Epilogue: Bella's Point of View

It has been a long road, but I've finally made it through in one piece.

Here I stand with my family at my graduation from Forks High school. The heavens have blessed us with the warmth from the sun as we sit outside awaiting for receive our diplomas. Our tickets to the bigger and better things of life.

It has been a struggle especially for me, but with the help of my family, and the love of my existence, I've overcome it all and stand here today awaiting my reward for my hard work.

My biggest challenge is one that many students don't necessarily have; raising a child. Fortunately, I am lucky that I have such a supporting family. Without the help and love from the Cullens, I'd probably be back in that home caring for a child with little means of support and no one to turn to.

I love my baby Ben with all my heart even through all the hard times, I still love him. When he was born, I was both happy and scared, but that is normal for any mother. It was also concerning because my son was born with an overactive heart. The doctors found out the night after he was born, but he had been doing fine then and they didn't expect it to become an issue for a while.

I'd worried about him constantly that I'd stay awake for days on end just to make sure he was breathing at night.

It wasn't until Edward slipped me some sleeping medicine that I finally slept for a full night while he took care of Ben. I was both angry and grateful for his actions.

Edward, most teenaged boys would runaway from the responsibility of parenthood at such a young age, but he kept up with me. He was my rock when I needed the strength to carry on.

If I was ill, he would look after Ben without complaints and not pass him off at the first chance he got. When Ben needed to be fed late at night, Edward would be up to pick him up, give him to me, and stay awake until I got back to sleep. Needless to say, Edward got the same amount of sleep as I did.

It wasn't all perfect though. We did fight constantly, once to the point where he had to storm out of the house which I thought he was leaving me for good. It hurt like hell when he was gone for those four hours, 20 minutes, and 9 seconds. Mom had to take care of Ben or else I was going to do something I'd regret.

Thankfully, Edward came back with flowers in his hands and that night we made love for the first time since before Ben was born.

Mom and dad still expected a lot from us, but were available if necessary. I personally hated to put a burden on them for any reason. It took a lot of convincing to get me to go off for a free afternoon and just be a teenager.

We were also expected to do well in school. I had to attend summer classes since my grades had gone down some during the second half of sophomore year only because I was so busy with Ben that I'd fall asleep when he didn't need me.

Edward and our siblings really started to kick my ass about that until my grades improved.

They showed me tough love which was hard to swallow with my hormones as they were for the first few months after Ben was born. I had to see the councilor at school for my depression since all I wanted to do was cry or fight with everyone for no reason. I was lucky that I didn't need to go on anti-depressants during that time.

Even when I felt alone, I never was. My entire family had my back just as I had theirs.

"Isabella Marie Swan." The principle announced my turn to walk across the stage. "Congratulations." I kept hearing, but for me, they were meant for different reasons they'd originally thought.

It took a lot of hard work and courage to get where I am today. When people kicked me down, I got right back up and kicked them back saying 'this is what I can do, and don't you forget it.'

Edward, Alice, and I were part of the top 10 students in our graduating class as were the other Cullen children. I would have been up higher if my grades hadn't slipped so much, but I'm happy where they are and where I'm going.

Our family has decided to stick together. Rosalie, Emmett, and Jasper all go to the University of Washington. Rose is a pre-med student wanting to be an OB/GYN.

Emmett is majoring in secondary education hoping to teach either gym or science.

Jasper is double majoring in history and psychology, but hasn't decided whether or not to become a teacher or a psychologist.

Then there is us, the younger Cullens. We also got accepted to U of W and are planning on living in the house the others found for us to rent that is not far from campus. There is even room for Ben since Edward and I plan to take him with us.

Edward wants to become a doctor, but he doesn't know which field to go into.

Alice is double majoring in both business and fashion design to start her own line someday.

Me, I want to become a journalist. Angela and I worked like a team until she had to move away halfway through our junior year. It was very depressing for me, and busy since found my new passion for photography. Buying myself a camera was probably the biggest splurge that I've ever done for myself and I've never regretted it. It became useful for Ben because he was always doing something cute that I didn't want to lose the memory of it. Therefore, I am double majoring in both journalism and photography hoping to become a journalist of some kind.

Edward kept complaining that I was taking on too much. He's concerned about my health and relationship with Ben—he always brings up that card. Still, I always put my son before anything else; my list is Ben, Edward, family, school, work, food, sleep. I keep joking that's how I lost my baby weight so quickly. However, no one was laughing. I had to be hospitalized with malnutrition for a week shortly after Ben was born. I felt like I had failed everyone and disappointed them too for that, but Edward never allowed me to feel like that.

Still, I love my life and I wouldn't trade it for anything in the world. I have all that I would ever need; all that I'd ever want.

When the principle told us good luck in life, I'd say 'I don't need luck in my life, I have faith.'

The ceremony is over, and we toss our hats into the air and cry over our high school days some afraid of what the future holds for them. My future is standing next to me, looking at me with those emerald green eyes that I fell in love with.

I lean in to kiss him with the passion is only reserved for him. He is part of my life now in everyway possible.

Our passionate moment is short lived by a certain pixie dragging us through the crowds to our awaiting family.

"I'm so proud of you all." Mom hugs us all first.

Dad followed next and then the grandparents. Just a few months ago, they purchased a house here in Forks to be near us. Funny thing is, that house was the one I was raised in for the first few years of my life.

It scared me the first time I went in, but now, I can feel happy spirits there as I feel them everywhere with me.

I still wear my mother's necklace and to me that is like my connection to them; they know everything, see everything, hear everything from this and it will stay with me until I die.

Another thing that stayed with me was my promise ring from Edward, but after last night, there is now an engagement ring in its place.

I want to be with Edward in every way I can, and this will be the ultimate way.

"I love you, Edward Cullen."

"I love you, Isabella Swan."

"Mommy, daddy." They say having children is a good birth control system, and I'd have to say that it is because I'm not ready to have any more children for a while.

With a husband and a career I'll be ready, but for now, I'll just settle with a boyfriend, college, and a son.

I'd once thought of death as a good escape for death is simple, easy, but life is harder. My life may be hard, but it is worth living with the ones you love.