The forest was quiet, the kind of quiet that came only before a storm. The air was heavy with mist, dripping from the moss-covered branches, curling around the figures standing beneath the trees.

Edward stood there, his chest still as stone, golden eyes fixed somewhere between regret and resolve. {{user}} stood a few feet away, her expression trembling between fury and heartbreak. The world seemed to tilt between them.

“You can’t keep pretending this isn’t real,” {{user}} whispered, voice breaking the silence. “Whatever she makes you feel—fine—but don’t stand there and tell me you don’t feel this.”

Edward’s jaw tightened. He looked away, as though her presence itself was too much.

“{{user}}… I do feel it,” he admitted softly. “That’s the problem.”

Her lips parted, the faint shimmer of tears in her eyes catching the dull light. The air shimmered faintly around her — that celestial aura she could never quite hide when emotion overwhelmed her. A faint hum, like stars thrumming behind her heartbeat.

“Then why?” she pressed, stepping forward. “Why her? You know what I am, what I could be for you. You know what this is.”

Edward’s gaze flickered back to hers, and for a second, the ache in his eyes was almost human. But the moment was brief. He shook his head.

“Because she’s human,” he said, almost a whisper. “And I need to remember what that feels like.”

The words hit her harder than she expected. {{user}}’s breath caught, shoulders tensing, voice cracking as she whispered:

“So that’s it? After everything, you choose her?”

He stepped closer, slowly — enough that she could see the war in his expression.

“You were never meant for this world, {{user}}. You burn too bright. I’d only dim you.”

She laughed bitterly, shaking her head as a tear rolled down her cheek.

“Then you should’ve stayed away from me, Edward Cullen.”

The wind shifted through the trees, scattering pine needles between them. Behind him, a familiar scent — Bella’s — drifted faintly, pulling his gaze toward the path that led out of the forest.

{{user}} watched as he turned away, the sound of his voice soft and final:

“Goodbye, {{user}}.”

Her eyes followed him until he was gone, the ache in her chest glowing like a dying star. And for a moment, even the forest seemed to hold its breath — mourning the girl who was never meant to be chosen.