mistakes, mistakes. Mistakes were ruining my life.

Just touching him felt like I was betraying my baby. I was doublecrossing her…

The thought of my poor little child was enough to help me regain my senses. I ripped myself away from him, and he looked hurt.

"No, Bella…" he whispered as I ran away. He fell to his knees as he reached for me. Tears fell down his face silently. "Don't leave me."

As the distance between us increased, his voice just became louder. He was no longer in sight, but his voice echoed all around me.

"Bella, don't leave… I love you."

I jerked awake, panting hard like I'd just run the marathon. Cold sweat covered my face, and my heart was racing.

"Bella?"

I stared up at the now-familiar ceiling. I'd seen it too many times before. What was this?

Hadn't I jumped from the hospital rooftop? Hadn't I committed suicide? Wasn't I supposed to be dead?

But here I was, perfectly fine, lying down in my comfortable bed in the hospital. How pathetic. My intended suicide had failed.

"Bella? Can you hear me?"

I turned my head slowly to face Alice. She sighed in relief.

"Alice…" I murmured, a lump forming in my throat.

"Oh, Bella!" Alice said, bursting into fresh tears. "You scared me so much!" She was sobbing. "I thought you were going to die! We all thought…"

I finally realized why I wasn't dead. The hospital building really wasn't very tall enough to do anyone good. And there had been a bunch of grasses and bushes where I'd chosen to jump…

"It's a miracle you're alive," Alice said. "There were all those bushes to cushion your fall, but also, tons of people rushed forward to try to catch you… Luckily, no one was hurt but you…"

I realized that my left leg was stiff.

"It's a slight sprain," Alice said, sniffling. "I think you're the only person who ever survived a suicidal attempt with hardly any injuries at all."

I closed my eyes. A single tear leaked from my eye.

"What were you thinking?" Jasper, who was standing behind Alice, said. He looked shaken, but relieved to see me awake. "Bella, answer me! What were you thinking? Were you that unhappy enough to end your own life?"

"I'm…sorry…" I whispered brokenly. "I was…so miserable…I wanted to die… It seemed like…the easiest choice…"

"Was it that easy taking yourself away from me, Bella?" Jasper whispered, hurt evident in his voice. "From all of us? Didn't you think about us when you decided to commit suicide?"

I didn't answer. I was thinking about my dream. It reminded me of Edward. Was he here? Right now?

I sat up slowly and looked at my family. They all looked pale, shaken by the recent events.

There he was. He stood in the corner again, away from the rest of our families. He was staring at me with unreadable eyes, but I could tell that he'd been the most worried. After all, it had been he who had dashed up to the rooftop to try to convince me to stop, and it was he who had failed to do so.

I looked away from him. It was a childish action, but I had no intentions of seeing my husband right now.

"Leave," I commanded softly, tears streaming down my face freely now. "All of you. Leave."

"But-" Alice began to protest.

"Now."

After a moment of hesitation, Carlisle and Esme retreated quietly. They were the first ones out of the room, and Charlie and Renee followed them. Emmett backed away slowly, his eyes never leaving me. He paused next to Edward and laid a hand on his shoulder.

Edward stared at me for a while longer before consenting to follow his brother out the door. Alice rose from my bedside and followed her siblings out of the room, but Jasper lingered.

"So the easiest option didn't work," he said. His eyes bored into mine. "There's still time. I hope you consider the option I gave to you carefully. Like I said, it's not something I'm forcing you to do, but I really think it's the best choice for you." And he sighed quietly before turning on his heels to leave the room.

"Jasper?" I asked softly.

He paused, his head inclined towards me.

"Do you think I should give him another chance?"

He didn't answer, taken aback by my unexpected question.

"Answer honestly," I said, staring at the end of my bed. "Do you think he's suffered enough to be given a second chance? Do you think…do you think he's learned his lesson?"

Jasper took his time answering. "Edward has…certainly suffered enough. He's lost his family's trust. He's lost his own child. And he's on the verge of losing something far more important than family." He turned to look at me again. "You. I think…I think the fact that you have the power to decide his own fate…scares him. He knows it's a possibility that you might choose to leave him. And now that his eyes have been opened, he realizes that…if you do choose that option, he'll be alone. Quite frankly…" His face hardened. "I've never seen anyone care for you this way. Not even I can compare…"

My own face was hardened.

"He loves you, Bella," Jasper stated clearly. "After what has happened between the two of you, he realized how strongly he cared for you. I really don't think he can survive without you anymore. You've become his life, and if you leave him… I don't know how he's going to live."

"So what are you saying?" I asked flatly. "You think I should give him another chance?"

Jasper hesitated. "Yes…and no. It's complicated. I'm torn between the two choices. Edward has betrayed you. He broke his promise to me about never letting anything harm you. Therefore, as his brother-in-law, I say no. But on the other hand…" He closed his eyes despairingly. "He's my friend. He's someone I care about a lot. And as a friend, I feel like…he should have a second chance."

I didn't move. I kept staring unblinkingly at the bedpost.

"You really shouldn't listen to me," Jasper sighed. "This is one matter that you shouldn't ask me for advice on. Just know that, whatever you choose, I'll always be on your side."

And he turned and left the room.

My eyes drifted towards the drawer that held the documents. Could I really not tolerate this man anymore? The man that I still love…despite all his mistakes?

Will I be able to live without him?


AN: What do you think, fans? Do you think he should be given another chance? First, think about what he did to Bella, and then answer. Second, think about the character that he is. We need Edward Cullen in the Twilight universe. Now try answering the question again. What do you think?

Reviews, please! Lots and lots and lots! With cherry and kiwi and strawberries and grapes and blueberries and yogurt chips and brownies and gummy bears and chocolate syrup on top? :)