EPILOGUE

'So, who was it? Who killed Charlie and Renee?' Jacob Black leaned forward in his chair, a curious expression on his face, the cup of iced coffee that lay in front of him long forgotten.

I smiled, shyly pushing a strand of hair behind my ear. 'Edward.'

'Wait. What?' He stumbled over his words, completely entranced by the tale that I had just shared with him. 'He came back?'

'Yup!' I grinned, nodding my head in agreement. 'He came back. In a completely heroic manner!' I let out a slight laugh, thinking back to that moment six months ago when I had turned to see who had rescued me, meeting eyes with a furious Edward, the gun that lay in his hand staring back at me. Coincidentally, he had decided to check on me at the correct moment, finding something suspicious in the tale that Ron had woven. He had had his doubts that the actual culprit was someone else, deciding to check on me and warn me of the same. Luckily, his timing had been apt and my life had been saved.

'Wow.' Jacob let out a breath, shaking his head in disbelief. 'What happened after that? Did you both get a chance to talk?'

'Strangely, no.' I shrugged, looking away from him. 'Edward and I….it was complicated. We did not need one another in our lives; that being a sure shot recipe to ruin our lives. I did not understand this in the beginning, but after six months of therapy, I now know that I am better off away from him. And as for Edward, he confessed to his crimes.'

'He did?'

'Yes.' I whispered, letting out a deep sigh. 'He accepted to committing every crime of his, including the murder of Charlie and Renee Swan and my kidnapping. He is now in prison. Non- bailable.'

'Oh.' Jacob frowned, a question on his lips. 'Why confess? He was adamant on leaving the country, wasn't he?'

I shrugged in response, having no definite answer to that. 'I guess…. he did like me after all, in his own strange way. He knew that the blame of the dual murders would fall on my shoulders, with me having no proof to prove otherwise. Sure, I could claim all I wanted, but who would believe me without having any witness on my side?'

'And so, he confessed to killing them.' Jacob declared.

'Yes.' I nodded my head, sipping on my coffee. 'He did. Alice had arrived with the cops by the time the shock wore off; the police wanted to check if by chance I had contacted Charlie and Renee about my whereabouts, realizing rather too soon that they should have arrived earlier.'

Jacob sighed, letting me continue.

'The next few weeks passed by with constant visits to the police station. I had to give my statement, going over every minor detail that I had experienced while in that dark, lifeless cabin. They wanted to make the case against Edward stronger. Ali was my support system during that phase. In fact, I even stayed with her till I could afford a place of my own.'

'You did not go back to school?'

'No. I did not… I don't have it in me to face that part of my past without panicking. I still face fright in trusting people.' I winced, shutting my eyes briefly. 'I have dropped out for now…. but maybe in the future….'

He accepted my answer, nodding his head. 'And what about your mother? Your biological mother, I mean? Are you in touch with her?'

'No.' I let out a humourless laugh. 'She knew about all of this, of course. It was all over the media.' He nodded his head at that. 'But she never tried to contact me. I guess, she had nothing to say that could make this situation justified. Sure, I may be biologically her daughter, but apart from her name, there is nothing I know about her. I did meet her husband once, though. In passing by. He seemed decent enough. And yes,' I continued, 'Her lawyer did contact me.'

'Madeline's will?' He questioned, receiving a nod from me in response.

'The money was legally mine. I tried to refuse, stating that I did not even know the woman, but then decided against it. I had nothing to call mine. A little help would go a long way.'

He hummed in agreement. 'What about Ron? Did he ever confess?'

'Yes. He did.' I whispered, sighing to myself. 'He confessed to plotting my kidnapping, and to stealing Madeline's money. Once the news of Charlie and Renee being dead was released to the media, he knew he had no choice but to admit to his crime. His sentence while not much in comparison to Edward, has him in jail at the moment.'

'So, this is how it all ends?' Jacob sadly smiled.

I smiled back at him. 'Yes, indeed. But unfortunately, my life was turned a 360 in the process. It all stems down to greed, you know? They all wanted the money attached, not caring what happened to me- the innocent casualty.'

He let out a hum, knowing that this was the sad reality of life.

People were selfish and thought only about themselves.

'Bella, if you don't mind me asking,' He paused, hesitantly meeting my eyes. 'Was it Stockholm syndrome? I can't help but wonder….'

'Actually,' I began to speak, this thought having disturbed me, too. 'I don't know. My therapist too believes that that had been the case, all symptoms pointing out in that direction. But I have my doubts. It all felt very real. Feelings cannot be fabricated.'

He nodded his head, letting the prevailing silence give his agreement. 'So, now what? What happens from here on?'

I smiled, the answer to that question on my fingertips. 'I am moving to California next week.'

'You are?'

'Yes.' I sighed, gazing into the distance. 'I need the change in surroundings. I need the sun, as it sheds its bright light on me. There are days when I still wake up feeling like I am back in that dark dungeon, starving to death as I sit in a puddle of my own urine.'

He winced, shutting his eyes briefly.

'Those days are the hardest.' I continued, letting out a breath. 'My therapist knows that the session that day will be a long one when I call her first thing in the morning.' I stated with a humourless laugh.

'You blame them?'

Jacob did not need to specify the them in that sentence. It went unsaid.

'Of course, I do.' It wasn't even a question in my mind. 'I am not the same girl I had once been, Jacob. I probably never will be her again! I am coping at best, at the moment. It will take me much more time to actually start living, and not just pretend to live.'

'I am sorry. You did not deserve it.'

I waved him off. 'Unfortunately, no one bothered to check whether I deserved it or not before committing the crime.'

He let out a deep sigh, nodding his head in response. 'One last question, why me? I mean,' he began to clarify, 'not that I am complaining; just curious. We hardly know one another. We have just met once in a bar!'

I smiled, amusedly staring at him. 'Well, that was the very point, wasn't it? You had given me your contact number so that we could get to know one another better. Honestly, I found your number in my abandoned pant's pocket a few days ago. I called you up on an impulse. I guess I just needed someone to talk to.'

'Wouldn't Alice have been the preferred one to talk to? Had that been the only criteria.'

'Nah. She was too close to the situation.' I waved a hand in air. 'I needed someone that knew nothing. Reduces the judging.'

'I don't judge you. It was not your fault.'

'Thank you for that.' I nodded my head at him. 'Anyhow, it was a pleasure talking to you, Jacob Black, the bartender,' He winked at me. 'If fate will have it, we will meet again.'

'Or we could stay in touch over the phone?' He cheekily suggested. 'I know you need time; I am willing to be just a friend. Someone you can freely talk to?'

'In that case,' I paused, rising from my seat, 'I would like that.'

He smiled back, his eyes trained on me as I walked out of the café, my head held high, breathing in the fresh air, a bounce in my step, determined to move forward.

We cannot change the past. That is not in our control. What had happened with me would forever be engraved over who I was and will turn out to be. But the future is ours to make, so make sure that you write the best tale one can ever read!