𝐑𝐄𝐁𝐎𝐑𝐍 ➻ 𝐂𝐚𝐫𝐥𝐢𝐬𝐥𝐞 𝐂𝐮𝐥𝐥𝐞𝐧

𝘁𝗵𝗶𝗿𝘁𝗲𝗲𝗻

"I'M SORRY MA'AM, YOU'RE FIFTY DOLLARS SHORT." The woman in the pharmacy part of the hospital told her, a look of disbelief crossed Anastasia's face.

"But the medication doesn't cost that much, I made sure that I'd budget to have enough left for this." Anastasia argued, but the middle-aged woman just shook her head, a tired expression upon her features.

"Our prices have gone up, ma'am. Supply and demand these days unfortunately." she shrugged, pushing the cash back over the table towards her. "Enjoy the rest of your day."

Anastasia walked away, and then looked down at the ground once she was outsidew, utterly defeated. Then, she got a voicemail from an unknown number.

'Anastasia, this is Charlie Swan, I was hoping maybe you could come 'round again and maybe try and help Bella out a bit? I'm so worried about her, you always know best when it comes to my daughter.'

The last line hurt her a little, she didn't always know best when it came to Bella Swan anymore, Alice Cullen did.

She swiftly called the number back, knowing Charlie, it'd probably go to voicemail anyway, he was most likely watching a game or something, his phone forgotten by the kitchen sink.

Yep, voicemail.

Sighing, she spoke into her phone. "Yeah, I'll be over in a few. Thanks Charlie." then she dug the phone back into her pocket along with the cash, swiftly striding in the path that'd eventually lead her to the Swan residence.

❛ ━━━━━━･❪🦋❫ ･━━━━━━ ❜

BELLA HAD GOTTEN WORSE.

According to Charlie, the nightmares had become more frequent, she'd wake him up in the middle of the night, screaming profusely. "I'm scared for her, Anastasia." Charlie spoke to her as he led her upstairs.

"It's alright, Charlie. I'll try my best, I can always try and make something for your dinner tonight if that'd be any help?" she offered, wanting to distract her mind as much as possible right now.

Charlie smiled for once. "You're a good kid." he ruffled her hair as she returned his smile, before walking over to Bella as he went back downstairs.

If Bella could've gotten any paler than before, she certainly had now. "Bella? I know you must be listening to me somehow. You're worrying all of us right now, I know you loved him Bella, I know you miss him, but you've got to accept the fact that he had to have had a reason to do this, it probably hurt him as much as it hurt you." Anastasia felt a familiar welling in her tear ducts as her words transferred her own pain.

"He- He loves you Bella, he always will, but you need to try and get better, for him. It's what he wants you to do, it's what I need you to do." Anastasia frowned at the lack of response, though she had predicted it. "If you don't want to talk to me, that's fine, I- I understand but please, talk to someone about it, it's not healthy to keep it going like this."

"I know it feels like it right now, but the world didn't end when Edward left, it kept going. You should try to too. But, if you do want to talk to me, promise that you won't hesitate to call, I'll always be here for you, Bells." 

Sighing as she closed the bedroom door, she retreated into the small kitchen, where she found a couple of ingredients she could work with as she prepared a meal for Charlie.

"Smells good, what are you making?" the man in question asked.

"Um, just some old pasta dish." she replied. "Should be ready soon, there's enough for some leftovers if you want them later on." Anastasia quickly drained the pasta as she added it to another pot afterwards.

"Thank you, Anastasia, really, thank you, you're such a big help, I appreciate it." Charlie told her, truly grateful for her help.

He didn't know how much those words truly meant to her.

❛ ━━━━━━･❪🦋❫ ･━━━━━━ ❜

"OH, YOU'RE HOME!" her beloved grandma smiled warmly at the tired girl that strolled into the front room. "I hope they didn't give you any trouble at the pharmacy? I'll go up and have a word with them myself if they have."

"Actually, Grams, I, um- I couldn't get your medication today, they er- they ran out today, I'll head back over tomorrow." Anastasia felt horrible for lying, but she didn't need her grandma worrying about them not having enough money anymore to pay for anything but the bills and groceries now that the price of her medication had risen. She'd just have to sell some of her stuff tomorrow and get some more cash.

Grams shook her head. "That's alright, let's get you a drink, hm? You're half frozen I'm sure!" she quickly pulled her to sit down as she busied herself with some hot chocolate making, although Anastasia protested she could do it herself.

"Nonsense, I like making hot chocolate for my granddaughter, I know you don't like tea or coffee, only the perfect hot chocolate your Grams makes for you." she tutted as she squirted the cream from the can onto the liquid.

Anastasia gratefully welcomed the warmth it brought to her hands once she held the mug. "You do too much, Grams. You should be resting." she frowned as she noticed how weak she'd been getting.

"Don't be silly, if I rest this much, I might as well already be in the casket!" Grams waved her off as she flicked the television on, taking a seat next to her granddaughter as the young girl curled up beside her, the sitcom playing on the screen before them as they shared the cherished moment.