The End-Edward's POV

The very second that I stepped into the forest, I knew exactly what I had to do. The knowledge however, did not make it any easier; on the contrary it made my forthcoming task just that much harder. I was sure that the look on Bella's face would be far too painful to even glance at so I kept my eyes locked on the tree in front of us. The warmth from her hand in mine was still an unbearable distraction so I pulled my hand gently away and in a split second, I realised that it had come down to this.

I was a vampire. She was human. There was nothing on this Earth that could block out that undeniable truth. And my world was too dangerous for her. Bella was, as she had been the day that I had first set eyes upon her, so dangerously breakable. It was unbelievably selfish of me to put her through the agony and worry for a day longer.'If you love someone, sometimes you have to let them go.' The phrase swam into my mind and lingered there and suddenly I had whole new volumes to preach its meaning. I'd thought myself fairly intuitive before, intelligent even. How was it possible that out of the blue, such words that I would claimed to have understood were all of a sudden blaring out new messages to me? I finally sympathised with those who had let loved ones go. As much as I had tried to empathise in the past, I was coming to realise that those assumptions had been but a step in the right direction towards the immense pain that was connected to losing a loved one.

Bella stood behind me, breathing so loudly that I knew exactly what she was thinking, despite the absence of her thoughts in my mind. That, for once, I was exceedingly grateful for. That I would not be able to hear Bella's thoughts during the conversation that we were about to have was the only advantage that I possessed. For if her thoughts were clear in my mind, at any hint of possible agony and distress, I would never be strong enough to leave her. At least as long as she remained silent, I could convince myself that what I was doing was the best thing for her.

You are a vampire, I told myself, trying desperately for the first time in centuries. I wanted to feel like a vampire in the next few minutes. Too many human emotions would destroy me. Not that I cared in the slightest for myself- if I did, I would never have considered leaving- but because my human weaknesses would definitely prevent me from walking away. That, at least, I owed to Bella. It was going to be hard enough for her, without my emotions getting in the way. I always had to be the stronger of the two of us, the one with the self-control, the one who kept her safe. That would not end, even in this moment. I just had to detach myself from all traces of Edward, from my family and from Carlisle. Everytime I thought of him,, I knew how disappointed he had been when I had explained my decision to my family. Not disappointed in me, for me. Carlisle loved me in a way that I didn't deserve. He treated me like a human, like any one of the innocents that walked this planet alongside our kind. But I was not like those people. I was a monster, a killer. Willingly but slightly disgustedly, I let my mind wander back to those rebellious adolescent days. The adrenaline that came with the scent in the air, the rush as I pursued the chase, the glorious taste of blood meeting my lips, my parched, dry, longing lips. The blood that I'd longed for ever since my birth. Human blood.

To even think those thoughts with Bella so close was torturous. She deserved so much better than me. Someone who could give her a life, not someone who would gladly take away her life for their own gain. I'd taken away lives before, for my own gain. With Bella gone, what was there to stop me from returning to that life of sin and murder, the life of a vampire? I couldn't think of any thing. I WAS a vampire. I couldn't pretend any longer. Ever since that day in the meadow, with Bella, I'd been digging deep for my human self, the self that wasn't there. It didn't exist. A few instincts were unburied now and then but they were unnatural. A part of me would always hold back, a part of me would always remain inhuman. A dominant part. Bella's blood aroused the monster in me and I was ashamed to admit it. How sick was it to watch your loved one bleeding before your eyes and be able to think of nothing but the taste of their blood, their warmth and the potency of their scent? I had envied Carlisle the night of Bella's birthday. He had been able to help her, to repair her wounds while I couldn't even sit beside her to hold her hand. What a pathetic excuse for a protector. Bella needed protection from me, from someone who would stand by as she fell deeper and deeper into a black pit of a future, into a soulless, sleepless, never-ending forever. My love and longing for her only made her more vulnerable, more endangered.

There was not much time in which to act. I had spent a second contemplating those things and Edward was rapidly stirring inside the monster. I had to walk away before he could pull me back. I knew myself. I was far weaker than I'd ever deemed possible. Another reason to cut and run before it was too late. I leaned against the tree that I'd been walking towards, turning reluctantly to face Bella. I carefully removed all traces of emotion from my expression, my face hopefully a picture of nonchalance. Bella's was determined, I noted at first glance but did not search too deeply into her expression. I wished that she was harder to read; I didn't want to uncover her feelings. I sincerely hoped that she wasn't planning a dramatic fight. I'd prepared myself for a certain amount of resistance, stubborn as Bella was but I prayed that at my constant refusal to stay, she would back down and let me walk away.

