d　in　my　head。　I　wanted　the

long　fall　that　would　feel　like

flying。

I　knew　that　this　was　the　stupidest；　most　reckless　thing　I　had　done　yet。　The

thought　made　me　smile。　The

pain　was　already　easing；　as　if　my　body　knew　that　Edward's　voice　was　just

seconds　away

The　ocean　sounded　very　far　away；　somehow　farther　than　before；　when　I　was　on

the　path　in　the　trees。　I

grimaced　when　I　thought　of　the　probable　temperature　of　the　water。　But　I　wasn't

going　to　let　that　stop　me。

The　wind　blew　stronger　now；　whipping　the　rain　into　eddies　around　me。

I　stepped　out　to　the　edge；　keeping　my　eyes　on　the　empty　space　in　front　of　me。

My　toes　felt　ahead　blindly；

caressing　the　edge　of　the　rock　when　they　encountered　it。　I　drew　in　a　deep

breath　and　held　it　。　。　waiting。

〃Bella。〃

I　smiled　and　exhaled。

Yes？　I　didn't　answer　out　loud；　for　fear　that　the　sound　of　my　voice　would

shatter　the　beautiful　illusion。　He

sounded　so　real；　so　close。　It　was　only　when　lie　was　disapproving　like　this

that　I　could　hear　the　true

memory　of　his　voice—the　velvet　texture　and　the　musical　intonation　that　made

up　the　most　perfect　of　all

voices。

〃Don't　do　this；〃　he　pleaded。

You　wanted　me　to　be　human；　I　reminded　him。　Well；　watch　me。

〃Please。　For　me。〃

But　you　won't　stay　with　me　any　other　way。

〃Please。〃　It　was　just　a　whisper　in　the　blowing　rain　that　tossed　my　hair　and

drenched　my　clothes—making

me　as　wet　as　if　this　were　my　second　jump　of　the　day。

I　rolled　up　onto　the　balls　of　my　feet。

〃No；　Bella！〃　He　was　angry　now；　and　the　anger　was　so　lovely。

I　smiled　and　raised　my　arms　straight　out；　as　if　I　were　going　to