XXIV. Remains of Dead Dreams

Leah stared me down, arms crossed and expression flat.

I leaned back on the rotting log, its sharp, ridged edges digging into my palms. Despite the whisper of music and laughter in the distance, there was something crushing about the silence that had settled between us.

I began to second-guess bringing her out here. She looked like she was about to kill someone, and unfortunately I was the only one within a fifty meter radius.

And then, for the first time since I'd revealed the truth of her tribe's legends, Leah spoke.

"So…Emily is his soulmate?" She folded in on herself, like the world was too heavy around her.

"I…yeah. She is," I said, hating myself for it. I stood to my feet and stepped close, momentarily hovering a hand over her shoulder, before ultimately pulling back, afraid she would crumble like a house of cards if I so much as touched her.

"That's…" Leah barked out an incredulous laugh and scrubbed furiously at her eyes. "That's bullshit," she whispered.

"I know."

"Do you?" Leah lowered her arm and glowered at me. "Tell me, Isabella. How do you know any of this?"

Whatever I meant to say next was cut short by the ringing of my cellphone. I fished it out of my back pocket and flipped it open, pressing it against my ear.

"Isabella!" Alice's soprano voice rang. "What did you do?"

"Um, that depends," I hedged, "What did you see?" Telling Leah the truth had been an impromptu decision. I couldn't imagine Alice had seen much of it.

Alice sniffed, "You tell me. All I know is that whatever you're up to leads you to canceling on me, and I won't stand for it!"

"Oh," I blinked, taken aback by her dramatic proclamation. "I won't cancel. In fact, I'll just head over now. How does that sound?"

Alice was quiet for a moment, and then she heaved a loud sigh. "I'm not totally clear as to why the Quileute girl insists on accompanying you, but I suppose it's the better alternative. I'll see you in exactly 33 minutes."

I blinked. "Wait. What?"

But it was too late. Alice had already disconnected the call. I frowned down at my cellphone before snapping it close and pocketing it.

Leah arched an eyebrow. "Who was that?"

I met her eyes. "Alice Cullen."

Leah's brow furrowed. "…Cullen? Wait. Aren't they…?!"

"Vampires? Yep," I shrugged, dusting off my hands against my jeans.

"…And your friends with them?" she gaped.

Whoa. Wait until she finds out I date one of them. It'll totally blow her mind. "Basically. Yeah." I pursed my lips in thought. As much as I hated lying, I knew it was the best way to get Leah off my back. "Look, Leah. No one told me the Cullens were vampires the same way no one told me Sam and his lackeys are teenage werewolves. I just know things. Always have."

Leah snorted. "What? Like it's some superpower?"

"Sure. Think of it that way. Edward Cullen can read minds, and Alice Cullen can see the future. I'm human, so I'm still not the weirdest one of the lot," I shrugged again, heading off back in the direction of the party.

Leah hurried after me, "Wait! Now I know you're pulling my leg, Swan! There's just no way!"

"I'd tell you to come see for yourself, but it wouldn't be safe."

"What," she scowled, "As if it's any safer for you."

I stopped and turned to her. "That's not what I meant. It's the proximity to vampires that activates the wolf gene. And you Leah, will be the first female shifter."

Her complexion paled and turned a little green. "You can't be serious."

"Remember what I said about the wolves sharing a telepathic connection?" I reminded her. "Do you really want to share a headspace with Sam at the moment?"

"No!" she spat instantly, and then hesitated. "…How long before…?"

I frowned. "About a year."

Her shoulders dropped in relief. "Oh. So, if I see that Cullen girl now, I won't explode into a giant furball?"

I crossed my arms. "Hard to say. If, for some strange reason, they decided to attack you, then yes, you would. Otherwise, no. But it would likely speed up the process."

"I'm going with you," Leah decided. "I just…I need to see for myself."

I eyed the stubborn set of her jaw. "Suit yourself." Leah appeared surprised by my lack of protest. "What? It's no skin off my back. If you want to chance it, I won't stop you."

She flashed me a cocky grin. "Good!" Quieter, she asked as we began heading back, "Is there really no way to stop it?"

"Like I said, it's the proximity to vampires that's causing the change. Your best chance would be getting away from here, although I can't guarantee you wouldn't run into some other vampire. Otherwise, the only thing you can really do is slow down the process."

"How's that?"

I shot her a grin. "Control your temper."

"Seriously?!"

"You've seen Paul?"

She snorted. "Yeah. He looks a breath away from spontaneously combusting."

