Waxing Crescent (Alice Cullen x Bella Swan)

Chapter 24 - Broken Mirrors

Dad,

I'm so sorry, but I have to go. I can't stay here and pretend to be happy anymore. You're great, and Alice is great, but that's the problem. I don't want to be stuck here. I don't want to end up like Mom, putting down too many roots until I lose myself.

Please don't blame yourself for this. I just really hate Forks. I've been trying to keep a brave face for you for so long, but I can't do it anymore. I can't keep lying to you, to Alice, or to my friends.  Don't come looking for me or try to change my mind. I'll call you when I get to Phoenix. I'm taking the truck, and I'll make sure to have breaks along the way. I know how much you hate sleepy drivers.

Also... Please don't blame Alice. She tried to convince me to stay, but it all hit me at once. I'm just not ready for this. I had so many dreams before I came here, and now they're slipping away. I hope you can understand why that scares me, and I hope one day you'll forgive me for leaving.

It's probably for the best you weren't here when I got back. I doubt you would have let me leave. But I have to. If I don't go now, I never will.

Love,

Bella x

The pen felt heavy in my hand, the ink blurring as my eyes stung. I stared at the words, willing the tears to come, but all I felt was hollow, like a balloon slowly deflating. Like the words themselves were draining me dry. 

I pressed my lips together, my fingers trembling as I folded the letter. Leaving him after Weylan's death... it wasn't supposed to be like this. But I had no choice. 

No choice at all.

Finding the house empty had shocked me. I was sure Rosalie's plan would fail before it began. But Charlie was already gone.

A domestic dispute had broken out at a bar on the outskirts of town, and the station was short-staffed. Most of his colleagues were off helping neighboring townships with the state-wide murders. He didn't leave many details, just a quick note on the counter.

Leaving behind my letter next to his note, along with an empty house and my belongings mostly gone, was the cruelest thing I'd ever done. The words I'd written were harsh—designed to scar. I had to use the same excuses Mom had when she left him; it was the only way to keep him from sending out search parties or hunting me down personally in his cruiser. At least now—I hoped—I had some time before he involved Renee. 

Alice was a godsend. She knew what I needed before I did, packing my things in a blur while I struggled to find words. I hadn't planned on abandoning my life this week, but here we were.

Outside, Emmett and Edward kept watch. James wasn't far, just as they predicted. He'd perched on the hills, watching as I scrambled to get my affairs in order. He'd follow us when we left—that was the plan.

We reached the Cullens' house, and everyone seemed confident our ruse would work. That he wouldn't return to threaten Charlie. I prayed they were right.

The hardest part was leaving Alice behind. Her visions were clear - if I stayed with her, James would follow, and everything would get worse. The plan was to hide me out of state—back to Phoenix. That way, they could hunt the nomads without worrying about me.

Alice kept seeing Arizona in her visions, insisting it was safest. Far away from Forks, from its comforting rain, and... from her. She took some solace knowing I'd be somewhere familiar. I was inconsolable.

She tried to rally me, suggesting that even if the nomads did find me, it would make things a lot harder for them, as they would be forced to move only during nightfall.