"Ok, let's talk." Bella spoke quietly, her voice oddly steady. It was as I'd feared. She hadn't grasped that I was leaving alone. I had no choice. Emotions were building up and if I didn't leave now, I'd never get away. With a start I realised that walking away from Bella's scent was going to be almost as challenging as leaving Bella herself. I took one last deep, heavenly breath, inhaling her for the last time. My nostrils and throat burnt but I would have suffered that forever just to stay. As the shock of my deep breath wore off, I could see clearly. My vampire instincts were hopefully beginning to kick in.

"Bella, we're leaving."

That was a stupid answer. I was mentally kicking myself. It was far too ambiguous. Bella would obviously assume that by we, I meant both of us. Now I was just going to cause her unnecessary pain, it would draw the process out.

"Why now? Another year-" I had to stop her before she got too far into a reply. The less Bella talked, the more likely I was going to be able to leave. I hated interrupting people but I had no choice.

"Bella, it's time. How much longer could we stay in Forks after all? Carlisle can barely pass for thirty and he's claiming thirty-three now. We'd have to start over soon regardless." My harsh tone was even upsetting me. I could see that my reasoning had confused Bella. She still believed that we were leaving together. As she stared at me, struggling to see, I wondered silently if it would be better to let her work it out herself. Would she be more hurt if I told her? Suddenly, Bella clicked. Her face went pale white and I could almost hear her pain.

"When you say we-" she began, her voice hardly audible. The next words I spoke were extremely difficult to get out. This was the moment. Was I prepared to do it? Yes, I was. Could I do it? I had no answer. Whatever words came out next would shape the rest of my life- the rest of eternity. I stared at Bella, completely dazed. I had no idea what to say or do.

"I mean my family and myself."

It was done. There was no confusion, no ambiguity now. I had set the future for myself. I felt dead inside, empty. I didn't feel proud of myself for being able to say it, I didn't feel anything except the absence of everything. Emptiness took on a new meaning. It took me a few moments to realise that Bella was shaking her head. I felt a sinking feeling. I would still have to fight my way out; I had always known that Bella would not let me leave without putting up resistance. I waited for her argument, with no wish for an immediate response. I needed time to plan my defence because I wasn't at all sure if I would be able to stand my ground.

"Okay. I'll come with you." Easy enough to refuse. Not easy of course, but easier to handle than tears or words of love. I was careful not to hesitate, not to breathe.

"You can't, Bella. Where we're going...it's not the right place for you." It was harder than I had thought. Just the slightest hint that I would be away from her in a few minutes was extremely painful. And the we, indicating my family meant nothing because I knew that I would be more alone than ever once Bella was gone.

"Where you are is the right place for me." Bella continued, persisting. I didn't want to hurt her further so I decided it would be better if I tried the 'it's-not-you-it's-me' route. How ridiculously cliche it would sound. Although that particular excuse had the advantage of being partly realistic. I was a vampire, hardly a match made in heaven for such a fragile human girl.

"I'm no good for you Bella." How true it was, yet it still hurt me to say it. I had let this go on for far too long.

"Don't be ridiculous. You're the very best part of my life." Bella's pleading was killing me. I would have much rather she shouted or screamed.

"My world is not for you." More truths. But they hurt no less.

"What happened with Jasper-that was nothing, Edward! Nothing!"

"You're right. It was exactly what was to be expected." By twisting her words, I don't know what I was aiming to achieve. I was hoping that she would falter and give me the chance to end it for good. My thoughts almost caused me to shudder in dread but I caught myself before I could give my true emotions away.

"You promised! In Phoenix, you promised you would stay-" Bella was saying all the wrong things. Or the right things, depending on which way I looked at it. I didn't need her tempting me to stay. There were more than enough things making sure of that, least of all, the light breeze wafting Bella's scent into my throat. As hard as I tried not to breathe, it was not feasible to except Bella's extraordinary taste to evade me for long.

"As long as it was best for you." I finished for her.

"No! This is about my soul, isn't it? Carlisle told me about that and I don't care, Edward! I don't care! You can have my soul. I don't want it without you-it's yours already!"

