ℝ𝕖𝕕 ℝ𝕠𝕤𝕖𝕤

"𝟐 𝐲𝐞𝐚𝐫𝐬 𝐚𝐭 𝐦𝐨𝐬𝐭"

(3rd person POV)

Jasper, Alice, Rosalie, and Emmett sat anxiously in the waiting room, their minds heavy with worry. On the other side, Bella and Charlie Swan were equally tense, all of them waiting for any news about Luella's condition. Earlier, Luella had collapsed in the greenhouse, struggling for breath and coughing up blood.

Inside, Jasper was in turmoil, his unbeating heart metaphorically racing as he thought about his mate, the one he had barely begun to pursue, potentially facing death. Beside him, Alice felt a wave of guilt wash over her; she had foreseen this moment but kept it to herself. Rosalie was furious, frustrated that the human she had grown to care for was now in the hospital, suffering from an unknown ailment. Emmett, meanwhile, was at a loss. He cared for Luella but found himself bewildered by the level of distress his siblings felt over a human. Deep down, he suspected that Alice had known something was coming, thanks to her vision from the night before.

"Okay, no. We're not going to sulk," Rosalie declared, her voice cutting through the tension. Jasper, Alice, and Emmett turned to her, surprised by her sudden resolve.

"What do you mean?" Emmett asked, tilting his head.

"What I mean is we're not going to be sad over someone we've known for just a week. Instead, we're going to talk about something else," Rosalie explained though she was a mess.

"What are we going to talk about?" Jasper questioned, skepticism evident in his voice.

"Oooh, let's talk about my future mate!" Alice said, her excitement bubbling over.

"Haven't you told us everything already?" Emmett groaned, exasperated.

"No, I have not, for your information," Alice replied, crossing her arms defiantly.

"Right, but you've already told us his name and what he looks like—" Jasper started, only to be interrupted.

"Luella Swan?" Dr. Cullen's voice cut through the air, causing everyone to stand up at the mention of her name.

Bella and Charlie exchanged puzzled glances with the Cullens, wondering why they had all risen at once.

"Sorry, Chief Swan. We're really worried about Luella," Alice said quickly. "My family and I brought her here when she started coughing. We're all friends."

"Oh, no worries. I get that you're concerned. You guys can stay if you'd like," Charlie said, offering a hint of understanding. He then turned back to Dr. Cullen, muttering an apologetic, "Sorry about that."

"It's no trouble, really," Dr. Cullen replied, his tone calm. "But we do have some things to discuss." He looked at Charlie and nodded, prompting him to continue.

"So, Luella is currently stable," Dr. Cullen said, and a wave of relief washed over the group. But then came the crushing blow: "Unfortunately, Luella has been diagnosed with pulmonary fibrosis. It is a type of lung cancer."

Charlie and Bella gasped at the devastating news. The Cullens had varied reactions—Alice flinched, knowing this was coming but still feeling the weight of it. Rosalie's anger turned to sadness, dread pooling in her stomach. Emmett felt an overwhelming sense of sadness; there was little else to say. For Jasper, the news was shattering. Time seemed to stop as he absorbed the harsh reality—why did Luella have to suffer from cancer?

"She would probably like to see you two now, if you'd like to follow me," Carlisle said to the Swan family, emphasizing "two" to ensure his children wouldn't follow. Jasper sank back into his chair, feeling like a ghost in the room.

"What are you doing?" Rosalie asked, concern etched on her face.

"I'm waiting," Jasper replied curtly, his eyes focused on the floor.

"For what?" Emmett pressed, confused.

"For Luella," he stated simply.

"We don't have time for this! Can't you come back lat—" Rosalie began, only to be cut off by Alice.

"Let him wait. It'll be better this way. We should get home now," Alice defended Jasper.

With that, the rest of the Cullen siblings left, except for Edward, who had never been there in the first place. Jasper remained, his heart heavy as he waited for Luella. Time passed slowly as he imagined her big brown eyes and contemplated a darker thought—what if he only had a year with his soulmate? He never felt deserving of her, and now it seemed like a cruel twist of fate that his love would suffer from such an unforgiving disease. He also pondered whether Luella would want to become a vampire or if/when he could tell her the truth about himself.

His thoughts were interrupted when he heard Luella's small, scared voice call out, "Jazz?" He looked up to see her gaze locking onto his. "I have cancer." Though he had suspected it, her blunt admission shocked him. It seemed like a coping mechanism—a way to confront her fears head-on.

Jasper nodded along, not having enough strength to utter a response.

"I'm scared. I'm so fucking scared. I'm only 17—I've barely lived, and now I only have two years at most." Her words struck him like a physical blow, leaving him breathless. The reality of her limited time sank in, and Jasper's heart ached at the thought of losing her so soon.

He could feel her fear radiating from her, mingling with his own—anger, sadness, and disbelief washed over them both. After a few seconds of sharing a heavy silence, Jasper pulled her into a tight embrace. Luella broke down, sobbing against his chest. He held her close, running his fingers through her soft brown hair, whispering comforting words to keep her grounded amidst the storm of emotions.

Looking down at her, he felt a sadness he never thought possible. "It's okay, Luella. It's okay... Let it all out," he murmured softly.

All that echoed in Jasper's mind was the heartbreaking reality:

Luella Rosemary Swan only has two years at most.