CHAPTER 25:

GOODBYE

How long had it been? An hour? Two? I still sat alone in the room, waiting for whatever would come. Why must they delay it? Why not go ahead and get it over with instead of teasing me this way.

I pulled my knees to my chest and buried my face as the tear drops fell. The candles flickered around me, the puddles of wax dripping down. They resembled me. Melting in their own fire. I wouldn’t be here if I hadn’t gone to take my pill. I had set myself up for capture.

The silence was only broken by my crying. I thought about the past couple of years. How I came to Forks, and thought Edward had hated me. Then to find out he only stayed away from me because my blood smelled so tempting. Then I fell in love with him, despite his pleas.

Then came James, who actually got as far as to bite me, before he was destroyed. I could remember the pain of the venom. But somehow, when I thought about how it would lead me to an eternity with Edward, I did not care about the pain.

Then to find out Jacob was a werewolf, and also in love with me. The treaty being broken, the fights, the arguing.

Now he was dead. And, if Aro, Jane, and Alec could not control themselves, I would soon be also.

The silence that followed was poisonous. I couldn’t stand it. Mindlessly, I covered my ears, trying to make it go away. But it didn’t.

I laid down, surrendering to the dark and its quiet. I shut my eyes and tried to calm myself. I tried with all my might, and to some avail. But it still would not go away completely.

“Why?!” I asked loudly. “Why?”

This torture. The anticipation and the fear becoming one. It was worse than whatever pain could come to me. Be it breaking bones, or ripping flesh, or even the venom. Nothing could feel worse than this. I would rather have the death penalty than wait like this.

Then I heard it. Some small noise from the darkness.

“Who’s there?” I called out, afraid.

“It’s alright.” I heard the voice say.