“Hello, Edward.” He said his tone steady. He stiffly got to his feet. I guessed he didn’t want to deal with me now, but he wasn’t going to keep me from seeing her.

“I’m going to get something to eat.” He muttered. “Just be gone by the time I get back.” And I watched, speechlessly as he left the room.

I sat in the chair by her bedside and reached for her hand. I cherished the warmth of it, the warm blood pulsing beneath her skin, her heart beating a steady rhythm. I started to hum her lullaby for her. It was soft at first, but I made my voice louder because I desperately wanted her to open her eyes and tell me what was going on.

She moaned once and I wondered if she was in any pain.

“Dear Bella…be well.”

“Edward…” She suddenly stirred and her eyelids fluttered open. “You came…” she whispered. Her voice was weak and thick.

“Of course I did. I would never leave you here alone.” I told her and she reached up to touch my face with her warm hand but suddenly she cried out.

“Bella!” I shouted as I heard her cry of pain. I gripped her other hand but she went rigid and pulled away.

“No, don’t touch me!” she cried, tears in her eyes.

I pulled away quickly, my vampire quickness not seeming to be enough for her. I was horrified that I might have hurt her. That somehow touching my face had caused her this great pain.

“I-I’m sorry Edward.” She stammered, squirming in the bed just as she had when James had hurt her. “I had a medical test awhile ago that really hurt me. It was such a large needle….there’s been so many needles…..it’s all happened so fast…” she was crying now and it killed me that I couldn’t hold her. I wanted to wrap my arms around her and hold her until the pain went away. But instead I put my hand on her forehead and brushed my fingers through her thick, dark hair.

“What is it, Bella? What’s wrong?” I asked.

“I’m sick, Edward. There’s something wrong with the way my blood works. I don’t even understand it all yet, but it’s serious. My body isn’t producing enough blood cells for me. They’re treating me with blood transfusions. I think this is my 3^rd one today.” The words flowed out of her in a waterfall. I couldn’t seem to process it. Something wrong with her blood? What could possibly be wrong with her blood? I knew more then anyone that her blood was perfect. So perfect, I couldn’t touch it.

“Edward…” she said and I realized I hadn’t said anything to her. I was still lost in my own thoughts. “Maybe now you won’t have to change me.” She said very softly and she caught my attention again.

“What?” I asked, unsure of what she meant.

“I’m going to be living off of blood transfusions for the rest of my life now. I’ll be living off of other people’s blood.” She paused and looked into my eyes.

“I’ll be like a vampire.”