"Bingo."

"That definitely explains that," Leah grumbled and came to stop beside me once we reached the tree line. "Oh look, your old man is here. Follow my lead."

"What? Why?" I hurried after her.

"You think my parents are just going to let me visit the Cullen girl's house?"

"Ohh. Point taken."

Leah rolled her eyes. "Hurry up, Swan."

"Yes, ma'am."

When we pulled up to the Cullen mansion, Alice already stood on the steps, lit under the porch lights and awaiting our arrival.

"Um. What the hell is she wearing?"

I parked the car before giving Alice a once over. "She's just wearing pajamas, Leah." Granted, they looked like something straight from Regina George's closet. The tank top and shorts were black silk patterned with pink polka dots. Her black silk robe, fuzzy pink slippers, and white sleeping mask perched atop her head only served to complete her ensemble.

"Whatever you say," Leah muttered, before exiting the truck.

I switched off the ignition and hurried after her. "Hey, Alice!"

"Isabella!" Alice flashed a grin in my direction, before eyeing Leah curiously. "Who's your friend?"

"What? Aren't you supposed to be psychic or something," Leah huffed.

Alice frowned. "Let's head inside." She didn't wait for our reply, and turned to skip back through the door.

I lead Leah into the front, sprawling room, where Alice waited. Near the staircase, Rosalie and Esme stood. Whatever exchange they were having came to a halt as soon as I shut the door behind us.

"Isabella," Rosalie said icily, "Mind informing us why this girl knows about Alice's abilities?"

I met Rosalie's glare calmly and nodded. "Because of her current situation, I decided to let Leah in on the secret early. She's meant to become the first female wolf shifter in her tribe."

Rosalie paused, likely caught off guard by my explanation.

Esme moved to my side and took my hand. "Hello, sweetheart," she smiled and then turned to Leah, "It's lovely to meet you. I'm Esme. If you don't mind me asking, what is your situation, Leah?"

Despite her obvious apprehension, Leah answered stonily, "My ex-fiancé started acting like a lunatic, dumped me, and has now moved on with my cousin."

"In other words, Sam became the first wolf shifter in decades, which resulted in him imprinting on Emily, Leah's cousin," I elaborated.

Esme nodded sympathetically, and even Rosalie's expression had softened.

"You all already understand how the telepathic connection works within the pack. I figured I'd rather break the news now than have her find out when there's a bunch of guys in her head," I said with a wrinkle of my nose.

"Huh. Good call," Alice easily agreed.

"…You guys are really vampires?" Leah eyed them warily.

Alice disappeared in a blur, and then reappeared with a parchment bag hanging from her hand. "Yes," she chirped in Leah's direction before thrusting the bag into my arms. "This is for you and Rosalie!"

"Rosalie's joining us?"

"I am not wearing that ridiculous outfit, Alice!"

We spoke simultaneously and then exchanged an apprehensive glance.

"She's only joining us if she agrees to the dress code!" Alice grinned. "What about you, Leah?"

"Not a chance." Despite her blasé response and stony expression, I noticed the sudden pallor of her skin.

Alice pouted.

"Don't mind her, Alice," I cut in while peeking into the bag. "She shouldn't have come here to begin with. The longer she is around you guys, the closer the wolf surfaces. No sense in quickening the transformation."

"She's right," Leah seized onto my excuse like a lifeline. "I should go. But this conversation isn't over, Swan."

"Sure," I shrugged, and tossed her my keys. "What? You didn't think I'd actually drive you all the way back to La Push?"

Leah smirked and tossed her long hair back over her shoulder. "Yeah, yeah. I'll see you later," she said, giving everyone a quick wave over her shoulder before flouncing through the doorway.

The door had barely shut behind Leah, when Rosalie complained, "Alice, you can't be serious."

Alice wagged her finger up at the blonde. "You want to have your chat with Isabella, you have to wear pajamas!"

"Alice, we don't even sleep."

I pulled out a cute black tank with white polka dots. "Shhh, Rosalie. It's for the aesthetic."

"What she said," Alice grinned.

"Fine," Rosalie bit out, and snatched the bag from my hand, before turning and stalking her way up the staircase. "Well? Aren't you coming?"

I felt it was safest not to argue with her, but I couldn't help but ask, "You want to chat with me?"

Rosalie shot me a side glance. "Later."

"Okay," I shrugged. Rosalie was as prickly as they came. I'd already antagonized her enough in the past. And if she was reaching out despite Alice's ridiculous stipulations, perhaps it was time to give her a chance.

