For　once；　Edward　was　speechless。

〃So　let's　both　just　be　hopeful；　all　right？〃　I　suggested。　〃Not　that　it　matters。

If　you　stay；　I　don't　need

heaven。〃

He　got　up　slowly；　and　came　to　put　his　hands　on　either　side　of　my　face　as　he

stared　into　my　eyes。

〃Forever；〃　he　vowed；　still　a　little　staggered。

〃That's　all　I'm　asking　for；〃　I　said；　and　stretched　up　on　my　toes　so　that　I

could　press　my　lips　to　his。

EPILOGUE　TREATY

ALMOST　EVERYTHING　WAS　BACK　TO　NORMAL—THE　GOOD；　pre…zombie　normal—in　less

time　than　I　would　have　believed　possible。　The　hospital　weled　Carlisle　back

with　eager　arms；　not　even

bothering　to　conceal　their　delight　that　Esme　had　found　life　in　L。A。　so　little

to　her　liking。　Thanks　to　the

Calculus　test　I'd　missed　while　abroad；　Alice　and　Edward　were　in　better　to

shape　to　graduate　than　I　was

at　the　moment。　Suddenly；　college　was　a　priority　（college　was　still　plan　B；　on

the　off　chance　that　Edward's

offer　swayed　me　from　the　post…graduation　Carlisle　option）。　Many　deadlines　had

passed　me　by；　but

Edward　had　a　new　stack　of　applications　for　me　to　fill　out　every　day。　He'd

already　done　the　Harvard

route；　so　it　didn't　bother　him　that；　thanks　to　my　procrastination；　we　might

both　end　up　at　Peninsula

munity　College　next　year。

Charlie　was　not　happy　with　me；　or　speaking　to　Edward。　But　at　least　Edward　was

allowed—during　my

designated　visiting　hours—inside　the　house　again。　I　just　wasn't　allowed　out

of　it。

School　and　work　were　the　only　exceptions；　and　the　dreary；　dull　yellow　walls　of

my　classrooms　had

bee　oddly　inviting　to　me　of　late。　That　had　a　lot　to　do　with　the　person　who