The Unlikely Bond

𝑪𝒉𝒂𝒑𝒕𝒆𝒓 𝑻𝒉𝒓𝒆𝒆

I was sitting in my room at my desk, staring down at the blank piece of paper. I had decided I couldn't tell Charlie goodbye to his face; it would hurt too much. I didn't even know how long I'd been staring at this point. I'd grabbed a pen and paper, but nothing seemed to come out of my head and onto the paper; it was like my hand was weighed down.

Bella was with Edward and his family, and Charlie had gone to work, leaving me alone in the house. The silence was suffocating, amplifying my thoughts and emotions. I knew I had to find a way to express myself, even if it meant writing a letter instead of saying goodbye in person. And even then, I still wasn't sure what I could do for my mom, but over the past little bit of thinking about what I could tell Charlie, I could help, but I think it may be better if my mom forgot about me; it would make it easier that way.

It felt like hours before I actually began writing the letter. Each word felt heavy with the weight of my emotions. I wanted to tell him the truth, but it was against vampire law, and I couldn't put him in danger, so I figured the best way would be to lie and write to him about me running away.

Uncle Charlie,

It's been really tough for me lately, and I don't want to keep burdening you with my breakdowns about my mother. I've decided to leave town for a while to clear my head and find some peace. I hope you understand and know that I love you. Take care of yourself. I don't know when I'll be back, but please don't worry about me. I promise to stay safe. Thank you for always being there for me.

Love Theodora

The letter was short and to the point: 'I can't put him in danger, but I also can't make him worry too much for his own sake. I thought to myself as I sniffled and tried to blink away the tears I could feel ready to fall as I stood up.

Looking around, I saw my phone, grabbed it from my nightstand, and gave Bella a call, asking if she could get Carlisle to contact the Volturi about me being ready to join them. "Are you sure?" Bella asked, her voice laced with uncertainty.

"No, but I don't really want to drag it out longer; it'll just cause more pain for both Charlie and me." I replied, my voice trembling. I could hear the hesitation in Bella's voice as she tried to process my decision.

After a moment of silence, she finally said, "Okay, I'll talk to Carlisle and see what he can do." With that, the call ended, and I decided it was time to start packing my things. The weight of my decision settled heavily on my shoulders as I gathered my belongings. I didn't have much, if I'm honest; maybe a box, a duffel bag, and a normal backpack filled with essentials. As I folded my clothes and packed them away, memories of my time in Forks flooded my mind. It was bittersweet to leave behind the familiar town and the people I had grown close to.

By the time I finished, I grabbed the note I wrote and walked down to the kitchen to leave it on the table. I knew he'd find it. There was a knock at the door, though I hesitated for a moment before answering it. Alice stood there with a hint of a smile on her face. "Carlisle made the call; you can stay with us until tomorrow, when you will be escorted back to Volterra." There was a short pause. "Did you need help grabbing your things?"

I nodded. "Yeah, but it's not much; I think I just need you to grab the box." Alice nodded and stepped inside,finding her way to my room, though she stepped out after a short moment with my bags and box in hand. 'You know you didn't have to grab it all," I said gratefully as I took the bags from her. "I appreciate your help." Alice shrugged nonchalantly. "It's no problem at all."

After arriving at the Cullens house, everything felt like a blur. The night seemed to pass by quickly, far faster than I had hoped. As the sun began to rise, I found myself staring blankly up at the ceiling of the room I was in for the night. I wasn't sure how long I slept, but I was certain it wasn't long.