Once we reached the landing to the second floor, Rosalie dug through the bag and handed me my pajamas before splitting off to her room.

I did my best to quickly change in the bathroom, but by the time I returned downstairs, Rosalie was already waiting, and the room had been completely transformed.

Why did I expect anything less? I wondered, gazing at the pink streamers, balloons, and fairy lights lining the walls, the piles of pillows and blankets artfully folded across the sofas and carpet, and the candles lit throughout the room, while Avril Lavigne played in the background. But as soon as I met Alice's hopeful gaze, I knew I couldn't be anything less than enthusiastic.

"Wow, Alice! This is fabulous!" I grinned, adjusting the pink sleeping mask atop my head and plodding over to one of the sofas.

"Thank you! And I must say, you look so adorable, Isabella!" she squealed, skipping to my side and adjusting my hair to frame my face. "Mooom! Can you come take some pictures of us?"

"In a second, sweetheart," Esme called, loud enough for me to hear her from wherever she was in the house.

"Isabella, you need to sit like this," Alice directed me to the long sofa situated across the flat screen, and had me tuck my legs underneath me, before adjusting the pink fuzzy pillows around me. "Rosalie, come sit on this side!"

To my surprise, Rosalie didn't deign to complain, but instead, complied with Alice's demands. Then again, she probably didn't mind the chance of being captured on film.

As soon as Alice had adjusted her golden curls to her liking, Esme made an appearance, carrying a white metal four-tier cupcake stand filled with all sorts of colorful baked goodies.

I gaped. "Esme, you didn't!"

"I hope you'll enjoy them," she offered me a sweet smile and set the stand on one side of the coffee table.

"Ugh, I can't wait to try them," I sighed, but kept my hands folded on my lap lest I face Alice's wrath.

"Here, angle it like this!" Alice instructed Esme, leaving the camera in her hands and bouncing over to my other side.

Once Esme snapped about a dozen shots, she disappeared back in the direction of the kitchen, and Alice turned to me, gesturing towards the coffee table, "So? What do you want to do first?"

I eyed the rows of nail polish, makeup pallets, and hair products and meant to wave her off and let her decide, until I came to the realization that more than anything, Alice wanted me to engage with her. I shot the tower of goodies a brief glance and suggested, "Pedicure?"

Alice pouted. "You just want to stuff your face."

"Sue me," I grinned, and reached over for the lemon-raspberry muffin perched near the top.

"Have it your way," Alice said, reaching for the polish and dragging my feet onto her lap. "Rosalie! Can you do lavender for me?"

Behind me, Rosalie rose to her feet, and I took the opportunity to stack the pillows behind me before leaning back comfortably.

"I'm doing pink for you!" Alice said while scrubbing the chipped indigo polish from my toenails.

"Fine by me," I said around a mouthful of muffin. "This is really delicious by the way! Thank you, Esme!" I called, tilting my head back.

"It was my pleasure, darling!" Esme called back from somewhere in the kitchen.

"So what is everyone else getting up to?"

"Emmett left with Edward to Mount Rainier for the night," Rosalie said while she settled herself cross-legged between the table and couch, pulling Alice's tiny feet onto her lap.

"Carlisle is taking the night shift at the hospital and Jasper is upstairs in his study," Alice answered as well.

"Jasper didn't go with them?" I asked and chewed thoughtfully on another fluffy bite.

"No, he stayed so he could come hunt with me after they had already left. I wanted to be fully prepared for tonight," Alice flashed me a grin.

I smiled. "That was sweet of him."

"All done!" Alice exclaimed.

"What? Already?" I wiggled my toes and realized every nailbed had been coated a pale, shimmery pink.

"Yes! Now put your muffin down so I can do your manicure!"

I pouted and set my half-eaten muffin on the table, before sitting up and relinquishing my hands to Alice.

"Hey, Rosalie," I said, peeking down. "What's that under the table?"

Rosalie capped the lavender nail polish and set it back on the table, before pushing out the case into view.

I blinked and stared down at the bracelet making kit. It was the same set Jessica owned. Even now, through the clear casing, I could pick out some of the faux leather strips and beads I'd used to make Edward's bracelet.

"Alice…" I turned to her and pulled my hands carefully back once I realized she'd finished painting them pink. "Have you been spying on Jessica and I's girl nights?" It wouldn't just explain the kit, but the choice in music and the arrays of nail polish neatly arranged on the coffee table.

"…Maybe?" For the first time since I'd met her, Alice appeared embarrassed.

