Carlisle taps my shoulder from where I sit on my knees. I am charming the cloak to always smell like him and I had turned it into a charm for my bracelet temporarily.

"We're leaving, Sparrow," he says. "But if you want to stay—"

"No! No, I'm coming," I say quickly. "I really do not want to stay here."

I feel an awful tug on my heart and I put my hand over it. I kick the wall, getting frustrated with how insistent this stupid mate bond is. I do not want it right now!

I huff in annoyance and stand up. Carlisle is already ready. I just need to change a few things into charms again. We run to my room, not really going slowly. Carlisle stands behind me as I fix up my room.

There is a knock on the door, I think I know who it is. The door eases open.

"You're leaving," Alec says.

"Yes," I reply with a firm calm. It reminds me of my trial, how I'd said so little with a resolved calm.

"Why?"

"Hm," I say. "I said I did not want to stay here longer than I needed. We cannot stay here, Alec. We live differently from you."

He sighs. "But you could change."

"No. I made my decision long ago—I will live like this until I cannot anymore."

I take my small bag and charm it, I am now ready to go. Carlisle looks at me, sees my expression, and nods.

"Alec, we are leaving now," Carlisle says with a sigh. "I'm sorry, but it is our decision."

I take my clothing in one hand and pull. It transforms into the brown and green dress I've grown so fond of.

Alec sighs now resigned to our leaving. I nod to him, not looking at his blood-red eyes.

Carlisle and I leave. I have no idea what he plans, but he's taking me to a dock, where we board a boat. He says we are heading to America, where I could earn a living with my music and he with his medicine.

I sigh and sit down, eyes skipping around the boat. Anything can go wrong, but we have to go by boat. My dead heart yearns for freedom, not the life of secrecy that vampires are condemned to live.

I slump against the side of the boat. I sigh, smelling the salty air. It takes four days to arrive in America, as it has taken us four days to arrive in Italy two decades ago.

The four days pass like nothing, as I practice my magic every chance I get and play my flute which I had taken with me. Many children crowd around me, as I offer parents relaxation from the constant running of their children.

Carlisle sits nearby, reading. He'd originally been sitting next to me, but when the children came around, he moved. He smiles at me as I glance over. I stand up and lead the children in dance.

Carlisle smiles, then he closes his book and joins me. It seems like a book scene, only in real life. I play my flute with a smile as the children dance over the deck. Carlisle dances with me, like a father to a daughter, or a brother to a sister. I giggle as I take my flute from my lips and he smiles back, joy coming over his features. He looks so sad so often. The felicity of his expression is fresh, the look of a boy who just received the friendship of his crush.

My expression changes to exhilaration and I can only feel the felicity in my heart, no longer the tug of needing to stand beside my mate. This man is like my brother, but not. He's closer to me than my brother had ever been and he's kind. He's loving and he's lost so much to being a vampire. But in this moment, he's on cloud nine.

I'm not sure what I write but it's okay. I think.