Her Time

𝒞𝒽. Ten

Annabelle sat rigidly on the Cullen's living room couch, her gaze fixed on nothing in particular. She couldn't bring herself to look at them, couldn't bear the pity she knew would be reflected in their eyes. She wouldn't let them see her crumble.

"Anna?" Alice's voice, the first to break the silence, was laced with worry.

"Yes?" Annabelle replied, her voice strained.

"Please, tell us what's wrong. We're worried about you."

Annabelle shook her head. "Don't be. I'm fine. Just bad headaches lately. Probably dehydration – I haven't been drinking enough water."

Edward took a step closer, his expression serious. "You don't collapse clutching your head from dehydration, Anna. Something's wrong, something serious."

Annabelle sighed, slowly rising to her feet. "I'm fine. It's nothing I can't handle on my own. Please, let it go."

The Cullens turned to Carlisle, their unspoken pleas for him to intervene hanging in the air. "Anna?" he said gently.

Her back stiffened. "Carlisle, please, don't –"

"We just want to help," he said, moving to stand before her.

She kept her gaze fixed on the floor. "There's nothing to help with or worry about."

"How can you say that? You're in so much pain you're brought to your knees!" Emmett exclaimed, his voice rough with concern.

Carlisle gently cupped her cheeks in his hands. "You are a vital part of our family, of my life. Can't you see we're only trying to ensure you're okay?"

A single tear escaped Annabelle's eye, tracing a path down her cheek. She tried to pull away, but Carlisle held her firm. "Anni, please, talk to me."

Annabelle shook her head, taking a step back. "I can't. I can't do that."

"Why not?" Carlisle pressed.

"You'll never look at me the same way again. None of you will. You'll always have pain in your eyes, and I'll always hear it in your voice. I don't want that." She looked around at each of them, her voice breaking.

Renée took a step forward. "We would never judge you."

Annabelle turned to meet her gaze. "I know that."

"Then what can't you tell us? What are you so afraid of that you think we'll never look at you the same way?" Renée asked, her voice filled with a growing sense of dread.

"As long as you're not dying –" Renéesme stopped abruptly, her eyes widening as she noticed Annabelle's flinch at the word. A hand flew to her mouth, tears welling in her eyes. "That's it, isn't it? Please tell me that's not it."

Annabelle met her gaze, confirming Renéesmes fears. Renéesme took a step back, her head shaking as tears streamed down her face. "No, you can't – no!" she cried.

Annabelle jumped, startled. "What's Nessie talking about?" Emmett asked, confused.

Annabelle shook her head, her voice choked with emotion. "Nothing."

"Then why is she cryi –"

"She's dying! We're going to lose her! We're going to have to watch her die!" Nessie cried.

Everyone's attention shifted to Annabelle, her eyes fixed on the distraught Nessie.

Rosalie was the first to speak, her voice trembling. "Please tell me she's wrong. Tell me she's just jumping to conclusions."

Annabelle met Rosalie's gaze, but said nothing.

"Annabelle?" Carlisle's voice was a low rumble of concern. He moved to stand before her again. "Is Nessie telling the truth? Are you dy- are you sick?"

Meeting Carlisle's gaze, Annabelle nearly crumbled. His eyes, never shedding tears, seemed to hold the weight of the world. The raw pain in them tore at her heart.

Taking a deep breath, Annabelle straightened and spoke, her voice barely a whisper. "I have Glioblastoma." She watched as Carlisle's eyes widened in shock. "It's a brain tumor. It can grow rapidly and causes increasing pressure in the brain. The tumor causes these terrible headaches, nausea, vomiting, drowsiness. Depending on its location, it can lead to weakness, speech difficulties, memory problems, and vision changes." The words tumbled out in a rush, a torrent of information.

After a stunned silence of several minutes, Jasper was the first to speak, his voice tight with desperation. "Carlisle can operate. He's the best doctor in the world."

Annabelle offered a sad smile. "It won't work."

"Why not?" Alice asked, her voice barely a breath.

"It's incurable." Edward's voice was filled with quiet despair.

Annabelle glanced at each of them, her eyes filled with a mixture of sadness and resignation. "That's why I didn't say anything."

"How long?" Carlisle asked, his voice heavy with dread.

"A year." She knew he was asking about her prognosis.

"A year?" Bella gasped, her voice echoing the shock of the others.

"Yeah. They're amazed I've lasted this long."

"See! They're surprised you're still alive. What if they're wrong? What if they misdiagnosed you –"

Annabelle shook her head, her voice filled with a weary acceptance. "I've seen other doctors. Seven, to be exact. They all say the same thing. I'm dying."

Carlisle moved to stand before her, cupping her cheeks in his hands. "I promise you, if it's the last thing I do on this earth, I will find a way to keep you alive. I will not accept this. I do not accept this. Losing you is not an option. It will never be an option." His voice was filled with such emotion that it pulled at the strings of Annabelle's heart.

A small smile graced her lips. "I hope you know I'm holding you to that."

Carlisle nodded, his eyes filled with an unwavering resolve. "I know."