Edward's POV

The sleek black car glided down the familiar winding road leading into Forks, its polished surface reflecting the overcast sky. Edward Masen sat behind the wheel, his hands gripping the leather steering wheel tightly as he navigated the curves with ease born of repetition. The towering pines flanked him on either side, their branches bowing under the weight of the ever-present mist that shrouded the town in an ethereal gloom.

It had been seven years since Bella Swan had vanished without a trace, seven years of living in a world that felt increasingly hollow. Edward had inherited his father's wealth and business empire after Edward Sr. passed away three years ago. But the vast fortune he now controlled had done little to fill the void left by Bella's absence. Success in the business world, headlines touting him as a financial prodigy, and the luxury that surrounded him—it all meant nothing when he was alone at night, the quiet of his penthouse suffocating him with memories he couldn't escape.

He returned to Forks every year, driven by a need he could never fully articulate, not even to himself. The ritual was always the same: visit Charlie, pay his respects at Bella's grave, and then retreat to their meadow, the one place that still felt like hers. It was as though he was searching for something—a sign, a connection, some fragment of the past that might make the pain a little more bearable.

The town hadn't changed much in the years he'd been away. Forks was still small, still quiet, the kind of place where everyone knew everyone else's business. Yet, as Edward drove through the streets, he noticed subtle differences—the new café on the corner, the houses with fresh coats of paint, the children playing in front yards that had once been his classmates'. But the heart of Forks remained the same, frozen in time, just like Bella in his mind.

He slowed as he approached the Swan house, the sight of it stirring a familiar ache deep within him. The white clapboard house looked exactly as it had when Bella lived there, except for the "For Sale" sign that had stood in the front yard for two years. Charlie had put the house on the market after moving in with Sue Clearwater, unable to bear the memories that lingered in every corner. But the sign was just for show. Edward had secretly bought the house the moment it went up for sale, keeping it untouched, preserving it as a shrine to the life he and Bella had once planned to share.

Parking in the driveway, Edward turned off the engine and sat in the stillness of the car, staring at the front door as if willing it to open, as if she might step out to greet him, her face lighting up with that shy smile he had loved so much. But the door remained closed, and the only movement came from the wind stirring the leaves in the yard.

Finally, he forced himself out of the car, his shoes crunching on the gravel as he approached the house. The key felt cold in his hand as he unlocked the door and stepped inside. The air was heavy with the scent of dust and memories, the silence so complete it felt oppressive. He walked through the hallway, his footsteps echoing in the emptiness, passing the familiar rooms—the living room with its worn sofa, the kitchen with its outdated appliances, the staircase leading to the second floor.

Bella's room was just as he had left it the year before, a layer of dust coating the furniture, the bed neatly made, as if waiting for her to return. Edward moved to the window, looking out at the backyard, the place where they had shared countless afternoons, laughing and talking about nothing and everything. He could almost hear her voice, a ghostly whisper in the back of his mind.

With a heavy sigh, he set about cleaning the room, a task he had done every year since he bought the house. It was a ritual that brought him a strange sense of peace, as if by keeping her space in order, he could keep her memory alive. As he wiped down the dresser, his fingers brushed against the worn copy of Wuthering Heights that still sat there, its pages dog-eared and creased from repeated readings. Bella had loved that book, finding something in its tragic romance that resonated with her. Now, it was all that remained of her, a symbol of the love they had lost.

Once the room was clean, Edward sat on the edge of the bed, his gaze unfocused as memories flooded back, unbidden and relentless. He remembered the last time he had seen Bella, the day before she went to Port Angeles. They had spent the afternoon together, laughing and joking as they walked through the forest, their hands entwined, their connection palpable. She had talked about her excitement for the new edition of Wuthering Heights she was picking up, her eyes sparkling with anticipation.

"Are you sure you don't want me to come with you?" Edward had asked two day prior to the trip, a hint of concern in his voice.

"I'll be fine," Bella had assured him, her smile reassuring. "It's just a quick trip, and I'll be back before you know it."

He had wanted to insist, to cancel his practice and go with her, but he had held back, not wanting to smother her with his protectiveness. Now, the decision haunted him. If he had gone with her that day, would she still be here? Would they still be together, planning their future, living the life they had dreamed of?

The guilt gnawed at him, as it had every day since she disappeared. No amount of money, no amount of success, could ever make up for the fact that he had failed her. He had lost her because he hadn't been there when she needed him most.

He was pulled from his thoughts by a knock on the door. Startled, Edward rose and made his way downstairs, opening the door to reveal Jessica Stanley. She looked much the same as she had in high school, though there were more lines around her eyes, and her hair was cut shorter, more practical. She smiled when she saw him, though there was a hint of awkwardness in her expression.

"Edward! I thought I saw your car out front," she said, her voice a mix of surprise and warmth. "It's been a long time."

"Jessica," Edward greeted her with a nod, forcing a smile. "It has."

She shifted slightly, glancing past him into the house. "I wasn't expecting to see you here. I thought… well, I thought you might have moved on by now."

Edward's smile faltered. "I'm just here to… check on things."

Jessica seemed to understand, though a shadow of concern crossed her face. "Mike and I are having a get-together tonight with some of the old gang. Angela, Ben, Tyler, even Lauren's back in town. We'd love for you to come."

He hesitated, the thought of facing his former classmates—of pretending that everything was normal—filling him with a sense of dread. "I appreciate the invitation, but I'm not really up for it."

She nodded, her expression softening with sympathy. "I get it. But if you change your mind, you know where to find us."

