“Edward, regrets are unavoidable. If I don’t go through with this, I will regret it every day of my life. But if I do, I have already dealt with my regrets and there is no going back. I have chosen my path and faced the consequences for it already.”

He could see the resolve and conclusiveness in my eyes. He ran his index finger across my face.

“I love you Isabella Marie Cullen.”

I flushed with joy and he chuckled. “I’m going to miss that.” He said as he stroked my pink cheeks with his thumb.

Without another word, he pulled me down with him on the bed and rested his head on my chest. A moment later, and he lifted my wrist and pressed it against his nose and inhaled my scent. I let my free hand run through his hair and up and down his back comfortably.

Without warning, his lips pressed to mine. Gently, at first, and then with increasing urgency. The kiss evolved into something much different. The kiss reminded me of when he said goodbye. I pulled away.

“Why are you acting like you are never going to see me again?”

He hesitated, still inches away from my face. When he spoke, his cool breath cascaded across me and sent my head spinning.

“I’m apologizing, not saying goodbye.” He breathed against my cheek. “I’m so afraid to hurt you.”

“You wont.” I promised him.

“I will. All of the pain you will feel for the next three days will be the product of my venom. I feel so selfish right now, even with the assurance that this is what you want. For the next three days, I will suffer with you, but not nearly as much. You are my heart, Bella. You are the only thing alive about me, and the next three days, I will watch it suffer and finally cease to possess a pulse. I will hurt you, and I know it. But as punishment for my selfish deed, I will watch the one thing I love in this world suffer at my expense.”

I pulled my arms free of his body and placed my hands on either side of his face.

“Edward, I am not afraid. I will be fine.”