I looked from Edward to Jasper and back again repeatedly. “What?” I asked as they continued to look at me. They still stayed silent, so I repeated it again, more urgently. Edward glanced suspiciously at Jasper before finally answering, “Nothing.” I was about to protest at the unsatisfactory answer, but Carlisle entered the room again, cutting me off and catching everybody’s attention. “Hey, I just wanted to check up on you again. I heard what Jasper said and figured I should just be nearby, in case of any complications.” I nodded at him, smiling gratefully. That was when I noticed that someone else had slipped in discreetly behind him. It was a short girl, a little older than me, with cropped black hair. She was pointedly thin and quite short, her tawny eyes fixed on me.

“How are you?” Carlisle asked me, and I dragged my eyes away from the newcomer to answer him. “Um…actually, it’s just stopped hurting now,” I said anxiously, now able to feel shy and embarrassed. As I answered Carlisle, I realised my words were true, and I could feel my previously immobile limbs again. Edward nodded at me, smiling, and I stood up smoothly, twisting and flexing my arms and legs unsurely. Each movement seemed immediate, as though it took no time at all. After checking every part of my body was functioning properly, I flashed a wide grin at everyone. The girl at the door caught my eyes again.

She noticed me looking curiously and beamed back. “I’m Alice,” she announced, darting over to me. “Oh,” I recalled, “Jasper said you can…see the future?” My words were unsure and even as I spoke them my head swivelled back to Jasper for confirmation. He nodded, smiling slightly. Alice sighed, but when I turned back to look at her again, she had vanished. I turned around to ask somebody, and saw her standing with Jasper, who had slipped his arm around her waist comfortably. “So the only thing you’ve told her about your wife is my stupid talent! Is that the only thing you love about me?” she teased, looking lovingly at him.

“Would you like to meet Esme now?” Edward asked quietly, “She’s the mother of this ‘family’, and I’m sure she’ll be pleased to meet you. It’s been very difficult to keep you a secret, but she would have fretted and worried otherwise.” I looked at him, nodding slightly, my eyes wide. Edward smiled again, reassuringly, and glided over to the door, holding open for me. I thanked him softly and took a nervous step forward. I didn’t remember life before today, so every action needed remembering. But everything seemed to come naturally to me. My steps may have been wary in my mind, but I could tell that I was moving with an unnatural grace.