“Is there a chance, a fragment of light at the end of the tunnel, a reason to fight? Is there a chance you may change your mind? Or are we ashes and wine?”
       – Ashes and Wine by A Fine Frenzy

Edward POV

Be safe.

Now what would I write to her? I’d only written to her once and that was what I had to say.
“Be safe.”

The ballpoint pen felt too fragile in my hand. And I felt like snapping it in half out of frustration.
What could I possibly have to say to the human girl now? What would be adequate enough to print upon this piece of paper? Nothing.

That was the truth. Absolutely nothing would be appropriate, would even be worthy of writing because I wasn’t worthy.

If I wasn’t such a despicable, barbaric creature, if my sins were ones the could be forgiven, I would write:

“Bella,

I’m back.

Yours,
Edward.”

“Despicable!” I slammed the pen against the table, crushing it. Ink splattered across and I could already imagine Esme’s hiss for ruining the mahogany.

Lifting my head, I glanced around the big empty house. The stillness of the room made me feel encased in a tomb.

Trapped.

I needed to get out. But to be seen would ruin the plans I’d made on the way here.

And anyway, I would have felt trapped even if I were to run out of the house through the woods.
She was my only escape. My only refuge.

Bella POV

A message from Charlie awaited me when I came home. Jacob made it necessary to walk in with me. I discovered, rather embarrassed, that Jacob had become more protective since the night we…

I pressed the answering machine button, focusing my entire attention on it.

“Hi, Bells. I’m going to be a little late tonight. Don’t worry about dinner. If you get lonely, call Jacob over. I don’t mind. Sleep tight, baby.”

Charlie in the forest…again.

“When is it going to stop?” I whispered to myself, forgetting Jacob breathing nearby.

But soon his warm hands were rubbing my shoulders.

“It’s going to stop soon, Bella.” He murmured. “It’s going to stop. We will end it.”

By “we” he meant himself and his pack brothers.