And then, in unison…the trifecta struck again. I closed my eyes at the sound of her teeth slamming against one another in nearly a dozen successive chatters. How much could her body handle of this? Three more hours…

She could make it, surely. It was the only option available.

I’d already tried to convince her to leave repeatedly, almost six hours or three hundred and sixty minutes ago. She’d vehemently refused each time. But, as time continued to progress on its inevitable, treacherous course, her adamant refusals became tired pleadings. For her sake, and to the detriment of my sanity, I’d officially stopped begging her three hours or one hundred and eighty minutes ago.

I’d considered simply bundling her and running for it, but it would do no good. Two hours, or one hundred and twenty minutes ago, I’d finally conceded that she was right. To leave was to risk further exposure, eliminating her chances. To stay was dangerous, but at least she was stationary and protected from the elements. Ultimately, her best chance of survival was right here. So, here we were. Bella was bundled in her oversized sleeping bag in one corner of the tent and I was stuck on the opposite side, separated once again by the very fact that I was…a vampire. Regardless, I was unable to remove my eyes from her delicate, white face.

I desperately wanted to comfort her. But, it was impossible for me to even try to touch her, sit next to her. I'd even briefly considered sitting outside the tent in an effort to remove some of the cold from the area, but she'd pleaded with me to stay. I couldn't say no to her eyes. She'd looked at me with a look that almost resembled fear. To leave now, even if it was for her own good, would mean leaving her…something I'd promised to never do again.

So, I'd decided to stay, but I’d left my position next to her side four hours or two-hundred and twenty minutes ago. I'd spoken to her until recently attempting to plead, reassure, and even apologize to her. This was entirely my fault. I should have prepared more adequately. I should have probed Alice further on the nature and severity of the storm. If I were human…