So Carlisle had understood the reasons behind my refusal. It would have been a far simpler solution to change Bella. But I was not prepared to do that to her. It was one thing when we were dying but Bella was young, healthy and she had her life ahead of her. What kind of person would I be if I took that all away from her? But was she giving her...consent? A thin smile tried to break through my lips...NO! Bella's life would not end that way. Which left me one other option.

I stared morosely at the ground, delaying the moment. It was approaching fast and I could not postpone it for much longer. This was it. The end of Bella and I. My forever began today. Or ended, depending on how I saw it. In my current state of pessimism, my forever was rapidly spiraling into a black hole. It was likely that I would never see her again after this. Never see her blush, never see her smile, never gaze deep into her beautiful eyes again. All these things I was giving up. These things I had to give up. For Bella. This was the moment. My mind was clear, my thoughts were settled, I knew what to do and it would only take nine small words. Nine small words... so why couldn't I get them out? I had to force myself to think of other things and distract my mind. Nine small words. Nine small words to save Bella's life. Only by thinking of it that way was I able to utter them.

"Bella, I don't want you to come with me." I spoke coldly, with precision, to bestow the meaning upon Bella as best I could. There could be no doubt about my intentions now. I hoped that her arguments would cease. As she understood, my eyes watching her keenly and hesitantly for a response, Bella's face settled into an image of confusion. After I'd spent every waking hour for the last six months telling her otherwise, I doubted that my words would sink in immediately, that she would believe me.

"You don't want me?" Bella asked. The clear hurt in her voice was too much to bear. She was asking me to confirm it? Confirm it? I couldn't confirm that! Of course I wanted her! I'd never wanted anyone more! And that was exactly the reason for my departure. It was of Bella's broken body, lying in a ruined ballet studio, all thanks to me, that I thought of as I spoke the word that I'd been procrastinating ever since we'd met.

"No."

As I stared into her eyes, the full force of the lie that I'd just told was unleashed. I realised what I'd said. What I'd just done. The worst part of it all was that her face was no longer confused or determined. Bella saw my blank expression and she believed me. Bella Swan honestly believed that I didn't want her with me. Hurt, pain, torture, sadness, regret swept through me as I saw that Bella was feeling all those things because of me. She thought that I didn't want her and the fight had left her completely. The sparkle was no longer present in her eyes. It felt like I'd committed a great crime, a sin, to say that one word to her. Guilt didn't even begin to cover what I was feeling. I could scarcely believe what I'd actually told her. Out of all the bad deeds in my existence, over jealousy, theft and murder, it was indisputably and unequivocally the worst thing that I'd ever done.

"Well, that changes things." Bella replied in a dead voice. I hardly heard. I couldn't bear to face her, knowing that the pain in her eyes was my doing. It was my fault that Bella was suffering. What had I done to us? Suddenly I was unable to look at her for a second longer. I couldn't control my expression. The calm exterior was slipping away and I didn't want her to see my pain. That would only make hers so much worse. Before I lost control completely, I looked away from her, into the dark forest that would host my solitude in a few moments. The absence of Bella's face did my emotion no good. Her blank, dead stare was burnt into my mind, something I knew, even then, that I would never forget, even if I lived for the rest of eternity. Although that eternity was going to be painful and torturous for me, I had to say something to ease her suffering as much as possible. I spoke carefully without turning to face her.

"Of course, I'll always love you...in a way." Trying to soothe her yet refraining from giving her false hopes was very difficult. "But what happened the other night made me realise that it's time for a change." The words actually stung as they left my lips. Goodness knew what they were doing to Bella. I tried not to think, to detach my brain from the rest of me. "Because I'm...tired of pretending to be something I'm not, Bella. I am not human." I was attempting to convince myself as well as her and I looked at her again, my nonchalance regained. How was she receiving my excuses? "I've let this go on much too long and I'm sorry for that."

That, at least, was the truth. By procrastinating our parting, I'd only prolonged the agony and distress of the moment itself. I should have stayed in Alaska after that fateful Biology lesson. I should never have retreated continuously to Bella's room at night, addicted to her scent, returning almost involuntarily every evening. By staying in Alaska, Bella would at least be happy now, she would be living a normal life. No, that was completely wrong. If I'd stayed in Alaska, Bella wouldn't be alive now. So many times I had supposedly saved her. Would it have been kinder to let Tyler's car flatten her, as Jasper had suggested? Had I really had her best interests at heart when saving her in Port Angeles?

