A/N Thank you for giving my story a try :) I have been reading fanfic for years, and have always wanted to try my hand at writing. Thank you Stephanie Meyers for letting me borrow your characters. Enjoy :)

POV - Mine, 3rd person

Chapter 1 One window closes

"Mama I'll be back soon, I think I heard the doorbell", Bella told her mother.

Bella walked out of her mother's bedroom, and on the way to the front door she grabbed her wallet. She knew her visitor was Rose from the volunteer center delivering her groceries. Rose was the only visitor they really ever had, besides Dr. Cullen who made house calls for Bella's mother. There were no doctor appointment today though so a big smile lit up on Bella's face. Rose always brought her plenty of joy along with her groceries.

Bella greeted Rose as she opened the front door, "Hi Rose, come on in." Bella laughed when she saw her friend, "You know I can help you get the groceries from the car? It's nice enough you bring them to the house."

Rose squeezed in the door with her arms full of grocery sacks. "Non-sense", she replied. "I like to make as few trips as possible through that rickety gate of yours. I think another board may have fallen off."

"I know, I'm thinking of just ripping the thing down." laughed Bella.

"I would help you repair it, but tomorrow is the big day. I don't think I have the time", Rose said reminding Bella that this would be her last visit for awhile.

Bella already knew what tomorrow was, and she tried to fake excitement for Rose. "That's right! You're moving to L.A. tomorrow!" exclaimed Bella. Bella was a horrible actress and Rose could see right through her. "Don't worry about the gate, I'll fix it one of these days", Bella said the smile leaving her face.

Rose replied, "Yeah, I've heard you say that before." Rose continued to try and make her friend feel better, "I am a little nervous about the move, but I've got to put myself out there if I ever want to get cast. I'd never get discovered in our small little town of Forks you know? Otherwise, I'd never leave."

Really, Rose could get discovered anywhere. She was a tall, blonde beauty, supermodel quality. She had always dreamed of being an actress, and has been saving up for the last couple years to move to LA in hopes of starting up her career. She deserves everything she wants out of life. She is a hard worker and as beautiful as she was on the outside, her soul was even more so. During her senior year of high school she was part of a community service program where she got hooked up with the volunteer center. She loved helping out so much that she is on her second year of volunteering since she had graduated. Everyone in town knew Rose, and they all supported her new adventure. The whole town couldn't wait to see her on the big screen someday.

"Please promise you'll write to me about your new adventures?" asked Bella. "You know you are the highlight of my week." That was a real understatement. Rose was the highlight of Bella's life. Bella never left her house because she insisted on being there for her mother, to look after her. She didn't have any friends other than Rose. When she dropped out of school her senior year the few friends she did have just sort of stopped calling. That was fine with Bella; she didn't want to go out anymore anyways. Since she only ever had two visitors come to the house, well three if you count the mailman, there wasn't really any opportunity to meet new people. Their friendship was a simple one. It never was too deep or serious, just fun and light. Rose always had a feeling that Bella needed a little "Fun and Light" in her life. She always saw an empty sadness in Bella's eyes, but never thought it her place to pry.

Rose really was a window to the outside world for Bella. Every week Rose would deliver the groceries, and she would do a play by play of the town's current events. Last week Rose told Bella about a college kid named Newton who got busted for indecent exposure for streaking through his parent's sporting goods shop. They laughed and laughed and wondered how many situations like that Bella's father had to deal with when he was the small town's chief of police.

Charlie, Bella's father was shot and killed in the line of duty about five years ago. Some out of towners tried to rob the local bank. The robbers started shooting when Charlie and his deputies arrived. Charlie took down two men by shooting them in the kneecaps, but not before one of their bullets hit him right in the chest. If he were wearing a vest his life would have been spared, but there was never a need to wear one in this little Washington town.

"I promise I'll write." Said Rose, "and when I hit it big and make loads of money I'll fly you out to see me."

"That would be amazing", replied Bella. Bella knew that would never happen, but it was nice to dream. She knew Rose would be a success; however she knew she could never leave her mother to go all the way to L.A.

