บท 13: Closings and New Beginnings
Chapter 12: Closings and New Beginnings
The cold Forks air enveloped them as they sat on a bench outside the hospital. The gray sky threatened imminent rain, but neither of them seemed to notice the atmosphere. An awkward silence stood between Ethan and Bella, filled with unsaid words. Bella moved her hands nervously in her lap. She had been waiting for this moment, but now that she was here she didn't know where to start
It was Ethan who broke the silence.
"I'm sorry, Bella," he said, his voice low but firm. I know I've been ignoring you since you came back... and I know it's not fair.
Bella looked into his eyes, those eyes that once made her feel safe, but now only caused her confusion.
~ ~—Why did you do it? —She asked, her voice barely above a whisper. She knew her answer deep inside her, but she needed to hear it from him
Ethan sighed, bringing a hand to her hair, nervous. He seemed to be searching for the right words, something that could soften the blow.
"I didn't want to hurt you," he finally said. What happened that summer... was one of the most important moments of my life. I really appreciate it, but I've changed since then. And I realized that I don't feel the same anymore. I didn't want to face it because I didn't want this to end badly, I didn't want to hurt you
Bella felt a lump form in her throat. Although she had anticipated those words, she couldn't help the pain they brought. She knew that things between them had changed, and her attraction to Edward only confirmed it. But hearing Ethan say that he no longer felt the same still hurt, even though his heart was somewhere else now
They were both silent for a moment, immersed in their own thoughts. Bella closed her eyes, and memories of her began to flood her. One summer ago...
Flashback
It had been over a year since that summer, the summer Bella had returned to Forks to spend time with her father. Back then, the feelings she had for Ethan were deep and clear, an undeniable attraction they both shared, even though they knew it wouldn't last. They both lived separate lives hundreds of miles apart. But, that summer the world seemed small, and her feelings encompassed everything
One morning, her father, Charlie, had invited her fishing. Bella wasn't especially excited, but when she found out that Billy and her son Ethan would be accompanying them, something inside her changed. She felt that nervousness and excitement typical of a girl in love
When both families met. Bella exchanged smiles with Ethan. There was already something unspoken between them, something she didn't need to be said in words. Curious, Bella asked about Jacob, but Ethan informed her that his younger brother had gone camping and wouldn't be in Forks for a while.
After a while, while his parents were fishing on the river bank, Ethan and Bella decided to explore the forest. They walked side by side, their footsteps crunching on the wet, leaf-covered ground. They both laughed at insignificant things, until they found a clearing in the forest, a place bathed in sunlight, where the vegetation shone as if blessed by nature.
Bella and Ethan spread a blanket and sat, talking at first, but they both knew there was something else in the air. The tension was palpable, and Bella, heart racing, finally steeled herself. She leaned towards him and kissed him, shyly at first, but the kiss quickly intensified. It was as if they had both been waiting for this moment for too long.
The kiss gave way to something more, something they had both wanted for a long time. Their hearts beating in unison as they looked at each other in silence, knowing what they were about to do. Ethan remembered his father's jokes, the condom she had given him "just in case." With a nervous smile, he took it out of his wallet. Bella looked at him with a mix of anxiety and curiosity, and after a brief pause, they continued.
The place was perfect. The sunlight filtering through the leaves, the distant sound of the river and the heat of their bodies creating an intimate and magical atmosphere. What followed was a youthful moment, full of nervousness and passion. They both gave their hearts and their bodies, not knowing that this would be one of the last moments they would share like this.
The following days were similar, full of stolen kisses and moments alone. But they knew the end was near. Bella would have to return to Arizona, and with that, distance would come between them again. They were both sad but also full of hope that next summer things would be the same again. How wrong they were.
End of flashback
When they finished remembering, Bella opened her eyes and looked at Ethan. They were both silent, their cheeks reddened by the mixture of shame and nostalgia.
"I don't regret what we experienced together," Bella said, breaking the silence. But you're right we've both changed, and it's time to move on.
Ethan nodded, his eyes serious but calm. - I think so too. But I still want to be your friend Bella. I don't want everything we shared to be lost.
Bella smiled, feeling the weight of her previous jealousy begin to fade. She knew that her reaction towards Rosalie had been unjustified, and now she realized it
"I want to remain your friend too," she replied, with a sincere smile. None of this changes what you mean to me, Ethan
Ethan smiled too, and they both knew that they had just closed an important chapter in their lives.
Unbeknownst to them two figures were watching from a distance . Edward, hiding in the shadows, gritted his teeth as he listened to what Bella and Ethan were saying. There was something about his conversation that set her heart on fire with jealousy, as if Ethan had stolen something priceless from her. In the distance, Rosalie was also listening, with a pang of feeling at hearing what had happened between Bella and Ethan. Something deep inside her stirred, a mixture of jealousy and rage.
They both knew that something had changed, and the feeling of having lost something precious washed over them.
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