"You know, I do these things with Jessica because she enjoys them," I explained gently. "It's not a human script to follow. Jessica is basically in love with Avril Lavigne, and she's obsessive compulsive enough to change her nail polish as soon as one nail chips."

Her eyes lit with realization. "Oh…I see."

"What I'm trying to say is, if there's something else you'd rather have us doing, you should say something."

"Why don't you have Isabella help you with the dress?" Rosalie suggested, pushing back her hair before coating her nails a bright, crimson red.

Alice pouted. "Rosalie! That was supposed to be a surprise!" she whined.

Rosalie rolled her eyes. "You keep asking me if Isabella would prefer this or that. Why don't you consult her directly?"

My eyes bounced curiously between them. "What dress?"

Alice shot me a dazzling grin. "I'm designing your prom dress!"

I blinked. "Wow. That's…so sweet of you," I smiled, "You're a darling."

"I assume you won't be needing these then?" Esme called as she made her way over to us, a tray balanced in her hands.

"No, probably not," Alice admitted with an abashed grin.

I watched as Esme set the tray on the edge of the coffee table and eyed the brushes and little bowls filled with colorful paste. "What is all that?"

"I asked Esme if she could mix up some face mask recipes I found online," Alice explained.

"Aw! I can't let these go to waste! But, why so many?" I didn't imagine their stone skin required any sort of skin care.

"They're for different parts of your face," Alice eagerly explained, and began pointing them out, "That one would be for your cheeks, and that one would be for your nose and forehead, and that one would be for your chin."

"Alice, why don't you go ahead and help Isabella apply them," Esme suggested. "I'll start setting up your materials in the dining room. Rose, come give me a hand?"

Rosalie agreed with a silent nod and flew to her feet, before disappearing after Esme up the winding staircase.

I turned back and allowed Alice to adjust my sleeping mask so that it would firmly hold my hair back from my face, before she took up a brush and bowl in her hands.

"You really went all out on this, huh?" I mentioned, while she brushed gentle strokes of cool clay across my forehead.

She smiled sadly. "You're my first human friend. I wanted it to be perfect."

"It is," I assured her. "Not that we need any of this to have a good time, but I'm certainly enjoying all the pampering!"

"Oh! This is nothing," Alice laughed and leaned over to switch bowls. "Just wait until I take you shopping!"

"I'm sure that'll be an experience," I matched her grin. "But I hope you're aware I don't have much closet space."

Alice giggled. "I may or may not be willing to share some of my closet space with you."

I rolled my eyes. "You would."

"Alright, stop talking so I can do your chin," she chided.

I huffed but did as told.

"Okay, I'm done," Alice set the brush aside and shot to her feet. "Come on Isabella, let me show you what I have so far!"

I took her offered hand and padded after her, in the direction of the dining room. Esme and Rosalie were already inside, perusing through a massive sketchbook splayed open across the dining table. Rolls of fabric, cases of sewing needles, pincushions, cutting shears, chalk, and a sewing machine crowded around it, and to the side stood a headless white mannequin draped in the beginnings of a dress. I slipped my hand from Alice's grip and stepped closer to it, allowing my fingers to glide down the dark sheer fabric that made up the long sleeves. At the bottom, the fabric folded in layers that were meant to gather at the wrists.

"Is this supposed to be see-through?" I asked, skimming a finger along the sweetheart neckline. Although only half the bodice was pinned to the mannequin, all of it was sheer fabric that matched the sleeves in a deep indigo shade.

"Yes!" Alice said, skipping over to one of the dining chairs to pick up a deep blue garment. "This corset will go underneath."

"Is this your final design?" Esme asked, gesturing towards one of the sketchbook sheets.

I joined her side and ran my eyes down the wide pencil strokes detailing an elegant, floor-length dress, layered in long, flowing ruffles, with the fabric cinched to the left side of the waist.

"No," Alice said, eyes glazed over. "The final design is unclear, but…" She skipped over, and Esme gently pulled me aside while Alice took a pencil to hand. Eyes still glassy, she flipped the page and allowed the tip of her pencil to fly, graphite smudging gracefully beneath her artful strokes.

My eyes lit up as the dress began to take shape.

While the top remained fairly the same with its long, layered sleeves, the bottom widened from a tight fit to a billowing skirt. The front was shortened dramatically to knee-length, while the train remained floor-length, and the ruffles were drawn wider and curlier.

"Was this what you were imagining?" Alice's lips widened into a dazzling grin, eyes once again focused on me.