"Thanks, Jess," Edward said, his voice quiet. He watched her walk away, her figure disappearing down the street before he closed the door and leaned against it, closing his eyes as the weight of the past pressed down on him once more.

The next few days passed in a blur. Edward visited Bella's grave, the headstone weathered but still standing as a testament to the life that had been cut far too short. He stood there for hours, talking to her as if she could hear him, telling her about the things he had done, the places he had been, the people he had met. But there was no comfort in it, only a deepening sense of loss that gnawed at his soul.

On his fifth day back in Forks, Edward stopped by the local grocery store to pick up a few supplies. As he walked down the aisle, his thoughts elsewhere, he overheard two women gossiping near the produce section. He paid them little attention until he caught the name "Cullen."

"Have you heard about the new doctor coming to Forks Hospital?" one of the women whispered, her tone tinged with curiosity. "Dr. Carlisle Cullen. They say he's from a well-off family. Very private, though."

"Of course," the other woman replied with a knowing nod. "Everyone's talking about it. Small towns, you know—everyone's business is everyone else's business."

Edward paused, his hand hovering over a can of soup. The name sounded vaguely familiar, but he couldn't place it. A new doctor in Forks? It wasn't surprising that the town would buzz about a newcomer, especially one with an air of mystery. But Edward had no interest in the town's latest gossip. His mind was still consumed with thoughts of Bella, and the name Cullen was just another meaningless detail in a world that no longer held much significance for him.

Still, the mention of this new doctor lingered at the back of his mind as he finished his shopping and headed back to the Swan house. Perhaps it was the way the women had spoken, as if this Dr. Cullen was someone extraordinary, someone who might stir things up in their sleepy little town. But Edward dismissed the thought. What did it matter? Newcomers came and went, and no one could fill the void Bella had left behind.

The following days were spent in solitude, avoiding the few familiar faces that had once been part of his life. He declined an invitation from Jessica Stanley to a high school reunion, where the old gang would be gathering. Even the thought of facing them, of pretending that everything was normal, was too much to bear. Edward wasn't ready to confront that part of his past, the part that was still raw and bleeding.

On the seventh day of his visit, Edward decided to go to the meadow. It was a place he had avoided the last few times he had come to Forks, the memories too painful, too vivid. But something drew him there this time, a pull he couldn't resist.

The walk to the meadow was familiar, the path winding through the trees, the forest around him alive with the sounds of birds and rustling leaves. The air was cool, the sun hidden behind thick clouds, casting the world in shades of gray. When he reached the clearing, he paused at the edge, his breath catching in his throat.

The meadow was just as he remembered it, the wildflowers swaying gently in the breeze, the grass soft underfoot. But there was something different this time, something that made his heart race and his skin prickle with unease. At first, he thought it was just the memories—the echo of Bella's laughter, the feel of her hand in his. But then he saw her.

She stood at the far end of the meadow, her figure partially obscured by the tall grass. Edward froze, his mind struggling to comprehend what he was seeing. Bella. She looked just as she had the last time he saw her—her hair long and flowing, her skin pale, her eyes wide with something he couldn't quite place. But there was something off, something that sent a chill down his spine.

"Bella?" he called out, his voice barely more than a whisper.

She didn't respond, didn't move, just stood there watching him, her expression unreadable. Edward took a hesitant step forward, his

heart pounding in his chest.

"Bella, it's me," he said, louder this time, desperation creeping into his voice. "Please… talk to me."

She tilted her head slightly, as if considering his words, but still didn't speak. Edward's mind raced, trying to make sense of what was happening. This couldn't be real. Bella was gone. He had buried her, mourned her, spent seven years trying to live with the pain of her loss. But here she was, standing before him, as if the last seven years had been nothing more than a nightmare.

He took another step, then another, his legs trembling beneath him. "Bella… I… I'm sorry. I should have been there. I should have protected you. This is all my fault."

As the words left his mouth, she began to fade, her form flickering like a dying flame. Panic surged through him, and he reached out, trying to grasp her, to hold on to her, but she slipped through his fingers like mist.

"No! Don't go!" Edward cried, his voice breaking with the weight of his despair. But it was too late. She was gone, leaving him alone in the meadow once again.

Edward fell to his knees, his hands digging into the earth, tears streaming down his face. He had lost her all over again, and the pain was more than he could bear. He cried out her name, his voice echoing in the empty clearing, but there was no answer, only the sound of the wind whispering through the trees.

For a long time, he remained there, consumed by his grief, the world around him forgotten. Eventually, as the sun began to set, he forced himself to his feet. His body felt heavy, weighed down by the sorrow that had become his constant companion. He knew he couldn't stay in Forks, couldn't keep torturing himself with the past. Bella was gone, and nothing he did could change that.

As he walked away from the meadow, he glanced back one last time, half-expecting to see her standing there, watching him with those eyes that had once held his world. But the meadow was empty, silent, the wildflowers swaying in the breeze.

Edward left Forks the next day, driving away from the town that had been his home, his sanctuary, and his prison. He didn't look back, didn't allow himself to dwell on the memories that threatened to overwhelm him. He had a life to live, a future to face, and though the pain would never truly go away, he knew he had to keep moving forward.

But as Forks disappeared in his rearview mirror, Edward couldn't shake the feeling that Bella was still with him, a shadow at the edge of his vision, a whisper in the back of his mind. She was a part of him, ingrained in his soul, and no matter where he went, she would always be there, haunting his dreams, guiding his steps, and reminding him of the love they had lost.

So here goes the reunion lol. This was such a fun chapter to write.

Please let me know what you think.