The drive to Alaska was painful. Each mile we drove away from Forks the more I felt like I was burning from the inside like I was going to combust. I could feel the ripping of my body, surprised there were any pieces left to shred. Alice continued to try and soothe me, but I was flinching and wincing frequently at the visions in her mind. I stared at her as her face showed a fraction of the emotions I was feeling, regardless, she was still feeling pain at the situation. She was trying very hard not to lash out at me as each vision hit her like a ton of bricks.

Maybe I’ll just go back and check on her, make sure she’s all right. Alice continued to contemplate ideas of going back.

I threw her a disgruntled look but she ignored me.

We could send her a letter…or a card saying we’re sorry and that we all still love her. She continued.

This time I gave her a withering look, knowing that in the next fleeting second her mind will have changed again. I continued to stare fixedly at her small face as her golden eyes went in and out of focus. The only reason I didn’t stop her from showing me these awful images was because I was seeing Bella.

I watched as another swirling image flitted across her mind. It spiraled in and out of focus while it became foggy and then clearer and back to foggy. I was concentrating on trying to see the image. It was our meadow and Bella was on her knees, tears flowing down her delicate cheeks. I searched and searched to see if I was there with her, but I wasn’t. It went up in a wisp of smoke.

“What was that?” I asked.

“I’m not sure…she hasn’t been making any decisions, like her brain is on repeat and the only thing she can think about is you,” she replied slowly. “All the visions encompass you, though you’re not there.”

I sighed and looked out the window. My desire to go see her was burning stronger than ever. I closed my eyes and there she was, smiling her mysterious smile at me. My body seared with pain as the hollow aching in my chest felt like it had become deeper and ultimately emptier. My arms felt cold, how they always felt when Bella was absent from them. I had grown so accustomed to her warm body that my temperature seemed wrong somehow.