"Don't. Don't do this." Bella's voice, suddenly flooded with agony to match my own broke into my thoughts. She was desperate, pleading with me. I had no idea how to deal with her. She was completely unselfish, as I had known since my first conversation with her. Telling her that she was in danger would not bother her. Bella didn't place herself above me. She placed me at the top of her priorities. Irrational but true. I was not prepared to back down now. I had to get her to let me walk away. The only way to get her co-operation or at least, acceptance, was to suggest that she was causing ME suffering. I was almost certain that she would then allow me to leave her, however reluctantly, because Bella was not selfish. She would do it for me. And I for her. How ironic that even in our final moments, we would let each other go, for each other's sake.

"You're not good for me, Bella." Which was the wrong way round and I knew it. By the expression on Bella's face however, she thought that I'd got it right. The fight seemed to leave her. It took her a few attempts to get words out.

"If...that's what you want." I couldn't even feel glad that my ploy had worked. Instead, I was ashamed by my dishonesty and the skill of my lies. Bella was going to let me go. And that was all I needed. A few more minutes of concentration and then I'd be able to feel again. What I would feel, I was still uncertain. It was taking most of my self-control to block out the majority of my emotion and that control would definitely lapse the second that Bella and I parted. Part of me, the part closest to where my heart used to be, didn't even want to explore my blocked-out feelings. I wanted to lock them away for eternity. But that was what a vampire would do. When I left Bella, I could at least try to cling to every last ounce of humanity that I had left.

I nodded, in reply. I couldn't trust my voice enough to give her a verbal reply. I had to compose myself though; there was one important thing that I wanted to tell Bella. My departure was likely to destroy her, at first and I needed to make sure that she didn't completely forget herself.

"I would like to ask one favour though, if that's not too much." Bella's face suddenly broke into a vision of distress but with a slight hope that had been ignited by my last request. I felt remorse flash across my face as I realised that Bella's hope was to be crushed. True, I still cared about her but my last request was not the typical 'don't ever forget me' or 'never forget that I love you' that appeared on so many romantic films and lined the pages of books and plays. I hoped that Bella had not been expecting words such as those. I was to stay true to my character in at least one area today. My last request would not give Bella hope for my return. It could not. That would be nothing more than cruel, however romantic it may seem. No. There would be a last request; I was nothing if not thorough but it would be practical rather than amorous. I quickly regained control, hopefully before Bella saw any trace of my emotions. I waited for her reply to my question.

"Anything." Bella replied, sounding passionate, as if she were prepared to do any task that I commanded. Unfortunately, that was probably the case. I stared into her eyes, regretting so completely what I was doing. At the same time as telling her goodbye, I wanted to send her messages of love, of how I would never be the same person again. Her hold on me was unbreakable yet I was excruciatingly severing the bonds between us. All I could feel was utter regret, shame and choking guilt that was building up like a crescendo. I couldn't control myself for a second longer. I felt the nonchalance sliding away. To cover up my face, I had to speak.

"Don't do anything reckless or stupid. Do you understand what I'm saying?" I wanted Bella safe, so I fought for the calm and uncaring aura. It returned slowly. I turned my full attention back to Bella. I yearned for her safety but it was too contradictory to tell her that. Instead, I used her other loved ones as an excuse. "I'm thinking of Charlie, of course." I continued. "He needs you. Take care of yourself- for him." I had to ensure that Bella was protected. That was another of my more human threads still bound to her very existence. I hated the thought of leaving her alone.

"I will." Bella whispered. Neither of us believed her.

I also needed to get the most painful point across to Bella. I couldn't have her living in false hope, waiting for a return that would never come. I knew myself, not nearly as well as I had thought, but well enough. I was sure that if I knew that Bella was waiting for me to go back to her, then I would. I would not be strong enough to stay away. So I had to make it crystal clear to her that I had no intentions of coming back to Forks. I had motives to return, I had the wish, I had the undying longing for Bella but these, I had to banish. They could not be allowed to take over me. It was with this in mind that I spoke again.

"And I'll make you a promise in return. I promise that this will be the last time you'll see me. I won't come back. I won't put you through anything like this again. You can go on with your life without anymore interference from me. It will be as if I've never existed."

