Residue

~EPOV~

It was the early hours of the morning when Jacob and Carlisle arrived.

At first, everything had been fine until they explained why they were here.

As the conversation went on, we noticed Bella moving further and further away from us. Until she was completely out of my reach.

I could hardly stand it.

I just wanted to hold her hand, feel her close. I wanted to wipe away the memory of longing for her.

Now she stood in the middle of the room, keeping her distance from Jacob, Carlisle, and myself.

Her arms were folded tightly around herself defensively, as though she was attempting to protect herself from us.

"She just wants to see you, Bella. She doesn't care about anything else," Jacob explained with one hand outstretched, silently begging her to calm down.

There was no hiding Bella's return from Renesmee. We had hours at best. She would see it in their eyes, and she would surely smell the fresh scent of her mother on them.

She was already asking about me, and they'd simply told her I had something to take care of. But she wouldn't accept such a simple explanation for long.

Even Bella knew that Renesmee would soon connect the dots.

I knew that keeping her distance from her daughter was killing her, but she couldn't bear to face her.

The shame and guilt had overpowered everything. It left her lingering in the shadows of what had happened, unable to step away from it.

"I'm just not ready." She stammered, shaking her head and looking down at her feet.

"It will take some time for your eyes to adjust, Bella. We can't hide you from her for that long." Carlisle explained softly.

"I'll just wear the contacts again." She told him, her words shaking as they left her mouth.

Carlisle frowned and shook his head, while Jacob and I mirrored the action.

We had none left. And I knew no one would be willing to get her any. Not for this.

"You don't have anything to hide, Bella. You shouldn't be ashamed of this." Carlisle told her, his calming tone clearly offering no comfort to her.

She raised her brow incredulously, her lips parted as she choked out a sound of disbelief and she quickly stepped further away from us.

Renesmee knew there were only two reasons why our kind would have red eyes, and it had been years since her mother's own blood still lingered in her veins.

"I don't want to do this." She said quietly, her eyes fixed on the floor at her feet.

She looked so uncomfortable. She looked more uncomfortable than I had ever seen her, like the walls were closing in around her.

I sighed heavily as I realized that she felt surrounded and trapped.

I dropped my head slightly, trying to will her eyes to mine.

"No one will stop you if you want to walk out of here Bella." I assured her. I didn't want her to run away from this conversation, it wouldn't solve anything, but at the same time, she had that right.

Her eyes darted to mine; her lower lip caught between her teeth. She looked embarrassed and panicked.

Was it rational what she was feeling right now? Maybe not. But it was to be expected; she'd been locked in a room for a month, only ever leaving to do what others wanted her to. The residue of that experience would take a long time to wear off.

She looked to Jacob and Carlisle, who only now realized they were blocking the door. Quickly they stepped back, clearing the path for her.

Her eyes fell back on me again. Lost and fearful.

A blow to my chest.

I nodded to her. A silent promise that she was free to walk out of this room right now, and no one would stop her.

She didn't waste a moment. We stepped aside and watched her pass us, without so much as questioning where she was going.

I felt it as she passed, I knew Carlisle and Jacob had to. The nudge of her shield, that protective layer keeping her safe.

She wasn't a prisoner here. She could come and go as she pleased, without explanation.

Hopelessly I looked to Jacob and was instantly met with a firm nod. "I'll talk to Nessie. Explain that-… that she just needs time." He promised, doing his best to fill his tone with confidence.

I patted his shoulder as I walked outside into the rain, slowly following her scent through the forest.

There was more to this, and I'd figure it out. I would help her work it out.

But I wouldn't force her to do a single thing.