— Mommy's Letter —

( Edward POV )

"Are you Mr. Edward?"

I blinked in surprise as I looked down at the tiny girl in front of me. Her chocolate brown eyes were wide and curious, and there was a small smile floating on her bright, pink lips. Her skin — a dark, russet color — was so soft under my hand as I bent down and gripped her shoulder lighty so I could stare into her eyes.

"I'm Edward Cullen," I clarified, confused. "Do I know you, ma'am?"

She giggled at my formal speech, and then shook her head.

"Nuh uh. But my mommy knew you."

My heart — unbeating for over a hundred years — shattered as I realized why the girl's eyes, so deep, so beautiful, seemed so familiar.

"Bella?" I breathed, and saying the name that hadn't been spoken in over fifteen years made my heart break all over again. I knew that, if I could shed tears, they would be coursing down my cheeks, so cold, so hard, so pale, right now.

The litle girl nodded.

"Uh huh! That was my Mommy. Here," she said, and she reached into her bright pink, kitty-shaped backpack and her tiny fist clutched a white envelope — worn with age and overuse. She shoved it into my hands, and she smiled, showing off a large gap where her front two teeth had fallen out. "Mommy said that if I ever saw you, I should give this to you."

"Thank you," I whispered, for I couldn't allow my voice to raise any higher for fear that I would begin to sob. My fingers danced over the worn paper — I was sure that this little girl had looked at the letter again and again and again — and I fought back the feelings that threatened to consume me. The feelings that had been locked away for so … so long. "Thank you," I breathed again, and the girl smiled proudly.

But her smile fell and she turned around quickly, her eyes lighting up happily when they landed on the man, frantic, that ran for her.

"Marie Alice Black! Where in the world have you been?" the man demanded worriedly, sweeping the tiny girl into his large, dark arms. It was easy to tell that this man was her father — the resemblance was striking. "Oh, Marie, never scare me like that again."