I gaped. "It's…wow! Alice, this is incredible!"

"I'm sure it will look lovely on you," Esme squeezed my hand.

"I…thank you," I smiled, eyes bouncing between Esme's sweet smile and Alice's boisterous grin. "Really, Alice. You are beyond talented."

"We're not done yet!" Alice said and gestured towards the rolls of fabric lined across the dining table. "What do you think?"

I ran my fingers along their different textures. Most were in darker and lighter shades of indigo. There was sheer, satin, and silk. "I like all of them…except that one," I pointed to the only roll of fabric that was not indigo. It was a print flower design that reminded me of my abuelita's bedsheets.

"Aw, I liked the flowers," Alice pouted.

Instead of making a disparaging comment regarding its old-fashioned appearance―something I was sure would've been more Bella's style, I said, "It's not to my taste."

"What about these?" Esme suggested, directing me to a glass case on one corner of the table. Its subsections held beads and sequins in all sorts of styles. One section specifically contained little yellow and white flowers in varying sizes.

"Like the meadow," I grinned and turned back to the sketchbook. "What a perfect idea, Esme! We could sew them along here," I said, skimming my finger along the sketched neckline of the dress.

Alice clapped her hands and bounced to my side. "Like this," she said, pencil back in hand. Within seconds, the flowers had been drawn, gathered thickly across the sweetheart neckline and the top of the shoulderless sleeves, before tapering off into lone petals across the chest and down the sleeves.

"It's beautiful, Alice. Thank you."

"No, Isabella. Thank you! I'm so eager to get started on this," Alice eyed her materials wistfully. "But it's your turn to choose something for us to do!"

"Oh, um," I blinked, caught off guard by her suggestion. "We could watch a chick flick?"

"Ooh! I read that's a good slumber party activity," Alice nodded approvingly. "Pick any you like! We most likely own it."

"Okay―"

"Not that one," Alice cut me short. "It won't be released for another year."

"Oh," I scrambled to think of another option. "How about―"

"I can't even see when that one will be released," Alice pouted.

I huffed and went for a 90's option. "Clueless?"

"Perfect!" Alice clasped her hand eagerly. "Rosalie, can you put in the movie while I clear out my things?"

I shot Rosalie a startled look, realizing she'd been observing us from the dining room entrance the entire time. "Sure," she nodded and disappeared.

"Come along, Isabella," Esme steered me in the direction of the kitchen. "I hear popcorn is a customary snack for movie-watching. Would you like to make some?"

I nodded, eager. "I'd love to!"

My chest was a crater, collapsing in on itself like a crumbling building. My nostrils and throat burned with the scraping of saltwater and the sound of water currents roaring in my ears drowned everything else out.

"―calm down."

The blind panic gave away to a dull sense of shock, and then, a soothing peace.

I breathed. And then breathed again.

"…Jasper?"

"Don't stop. Breathe for me, Isabella," he murmured, and I realized his hands were resting on my shoulders.

"I'm fine," I muttered, sitting up on the couch and shrugging off his hands, squinting around the dark, candlelit room. "It was just a nightmare."

Jasper arched an eyebrow. "Are you certain about that?"

I narrowed my eyes. "What is that supposed to mean?"

And suddenly, that sickening feeling returned. My breaths shortened, until my sternum caved in and there was no air in my lungs and tears blurred my vision. My nails scraped uselessly against my chest and―

"Jasper! Stop!"

―and I could breathe again.

I gasped, scrambling back away from Jasper. "What are you doing to me?!"

Jasper frowned. "I was showing you you're not 'fine.' You're only calm because I'm manipulating the hormonal balance within your body to keep you from having a panic attack."

"Not the way to approach this, Jasper," Rosalie snapped from beside me.

"Isabella! I'm so sorry!" Alice hurried over to stand beside Jasper. "Edward told me to not let you fall asleep without taking your medication, but I didn't notice you fall asleep during the movie, and then you seemed so peaceful and I didn't see this happening until it was already too late."

"Alice, why don't you go call Edward. I'm sure Isabella would prefer his company right now," Rosalie calmly suggested beside me, carefully placing an arm around my shoulders. "Isn't that right, Isabella?"

I nodded mutely.

"O-okay," Alice agreed glumly and disappeared from the room.

"Jasper, you're going to slowly lift your influence on Isabella until she can breathe on her own," she directed him.

He nodded once, expression pensive. "Understood."

