〃All　three　of　them。〃　But　I　frowned。

This　was　always　the　hardest　part。　Charlie；　Renee。　Now　Jacob；　too。　The　people　I

would　lose；　the　people

I　would　hurt。　I　wished　there　was　some　way　that　I　could　be　the　only　one　to

suffer；　but　I　knew　that　was

impossible。

At　the　same　time；　I　was　hurting　them　more　by　staying　human。　Putting　Charlie　in

constant　danger　through

my　proximity。　Putting　Jake　in　worse　danger　still　by　drawing　his　enemies　across

the　land　he　felt　bound　to

protect。　And　Renee—I　couldn't　even　risk　a　visit　to　see　my　own　mother　for　fear

of　bringing　my　deadly

problems　along　with　me！

I　was　a　danger　magnet；　I'd　accepted　that　about　myself。

Accepting　this；　I　knew　I　needed　to　be　able　to　take　care　of　myself　and　protect

the　ones　I　loved；　even　if

that　meant　that　I　couldn't　be　with　them。　I　needed　to　be　strong。

〃In　the　interest　of　remaining　inconspicuous；〃　Edward　said；　still　talking

through　his　gritted　teeth；　but

looking　at　Carlisle　now；　〃I　suggest　that　we　put　this　conversation　off；　at　the

very　least　until　Bella　finishes

high　school；　and　moves　out　of　Charlie's　house。〃

〃That's　a　reasonable　request；　Bella；〃　Carlisle　pointed　out。

I　thought　about　Charlie's　reaction　when　he　woke　up　this　morning；　if—after　all

that　life　had　put　him　through

in　the　last　week　with　Harry's　loss；　and　then　I　had　put　him　through　with　my

unexplained

disappearance—he　were　to　find　my　bed　empty。　Charlie　deserved　better　than

that。　It　was　just　a　little　more

time；　graduation　wasn't　so　far　away

I　pursed　my　lips。　〃I'll　consider　it。〃

Edward　relaxed。　His　jaw　unclenched。

〃I　should　probably　take　you　home；