Torn

My chest stung like it was filled with flesh-eating poison. If my heart could beat, it would be broken. But alas, I could not, and would never need any of the deep, cleansing breathes I took.

Edward, come on man. It’s time to go hunting.

I shook my head. No. Never again would I feed. Never again would I let my body be governed by what had stolen my love, my life from me. I’d rather wither away than ever feel blood drip over my lips again; the same lips that used to caress hers…

No. I wouldn’t think about that; I wouldn’t think about her. I was the one who ended it, and I would stick to my initial plan. We would forget about each other–start over…or at least she would. I could and would never forget her.

Come one, Edward! Emmett and Jasper are going to leave without you!

Once again I ignored Alice’s annoying voice in my head, and held my eyes on my book. Let them leave, I thought, and see if I give a shit–

My door slammed open, rattling on its hinges and bouncing back off the wall. I merely glanced at it before returning to my book. A moment later Alice came dancing in, her face anguished and her hands balled.

I didn’t look up from my book. “Hi, Alice.”

She stopped in front of me, her hands on her hips. “How many time have you read that page, Edward?”

My hands stiffened around the cover but I didn’t glance up.

“No. Wait.” she held up one finger, “How many times have you read that book?”

I shut my book with a snap, finally letting my eyes lock onto my sister’s. “Enough, Alice. What do you want?”

She was silent for a minute, carefully locking away her thoughts so I couldn’t just read them. It was the first time I’d seen any of my family in five months. She looked nervous; glancing everywhere but at my face.

She sighed, “You should go see her, Edward.”

“Oh, no! Not you too!” I leaped from my seat on my couch and turned away from here, heading for the window across from the door.

“Just go see her. She doesn’t even have to know you’re there.”