"Isabella, look at me." I met Rosalie's warm eyes and felt her raise my hand until my palm was flat against her chest. "Can you feel as my chest lifts and compresses? Focus on that, and do as I do."

I nodded and began to breathe alongside her, following the same rhythm. Slowly, the panic began to creep in, and my breath stuttered, but there was a disconnect between myself and this body that prevented me from completely going under.

"Good, that's good," Rosalie murmured.

Later, when she allowed my hand to drop back to my lap, I realized I'd shut my eyes. I opened them and noticed Jasper was gone, along with his influence. I was breathing on my own.

"How did you know to do that?" I wondered, remembering when Edward had done the same for me in my living room.

"Before I had Emmett, Edward used to do the same for me," Rosalie confessed with a sad smile. "You know my story. It's not a happy ending."

"But…you don't need to…"

"I don't need to breathe?" Rosalie shrugged. "It was just something to focus on. To pull me back from the dark place."

"I see," I murmured, pulling my legs up and tucking my knees under my chin. "Where's Esme?"

"She's visiting Carlisle during his break. Would you like me to call her?"

"No. I was just curious," I mumbled and tilted my head in her direction. "What did you want to chat about? Earlier, I mean."

Rosalie pursed her lips. "I don't think this is the best time for that conversation."

"I need to be distracted, and you need to get something off your chest," I said. "I say it's a win-win."

"I suppose this is the most privacy we'll get," she conceded.

I shrugged. "Probably."

"Why do I get the feeling you already know exactly what I want to say?" Rosalie sighed.

"Maybe because I do?" I said. "You haven't been discrete when it comes to your disapproval of me. And I know you better than I mean to. I know a lot of you better than I mean to."

"Then I suppose you know my grievances with you?" she murmured, leaning back against the cushions beside me, legs folded underneath her.

"I suppose I do," I agreed. "If this goes sideways, I've put your family in a bad spot. If it doesn't, I put my humanity at risk. I'm endangering everything you care and stand for."

Rosalie scowled down at the pillow clutched in her lap. "Tell me, Isabella. Do you want to join my family?"

"No. But that's not the point."

Her head snapped in my direction, almost as though she hadn't expected my answer. "…Then what is the point?"

Despite knowing she would approve of my answer, I had thought about how to approach this conversation. Because even if I had no interest in becoming a vampire, my proximity to their family put my humanity at risk.

And I'd been ready to go on the defensive. To tell her not everyone wanted what she wanted. To tell Rosalie to quit projecting her broken dreams onto me. I wasn't some vessel meant to fulfill every longing she had.

But then I realized―

"Rosalie," I turned to her. "You're living in a fantasy world."

Her eyes narrowed. In the dim light, her eyes gleamed an eerie gold.

"You're angry that Carlisle turned you, but for what? Even if you hadn't been engaged to that monster, he came from money. You would've likely been engaged to someone similar. You would've never had the life Vera had," I said gently.

Rosalie broke her gaze from mine. "I know," she whispered.

"Then why hate this existence? Why glorify motherhood?" I wondered, and thought about my own family. Of about a dozen cousins, I'd been the oldest. I'd watched as one tia struggled with her ADHD kid, as another watched her child die from cancer, and even as another struggled to have kids at all. "You expect I'll grow up and have kids and everything will be dandy fine? It's not a fairytale. Barrenness, miscarriages, kids get sick, kids die―it's not the fairytale you want it to be."

For a long, somber moment, the silence stretched.

And then Rosalie looked to me with drowning eyes. "I suppose it's easier―to live in a fantasy world. To imagine it was the life stolen from me, rather than the one I was never meant to have."

I gripped her hand in my own, as I thought of the life that was stolen from me. "I don't pretend to know your pain or trauma. All I know is that facing a harsh truth can wreck you in ways you might not be ready for. But clinging to this lie―it's a disservice to everything Carlisle and Emmett have done for you."

Rosalie pressed a palm to her eyes. When she didn't shift from her position, I tentatively wrapped an arm around her shoulders, and she suddenly leaned her heavy, stone weight against me. But I held her all the same as she cried quiet, wretched sobs unaccompanied by tears. And I grit my teeth, as a sudden ache rose in my chest.

It wasn't fair. None of it was―not for Rosalie, not for me. And for better or worse, all we could do was learn to bear the pain.

Bitterness flooded my mouth. I swallowed it back and wished I were anywhere but here.

A/N: Wow. I did not intend for that conversation to take the turn it did. That was intense.

Shoutout to brainless19 who made me get off my butt to write this!

Let me know your thoughts! :)