Bellezza Swan | A Carlisle Cullen Love Story

Chapter Twenty Two: Forks

          I woke up with bright lights hurting my eyes. The familiar sound of beeping was accompanied by footsteps and people talking. Slowly, I sat up and got my bearings. I was in the hospital. Specifically, I was in my own room. How did I get here? What happened? Next to me was a sleeping Charlie in uniform. Events with the Cullens suddenly rushed over me and I touched my neck. There was a bandage going around it.

          "Ah," Carlisle came in and spoke softly after closing my door, "you're awake. Unlike Charlie."

          I looked at him, "C-Carlisle, wh-what-"

          "Mm," Charlie stirred, "Belle? Oh! Belle, you're awake!"

          I smiled a bit despite wanting to talk to Carlisle more, "Hey, dad."

          "Oh, honey," he said and kissed my forehead, "I was so worried about you! Carlisle told me that you were attacked by the same animal that killed Bella. I-I couldn't lose you, too! Thankfully, the animal responsible has been killed. I'm so relieved to see you."

          I blinked, "R-Right. Hey, dad? I need to talk to Dr. Cullen. I don't really remember much."

          He nodded and kissed my forehead a couple more times before leaving.

          I sighed and looked at Carlisle who was no longer smiling, "What happened?"

          "Belle, I-" he cut himself off and rushed over to hug me tightly, "I'm so sorry, Bellezza."

          I gasped and hugged him back, "I-I'm sorry too, Carlisle. I shouldn't have run. I'm sorry."

          He pulled away and kissed me softly, "I told Charlie you hit your head and you'll suffer from memory loss. As for James, we told him it was an animal attack."

          "What about Victoria?" I asked as he brushed my hair behind my ears.

          "Laurent baited her away but she ran to Seattle," he said.

          "Where's Laurent?" I asked, holding his hand against my face.

          "I don't know but he swore that he meant no harm. He helped and warned us of James and Victoria," he said, rubbing his thumb against my cheek.

          "Carlisle," I said softly, "what did James do to me?"

          His other hand brushed his fingers over the bandage, "He was going to change you. I-I couldn't let him."

          I slowly let go of his hand, "You mean, I could have been a vampire like you?"

          His eyebrows furrowed together and he attempted to cup my face in his hands, "Belle, please don't think about it! This is a different world we live in! You would have been his servant! If you turned-"

          I hit his arms outwards and away from me, "I want to turn! I want to be with you, Carlisle! Please, turn me!"

          He took a step back but he yelled at me, "We aren't having this conversation, Belle! I'm not turning you!"

          I flinched and looked away with tears in my eyes, "Why?"

          "Belle," he said softly, "I almost killed you. I-I fed on you. You're left with a permanent mark on your neck because of me. If I turn you, you'd have to be part of my coven. You'd be dead to the rest of the world. Charlie already lost Bella. Can you live knowing that he'd lose you, too?"

          A tear rolled down my cheek and when I did look at him, I only now realized he wasn't in his doctor's coat, "So, what are you going to do now?"

          "We.." he said with some difficulty, "We're leaving Forks, Belle."

          My heart dropped and I looked at him with pained eyes, "Y-You're leaving?"

          He shut his eyes after making eye contact with me, "Yes. You're more than capable of running the hospital now."

          I forced myself to stand despite my ankle still throbbing, "Please, don't-"

          "Don't change my mind, Bellezza," he said quickly, still unable to look at me.

          He's doing this to protect me. He has to. I shouldn't make this hard for him. I gulped and made my decision. This is going to hurt.

          I softly touched his face and turned it to me, "Carlisle?"

          He looked at me with the saddest eyes, "Yes, Belle?"

          I kissed him softly and barely pulled away, "I wish I had never met you."

          Without looking at him, I rushed out of my room with my swollen ankle but not before I heard his clipboard clattering on the ground.