And then, I saw all my memories of Bella, in one flash, in front of my eyes. Catching her eye in the cafeteria while her blank mind continued to evade me. Watching enviously as Mike asked her to the dance, hoping subconsciously that she would refuse him. The way her body felt in my arms as I pushed a van away from her and then her fury as I refrained from explaining myself. I watched her sleep again, murmuring my name and experiencing once again, the strange chill that it sent running through my frozen body. My fists clenched at my sides when I recognised the men from Port Angeles, chasing after the girl whom I protected. I was swarmed with remorse when I watched her discovering the truth about me. Our day in the meadow lingered in my mind for longer than the other memories; I glittered in the sun and drew closer to Bella...closer...dangerously close and then our lips met in exultation for the first time...our words of love for the first time. My joy was replaced with fear as James leered at Bella across a baseball field and the memories sped up, lightening bolts across my mind. Fury at Jasper and Alice for letting her escape...my immense regret at the sight of her lying alone in a ballet studio with a dangerous and cunning vampire kneeling by her side, instead of me...the taste of Bella's blood in my mouth and the breathtaking realisation...the horrendous thought that I would not be able to stop. Then, Bella was in the hospital, Renee by her bedside, crying over her unconscious daughter, Charlie whispering apologies that Bella never heard. All the time, I lay silent, knowing that it was my fault.

Then the picture froze in my mind, like a paused DVD. The scene displayed could not have been more significant. Jasper was snapping his teeth at me and I was in between him and Bella, preventing my own brother from killing the girl that I loved. All the time, I could smell Bella's blood from behind, as she landed in a pile of broken glass. And then I could see clearly. That was the reason why all this had become necessary. Jasper's vicious snarling was still echoing in my head. Bella needed protecting from every aspect of my world, even my own family. Not one of them besides Carlisle, even myself, was able to stay with Bella, too tempted by her blood to help her. What sort of protector was I? My attempts to save Bella had only resulted in her injuries and pain, time and time again. Because of me, Bella was not strong enough to leave. So I had to leave her before I was unable to protect her from the dangers of my life. I understood why I was doing what I was doing and only that kept me strong enough to continue. I then knew that I would be able to leave, because I was doing it for Bella's benefit, not in spite of her.

"Don't worry," I told Bella, smiling, trying to hold on to my new discovery. If I was able to keep that thought in my mind, I would be able to leave. I would be strong enough. Bella was shaking; I hoped that she wouldn't faint. That would be a problem because I couldn't just leave her lying on the forest floor but nor could I rush over to catch her. Anything that brought me physically closer to her now was only going to delay my departure further. "You're human-your memory is no more than a sieve. Time heals all wounds for your kind." I spoke those words praying that they were true. I had few human memories but for a different reason. I didn't remember how easy it was to forget things. If it was easy at all.

"And your memories?" Bella croaked. I felt instantly bad. She didn't still care for my feelings, did she? Or maybe she was just hoping that I'd never be able to forget her.

"Well, I won't forget." I forced out a smile to lighten my words. "But MY kind...we're very easily distracted." It hurt just to say it. Nothing would ever sufficiently distract me from my memories and regrets. I took a step away from Bella. A step away from her, a step towards a new and probably tortured existence.

"That's everything, I suppose." I added, trying despite everything, to prolong the moment in which I would actually walk away. "We won't bother you again." I hoped that she would register the plural. I'd asked my family to keep their distance too.

"Alice isn't coming back." Bella realised. It was not a question but a chance for me to confirm her fears. Bella would never heal if she thought that Alice would return to see her. I had to tell the truth.

"No. They're all gone. I stayed behind to tell you goodbye."

"Alice is gone?" Bella couldn't grasp it. I wished that there had been a way to avoid this; Bella had just lost most of her closest friends in one swoop. But leaving the rest of my family behind would not have been enough of a separation. There would be too many chances for Bella and I to see each other again.

"She wanted to say goodbye but I convinced her that a clean break would be better for you." Convinced was putting it mildly. Alice had put up a long and difficult fight and she hadn't spoken to me since. Even Carlisle was only behind me half-heartedly. Of course, his public front was supportive and understanding but I had an extra insight into his mind. Carlisle knew that I would find it hard enough, without disapproval from was merely feeling guilty and Rosalie was nothing less than delighted. She'd never warmed to Bella. It was wrong of me to treat my family so rudely, forcing them to leave but I was so concerned about Bella that I hadn't given my family a single thought.

Bella was unable to reply. I'd told her everything that she needed in order to move on. This was it. I racked my brain for something else to tell her but there was nothing. No more excuses. No more delay. Zero hour. Time to end it, Edward.

"Goodbye, Bella." I uttered, calmly. Something inside me froze, like I was human again and about to jump off of a building without a valid reason. Bella snapped.

