The fire was gone and I felt quite comfortable. Besides a rhythmic beeping sound nearby, wherever I was, was quiet. I slowly opened my eyes and bright lights greeted me. As I turned my head, I found a clean, white room surrounding me. In a corner near my head was a machine beeping away. My heartbeat.

Newer memories of the meadow filled my mind. The Volturi, Jacob, the fight. Images flicked by making me cringe. Jane had bit me. I should be dead, or at least a vampire.

I looked around again and found Carlisle staring intently at me. Traces of crimson were left in his topaz eyes. Unfortunately, no one else was in the room.

“How are you feeling, Bella?”

I nodded in response because I was too scared to trust my voice.

“Good,” he said, getting up to leave.

“Wait!” I screamed. He turned to look at me with curious expression. “Where’s Edward?”

“He’ll be here soon.”

I knew I wasn’t going to get more information, so I settled unhappily onto my bed. Closing my eyes, I waited.

Several minutes later the bed sunk a little as some one lied down next to me. My eyes flew open in anticipation. Staring at me was a morbid-looking Edward. I reached out to touch his chest but got no immediate reaction.

He just lied there, staring at me for a long time. “I’m sorry.”

“Edward, no –”

“Bella, please. This is my fault. You wouldn’t have had to worry if I had sent you to Florida. Everything would’ve been fine. I knew I shouldn’t have let you stay. And now you’ve been…” Edward’s gaze flickered down. He was blaming himself for this, for my stubbornness to leave, for everything.

“I love you. And it’s not your fault. Anyway, I’m still human.” I moved my hand up to his face, willing his hazel eyes to meet mine. I would love him no matter what.

We watched each other for several minutes. His hand rubbed circles on my back and I relaxed into his arms. My insides were melting from the warmth and love his eyes radiated. All I could do was smile. He was perfect, god-like. I loved Edward, and even though I no longer had to give a proper good bye to my friends and family, I would marry him.

“Can I please go see Jacob?”

“Of course. I’ll be right back.” He walked gracefully out the door to my room only to return a few seconds later. “We can go, Bella.”

My strength had returned by now, so I jumped out of the bed, stumbling a little as my feet hit the floor. Edward caught me and helped steady my body. I dressed as quickly as I could. When I was ready, Edward carried me to the car and sat me down on the passenger seat. A second later we were driving away.

When the car stopped I noticed we were at Jacob’s house on the reservation.