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Chapter 27

Trip

Charlie had called Mom the very next day and told her that I would be joining her for the vacations. She was happy to see me.

However, it made me a little sad that I would never see her again, that she would never know that I was speaking again, and most of all that I had finally found the one ... my soulmate. I consoled myself that yes, I only had to lose her, that it was better for her, that I would keep Edward, Jo and the Cullens with me, that I would become a part of them, but I still lost my mother ...

"I'm sorry for doing all this to you, my angel! I wish I could spare you all this. If only I could become human again ...", Edward whispered to me.

In my musings I had completely forgotten that we were in his room, and I was sitting on his lap, and he had his arms wrapped around me.

'Weirdo,' I thought lovingly and turned to kiss him.

"Do you think a normal human life would be enough to show you my love? Is a simple human life enough for you?" I asked him, played offended.

He felt so ... umm ... I don't know! Uncomfortable?! At the thought that I was in pain, that I had to give up my mother and all that just for him.

"Umm ..." he said broodingly, "you're right, one normal human life would never be enough ... A hundred human lives wouldn't be enough!" he said, kissing me stormily. "I'm sorry I didn't think of that. I just want to spare you suffering. I wish I could put all that suffering on myself just to spare you."

"You can't spare me it, but you can help me get over it," was all I said, showing him in my mind what I meant.

"Good idea ..." he grinned and immediately sank backwards onto his bed, where we had been sitting all along.

He pulled me with him and so we lay in his bed - me on top of him - and we laughed.

"Edward!" I said, somewhat indignantly, "That's not what I meant by distraction. Do you think I'm sleeping with you because I have grief?"

"No, my angel, but by leaning backwards, you immediately thought of the one and were distracted! That was the purpose of it!"

He had to stifle a laugh as I looked at him indignantly.

"But while we're on the subject ..." he said, and began to kiss me desiringly.

But we were interrupted by a knock on the door.

Alice entered.

"Bella, it's time. You should leave soon," she said, and my thoughts immediately returned to my mother.

Edward groaned in annoyance.

When Alice then left the room again, we both stood up in silence. I took my bag, which Alice had already packed for me.

When Edward and I now entered the living room, everyone was gathered - including Charlie, from whom I now had to say goodbye for a little longer. I hoped, not too long.

Saying goodbye really hurt, even though I knew I could see Charlie again in a few months as soon as I could control myself.

Now the time had come. I sat down in my truck and drove off.

Edward had run ahead in the meantime and would join me somewhere outside of Forks. The risk of someone seeing him was too high.

After a good twenty minutes I had left Forks behind and another ten minutes later Edward was sitting next to me in the van, which calmed me down immensely.

When at some point tears started to fall, Edward and I swapped positions. He was now driving. But he didn't drive as fast as usual for a long time, he seemed somehow depressed.

'What's wrong?' I asked him in my mind.

"I just don't know if this is really the right thing to do, Bella. I can't do this to you. I love you and that's why I want to give you everything. Instead, I'm taking your mother away from you. You have to give up so much because of me!"

He seemed tortured.

"Oh Edward, you give me so much by loving me, being with me and wanting to share eternity with me. It hurts to have to do without my mother, but I know she will be happy and that she will have a beautiful life. I am just so depressed because she will never know how happy I will be with you. She will never know that I found the one for life, for eternity. That makes me sad. Of course I will miss her, but it will pass. Besides, in return I get you and a life with you. I would give so much more for that!", I told him.

Edward was speechless for a moment, then he stopped at the side of the road, took my face in his hands and looked into my eyes. There was now conviction and love in his gaze.

"Forever, my angel! I will carry you on hands and love you until eternity! You don't know how happy you make me!" he said and kissed me with a passion I never knew from him before.

We were both too overwhelmed for a moment to continue.

After another few hours of driving, during which I snuggled close to Edward, the bridge finally came into view.

"Are you really sure?", Edward asked me again.

I looked him firmly in the eye and gave a resounding "yes" from me - and he steered the car over the edge of the bridge, grabbed me and my bag in flight, and jumped out of reach of the flames into which the car was now bursting!

My new life could begin!