EPOV

                I felt like time had been rent in two. One minute I was seeing her face in my mind, wishing with all my heart that I had stayed behind, that I had saved her. I had feared that she was really gone. Now, the vision in my mind fused with the vision before my eyes, and I saw an angel. I knew it was her, though I could not see her beautiful face. A part of me registered that Alice and Jasper were here as well, but my mind could not process anything other than the fact that she was standing before me, alive, whole, the same as how I had left her. The same? Anger ripped through me, she had been changed. The anger was swiftly replaced with confusion. What was going on? Why had no one told me? Had they all known?

                I studied her more closely, my mind in chaos. She looked even more fragile than before. There was a weariness to her being that had not been there before. Had I caused that? No, it must be the death of her father that caused this great sadness that clung to her like a second skin. I felt my silent heart clench at her obvious pain. I wanted to take her into my arms and never let her go again.

                “I’m not sure….” Alice was trying to figure out what would come next. She wasn’t sure whether my presence would be good for Bella. I felt the little hope that was inside me die. My mind was too confused to make decisions. I ran again. I moved too fast for human eyes, out of the funeral home and into the forest.

                “We’re with you.” Rosalie and Emmett had joined me. We continued running; I slowed my pace to theirs. My brief glimpse of Bella had restored my tattered shreds of humanity. Actually, I felt better than I had in 50 years. She was alive. The thought spread like a balm over my wounded soul. Figuratively speaking of course; I still believed that vampires didn’t have souls. Carlisle and Esme joined me.

“Do we have to go?” Esme asked. She was willing to leave Forks so soon to keep us together.