This Is Who I Am

Epilogue

Five Years Later...

Edward's P.O.V

And life just went on. Many people back in California wondered what had happened to me after my sudden falling out with my mother and moving to another state. Many don't know the real story. Why would a loving son suddenly abandon his mother who cared for him after his accident? Well, that's something they will never know.

But do know this. Life just went on.

It took a while for me and my sister to reconnect. And by "a while" I mean it took years of processing, healing and forgiving in order for us to reunite. Bella and I talked about it for hours, I went to therapy for weeks to no end, talked with my father... all different factors that helped me pick up the phone and invite my sister over for a weekend. It made me happy to know their life has been as great as mine. Jasper's restaurant started expanding through California and eventually went out of state, creating a long, successful chain for Mexican food. As for their family, it has expanded by one after Willow's arrival, who is now one year old. Alice can't stop gushing about how good of a big brother Hunter is and that the bond he has with his sister reminds her of us when we were children.

It felt great to look back at it together.

And for Emmett and Rosalie, two years after I came back home, an invitation arrived at our mailbox for their wedding. The morning after, Emmett called and asked me to be his best man. For a tough guy, it was a pretty emotional moment. I might be on his ass constantly about annoying me with his texts and video chats, but in reality, I am grateful to have him as my true best friend. The only one that stuck by me when my life became a living hell. Which is why it was such an honor to stand by him at the alter and marry his best friend and even Ava got to be the flower girl for the ceremony. They now live at a apartment of their own after Rosalie finally managed to drag Emmett's ass out of his parent's basement and, as far as I know, are planning on having a little Emmett running around soon. God knows how that will work out. He's now an intern like me and it's not Emmett if he's not constantly bitching about it.

When it comes down to my mother... I wish her the best, honestly. Though I have forgiven her for what she did to me, I cannot forgive what she did to my family. All the precious time lost that we cannot take back... but I've said it before, I am not one to hold a grudge, but I know I am in a better place without her in my life. I truly do wish her the best.  

And for me and my family? Well, things haven't exactly been all sunshine, rainbows and running off into sunset. It took a while to get adjusted to our new life. To combine school, work and Ava all in one week. But it was Bella and I, after all. It was us against the world and we made it work. We took turns watching Ava, managed our long schedules to find times for ourselves, to save time every morning when we ate as a family, eating pancakes and drinking the best coffee ever made. There was times where we thought we might not make it, where it got to difficult we needed to take a break, but nothing was enough to tear us apart. The world could end and we will still hold onto each other, no matter what.

Thanks to all our hard work, through our sweat and tears is that I realize why I chose the life I did before my accident. Because I didn't want things to be handed down to me, I didn't want to be given the things I now have. I wanted to earn them, I wanted to fight for them. That is the reason I am where I am, an intern standing outside the hospital, looking at the memorial of those we lost in the fire with a smile on my face, remembering my old friend and more grateful than I have ever been.

I hear her coming out behind me, giggling with Lydia as they said their goodbyes.

"Have a good day, Edward!" Lydia calls out as she walked to the parking lot.