Chapter Five - Better Than Nothing

A situation, however unfathomable, is made undoubtedly better by the presence of a loved one…

Edward was immobile as he looked upon Bella; her stunning features were enough to dazzle him, as he had done to her in her human years… The words sent chills down his spine. Human years… Unimaginable guilt surged through him. If he hadn't of left, hadn't of put her life in danger to begin with, she would have still been human.

Her laugh could have been ringing in the ears of friends and family still… She would have grown, graduated… Married… probably to that disgusting Newton boy, who had caused much of Edward's anger towards humanity…

Though, he hadn't a clue how he could have stayed away, even that early on in their relationship. At the beginning, he thought she would be unattainable. Her soft, plump lifts were inviting… But also in the sense that with one slip of control, she would be dead, her lips ruined, a bite mark forever embezzled on her delicate skin.

But, with one simple conversation, in a place of pure beauty, though not as beautiful as his Bella, he found he loved her more than his own life… his own life especially.

And there was absolutely nothing he could do about it, even though he knew she would be so much better off without him…

'Oh goodness,' he thought, 'what kind of painful mess have I gotten into now?'

"Edward? You look so… deep in thought," Bella leaned forward, the calm expression that I loved so much on her face, "What's on your mind?"

I shook my head, speechless. She was an angel come back to earth to stop a vampire from committing suicide. That sounded crazy, even to me… "Bells… how is this going to work out? They can't see you… they can't hear you… Maybe - maybe I am imagining you…" the words escaped my mouth before I had the chance to stifle them.

My dead heart seemed to drop further into my chest as her face crumpled in hurt.

"Edward, you are not insane. I am real. I really am…" she whispered, her voice smooth and delicate as her skin.

As I looked into her eyes, shining with desperation, I knew that she wall all too real to be a figment of my under-used imagination. Sighing, I raised a hand to stroke her cheek, but lowered it quickly.

"Sorry, love. I just…" I couldn't seem to find the right words to explain my jumbled thoughts. She nodded understandingly after a second, smiling at me shyly.

"I know what you mean, Edward. Everything seems so wrong right now…" Her eyes cast downwards and I wanted so badly to reach out and cup her chin, tilting her face upwards so that she would meet my eyes.

But I couldn't.

"This is entirely my fault. If I hadn't of left you, then you wouldn't be… dead." Even though her spirit was here, her appearance was ghostly, there was no beat of her heart, she was seen only by me, and even I couldn't touch her… caress her soft hair, press my stone lips against hers, hold her fragile hand in mine…

She leaned forward, her smile now bright, though her eyes seemed sad. "Edward, remember, I'm here, and that's better than nothing… right?" she whispered.

"Right," I managed after a moment, stalling slightly before talking. I guess sitting, talking to her, was indeed better than nothing…

Hi guys!! Wow, THANK you so much for the sudden spurt of reviews!! Okay, so I have sort of a deal for everyone...

As of now, a normal chapter will contain 1000 words, but for every review I get, I'll add 50 words! So if I get say... seven reviews, that's an extra 350 words!! From all the favorites and alerts I'm getting, hopefully that won't be a problem!

Love y'all!

TwilightHeart21