"Wait!" She cried out, trying to cling on to the moment. She didn't want me to leave anymore than I did. I moved swiftly over towards her but in the second it took me to get there, my reasoning was reaffirmed. It was not safe for me to stay with Bella. It was not right. My hands, halting on their way to hold her, took her wrists instead and held them at her sides. I could not risk her reaching for me or my control and nonchalance would certainly not hold. I slowly leaned in and brushed my lips on her forehead for a second.

"Take care of yourself." As I inhaled, her scent caught me. For that split second, I thought that I would never be able to walk away but the feeling passed. In my mind, I held two images. First, Bella screaming in agony as James's teeth cut into her wrist and second, of the vision that Alice had. Bella, pale white and ice-cold, the most beautiful vampire in the world, smiling slightly, part of my family. Both of these were or would be, my fault. Both were unfair to Bella. It was in this frame of mind, with those thoughts and memories, that I left Isabella Swan. But I was not strong enough to walk away. I ran away. I left Bella so fast that I didn't even get a last glimpse of her face. I did not stop running until her scent had completely faded. Even then, I did not stop running even though I had nothing to run from. Part of it was that I had nowhere to run to. Or rather, no one.

I did not stop until I found myself in the one place that held any kind of comfort for me. The meadow. And there, I collapsed on the ground, dying, in pain, suffering, learning the true meaning of agony. If I had been human or at least able to cry, I would have cried. So what did vampires do instead of crying? I'd never had to think about it before. As I lay in the meadow, I don't know what I was doing. My carefully planned facade had been flung away, hopefully not where Bella could see. Bella...The sound of that name sent sharp pains throughout my body and although it had died, long ago, my heart felt as though it was cracking into tiny pieces. Love, life, meaning...over.

It could have been hours that I lay there, cursing myself for ever leaving Bella. When first light came up, I didn't even move. Let some human see me. Perhaps I would leave Edward Cullen behind. Maybe he would be no more. I could easily hunt humans again. A vampire, surely would not feel the emotions that were torturing me; stabbing, biting, attacking me. If I became the red-eyed monster of my past, perhaps I could leave Edward here with all the memories of Bella Swan. It seemed like my only alternative. I didn't even care what Carlisle thought of me. I had gone down in his estimation anyway. I'd given up on Bella.

I caught the scent of a human. Without a second thought, I latched on to it. It offered me an escape from the pain and torture of living away from...

The scent pulled me in. Behind a tree, I saw two human women, pouring over a map. I crouched down low, silent and swift, preparing to pounce, preparing to kill two innocent people. As I jumped, a face burst into my mind. Her eyes were petrified, her face was deathly white from the fear. It was as if she was watching me. What was I doing? Appalled and disgusted with myself, I landed and then moved away, in the opposite direction to the hikers. Had I been about to murder two harmless innocent women merely to distract myself from my own pain? Inexcusable. I was definitely going to hell after that; if I hadn't seen that face in my mind, both women would be dead and cold by now. I threw myself to the ground again, gripping a nearby branch to vent some of my pain. The thought, no, the realisation that I was never going to see Bella again was like the worst torture. She could be being attacked right now; I'd never know. I was no longer Bella's protector. I was no longer Bella's anything. Her life was a mystery to me. If she died tomorrow or in eighty years, I'd never know. And that was the way that it was supposed to be...but I had never felt so sad before, so utterly miserable. Would this feeling ever go away? I doubted it. My love for Isabella Swan would never fade, lessen or disappear. I had been permanently altered by her and that would last whether I was with her or whether I never saw her face again.

The roar of an engine cut into my depression for a second. I recognised the sound before I saw the black Mercedes, driving off road, headed towards me. This was it. I had to make my choice. My family would want me to go back to Bella and it wouldn't take much persuasion. When Esme saw how distraught, how ridiculously suicidal I felt, she would insist that I go back to Forks. Was it fair to my family, to bestow such depression and misery on them? Of course not. I wanted to be aggressive, to kill and if I couldn't kill humans...

Victoria. What if I removed the last threat to Bella? My goodbye present to her- a present that she would never know that she'd received. I couldn't be around my family, that much was certain. There was so much agony inside me that I had to vent my sorrow upon something. The black Mercedes was getting closer to me. I could see the driver clearly. Our eyes met. Before I could hear his thoughts, I gave him one, desperate, agonising, tortured look and then I ran. I ran away, into the forest, away from the meadow, away from the Mercedes and away from Edward.