Rose and Bella continued to chat about Rose's plans for the next half an hour or so, until Bella heard the familiar ring of a bell that she gave her mother for when she was in need of anything.

"I'll be right there mama, let me walk Rose out", shouted Bella down the hall.

"I guess I better get going anyways." said Rose. "I still have some last minute packing to do. Please tell your mom I said goodbye".

"Ok, will do. I'm going to miss you so much. Please travel carefully there." said Bella as she walked Rose out.

"Don't worry I will, and I will miss you too. I'll write as soon as I'm settled." replied Rose. "Also, Sue at the center told me they have found a replacement for me, and he'll be here next week to deliver your groceries. She didn't want you to worry about going without."

"Oh that is great, I don't know what I would do without the center's help." said Bella. Meanwhile she was thinking, "I don't know what I'll do without your help Rose". Bella was very thankful for the volunteer center. They allowed her to stay home with her mother, and they brought her Rose.

Rose gave Bella a smile and a hug. They both said goodbye as Bella shut the door and went inside. Rose cursed the old broken gate as she pried it open once again. From inside her car Rose stared at her friend's home for a minute. As her eyes watered a bit, she hoped Bella would be ok, and would take care of herself as much as she does her mother. From inside Bella watched her only friend drive away down the road. As she wiped her own eyes dry, she hollered down the hall, "Mama, are you ok? What do you need?"

Bella's mother pointed feebly towards the restroom. "Oh, I'm sorry mama. I hope I didn't make you wait too long. Let me help you."

When Bella was eighteen, a senior in high school, her mother was hit by a car. It was dark and raining, and the boy driving, Tyler, lost control of his vehicle and couldn't stop in time. Tyler was a classmate of Bella's. He had a really hard time forgiving himself for the accident; no matter how many times Bella told him that it wasn't his fault. He came over everyday to help however he could for the first six months. He still felt awful, and just didn't know how to move on with his life. Tyler's parents were worried and convinced him a change of scenery is what he needed. He didn't want to go at first, but Bella insisted. She told him that her mom would feel guilty if she were the reason you didn't go to school or move on with your life. Shortly after that conversation he applied to an out of state college and moved away. When he comes home for visits he always makes sure to stop by. He'll sit and tell Bella's mom all about his life, and her eyes light up the whole time. Tyler has been getting busier with his schooling and whatnot, and the visits have been less frequent. It's been about eight months since the last one. It's been about eight months since the yard has been taken care of. It's been about eight months since the old pickup truck had been serviced. That one didn't really matter. The truck didn't leave the driveway. Bella wasn't even sure if it still ran anymore.

"Up you go Mama," Bella breathed as she lifted her mother into a sitting position.

Her mother wrapped her arms around Bella's neck and they stood up together. Bella pivoted so they both turned sideways, she then sat her mother down in the wheelchair. After the accident Bella's mother could no longer walk do to nerve damage from a fracture in her lower back. She had limited use of her arms, and she couldn't speak. She would grunt here and there, but never used words. The doctor's blamed the minor brain damage for her lack of speech, but they didn't really know for sure.

After Bella got her mother set up in the restroom, she would leave her alone for a moment. Bella took this opportunity to straighten her mother's bed and fluff her pillow. She ran into the kitchen to grab the fresh flowers that Rose brought along with the groceries, and she put them in the vase next to her mother's bed on the night stand. Rose thought the two could use a little beauty in their lives, and brought flowers with her every week. It saddened Bella to think after these flowers died the vase will be empty from now on. A pang of sadness hit Bella again thinking of her friend's departure.

"Enough wallowing", Bella said to herself as she walked to retrieve her mother. "Mama, are you all set?"

She entered the restroom, and her mother gave Bella a little nod. Bella helped wash her up, and tucked her back into bed. Now that her mom was comfortable, Bella would tell her all about the things her and Rose talked about. She would do this every Thursday after Rose's visits. She figured her mother would get as much pleasure looking through this outside "window" as much as she did.