Tuesday was much the same as Monday. Edward remained moderate with the attention – though it was obviously causing him great strain – and I got to spend some time with Alice.

Now I was in far better condition, I wanted to see Emmett, Jasper, and even Rosalie – but I knew it would be pushing my luck with Edward. I also hoped to see Esme and Carlisle. I didn’t want them worrying too much.

Instead, I focused on enjoying my day. After all, once school ended, I would have to face therapy… again. I grimaced and it did not go unseen.

“What’s wrong, Bella?” Edward asked, urgency laced into his voice. His eyes scanned the room for danger, not even attempting to be sneaky. At the same time, he wrapped his arm around me, pulling me closer.

This time, I sighed. If I didn’t speak up soon, Edward would probably attack the first guy looking, or even thinking about me. “It’s okay. Just deciding on the best way to escape today’s session.”

He relaxed physically, releasing me from my squished position. I was pleased, even though his eyes were still wandering.

The rest of the day went much like that. Edward would not let any distance more than a foot to come between us. At the same time, nobody else was allowed within that foot – not even Alice.

Two periods later, Edward was still on high alert – practically carrying me to the car. I was settled in and he drove off as fast as was possible without drawing suspicion. Only half way to Port Angeles did he finally relax completely. I laughed at his over-the-top reaction to my simple grimace.

“What?” He sounded thoroughly confused.

“Nothing. Just your reaction.”

He shook his head, muttering something about “unrealistic” and stopped the car. A glance out the window told me more than enough. We were here.

Edward half-carried me to the door but let me walk myself inside. At least my legs wouldn’t completely turn to jelly. At the rate today was going, I was almost sure they would.

“How is the… cutting coming along?” Nancy asked pleasantly, smiling at me in today’s red dress with black belt and rim.

“I don’t cut anymore,” I said, crossing my arms and leaning back into Edward’s welcoming embrace.

“Oh? And what made you decide that?”

“I don’t have to. It’s not a bad memory anymore.”

“Well, that’s nice. Do you have any future plans now that you’re over this?”

I turned around a bit, wanting to be able to see Edward while I spoke. “Yeah. I want to live with Edward for the rest of my existence.”

His eyes glistened, too quickly for me to catch what it was he thought. “We are going to finish school and get married first, of course,” Edward clarified.

“That’s nice,” Nancy said, nodding her head absently.

As I turned back around, the owl caught my eye again. The pearl-spotted owlet always seemed so significant to me. I just couldn’t understand what made it stand out. Sure, it could be related to humans, but why was it so particularly unique in my eye. Certainly some of the other objects in the room could be related the same way.

I stared into the golden-yellow eyes, wishing its thoughts could be read. Of course, that was silly. The bird was dead, if it was ever alive, and definitely did not think at the current moment, regardless of its past.

After a seemingly infinite amount of time, everything clicked in my mind. The color of the feathers was much like the color of my own chocolate brown hair against my pale skin. Perhaps even a paler color if it were possible; maybe even the same shade as Edward’s skin.

In addition, the breeding pattern and range fit in closely with my own. I hadn’t exactly been intimate yet, but being human, it would end up much the same. Also, the meadow, which was easily my favorite place, matched very closely to the owl’s preferred habitat.

Those eyes were so much like Edward’s and all his family. The color was much different from that of a normal owl, or so I was told. They were the beautiful liquid topaz that made up the ‘vegetarian’ vampires’ eyes after hunting.

Everything fit together so perfectly. The owl was my future.

And now that I had my path, the vine, and the knowledge from the apple, I could make it. I just needed to convince everybody else it was the right way.