Preface

Depression. It's a funny word- something some people feel terror over and something other people make fun of. Well, I am one of them- the ones who feel terror at hearing the word. It's a word that nearly destroyed my life, it's a word that caused me scars-physical and mental- and it's a word I have never truly overcome.

When the terror struck I truly do not know, and when I overcame it I do not know. I am not really sure if I have truly have overcome it. I have met a lot of people who have said "she's a kid, what depression can she have? Did her parents not give her a new phone? Or did her boyfriend dump her?" Well, to those people I say, "No. My parents do not need to give me a new phone, because I do not want one. No. My boyfriend did not dump me. I never had one. No one wanted me."

At the age of fifteen I made my first cut. And then another and another and another. At seventeen I stopped, and four months before I turn eighteen, I moved here. The rainiest town in all of Virginia- Forks, Population- 3121. Now 3122. It's a new place for me. Heck, it's a new country for me. It's a new beginning for me.

Hi, my name is Alisha Agarwal. I am almost eighteen, my favorite colors are black and Irish green, better known as emerald green. I am 5 feet 6 inches tall, quite surprising for an Indian girl- not Native American but an actual Indian from India- but, I've heard it's an average height over here in America. I have brown hair that is a little longer than shoulder length which has natural blonde streaks through it and brown eyes that change with my emotions.

I was born in New York, however my mother missed her motherland and thus right after my birth, and after we were cleared to fly we went off to India, where I have lived ever since- till now. I lived with my parents, grandparents and seven year old sister, before I defied my parents, reached into my inheritance and took enough to last my move and tide me over for a week while I found a job for myself. Even though the inheritance left for me is large enough to last me more than a little while, I want to stand on my own, learn and fall and most of all support myself come hell or high water.

Moving to Forks itself was a spontaneous decision on my part. I did not want to move to someplace too expensive or large- since I did not have a driving license, thus I would have to walk everywhere or earn enough to manage talking public means of transport every day to school and back- or someplace too sunny. Being from a place where the sun shone most of the year and rain fell heavy with mild winter with the addition of having skin prone to sunburn, I wanted to move someplace cool, with plenty of rain and long, cold winters.

Finding a place which rained a lot, barely had sun, was small and light on my pocket was hard. It took weeks of research, calls and favours, but I found it- my ideal town. At least on paper. Thankfully, due to studying in the International Board already, changing countries and thus school was not a problem. Nor was my perfect GPA. The problem was getting away from my house to the airport without my parents knowing.

Therefore, when everyone left for a wedding, I faked a stomach ache and stayed back. Planning this took months and careful sneaking around for exact dates and begging for an adult to buy tickets, but, I managed it.

Now, I did not run away. Yes, my parents do not know where I am. Yes, they did not know when I left. However, we already were planning on me moving to the US, they just did not have a say in where, and I left them a note saying I would contact them first thing when I got a new number or switched my laptop on long enough for a video call. In addition, my cousin, the person I am closest to (other than my sister) knows where I am, due to the fact that he booked my tickets, since, he is an adult and me a lowly minor.

Thus, on the morning 27th of February, 2005, I am boarding a plane that will take me directly to the tiny Forks Airport located at the Southern end of the town. I already had a room booked at the Miller Tree Inn for a week and had a map provided by the internet and printers in my hand. The only unplanned thing was my ride there. The inn was at the easternmost end of the city, which granted was only four streets over, but walking with my luggage which was a lot was impossible. Therefore, I was seriously hoping to catch something to the inn.

After twenty hours of flight plus turbulence, I was ready to get out of the metal contraption and stretch my sore muscles caused by sitting in one place for too long. Thankfully, I had a window seat, however, the fact was soured by the idiot sitting next to me. The guy kept on chattering and hitting on me enough that I felt like actually hitting him. Add on the fact that I was trying to deal with the serious time change, and I was ready to murder someone. Thankfully, he got off a stop before Forks, therefore, I did have a few minutes of peace toward the end.

Consequently, I got off on the 28th of February, 2005, in the morning in the tiny Forks airport with four suitcases, my book bag and my laptop bag. It cost me more than I would even think of spending, to get all my stuff here, but, there was no way I was going to leave my clothes or books or basically anything of mine behind.

And, here I am now standing drenched in front of the exit trying to find a cab or bus or anything really but seeing nothing. Suddenly, I see a beautiful Mercedes S55 AMG coming in my direction and decide on hitchhiking my way to the inn. I start preparing to stop the car, when it stops a few feet away from me, and I see a door open.

Graceful, but, tiny legs pop out then the body and then the head. The girl was tiny, with pale skin and black pixie hair. She moves towards me and then the other door opens. I see a man coming out. Maybe, in his mid-twenties with same pale skin and seriously blond hair with an expression that just seems to say 'I'll help you.' I open my mouth to ask for some help, but, the pixie speaks up. "Hello, you need a ride to Miller's Inn? Yes. Lovely. Come on. We'll drop you there, let's get your luggage in the boot and backseat. Also, are those the new Chanel boots? They look amazing. We have to go shopping sometime. Also, I see…"

The pixie kept on speaking as I stared dumbfounded at her. By the time I had recovered, the man had all my luggage situated and was holding the car door open for me. Dazed, I enter the car and look at the beautiful leather interior. All the while the pixie kept on chattering, "…and to be frank you'll look great in royal deep colors. Oh! By the way, I forgot to introduce myself. I am Alice Cullen and this is my father Carlisle Cullen. And you are Alisha Agarwal. Oh! We are going to be best friends. I wonder is your hair…" She did not stop speaking and I did not stop staring. I look at the man and he shakes his head while looking at the pixie as if to say, 'there is no stopping her.'

Thus, my first introduction to a Cullen's and the subsequent feeling of oncoming drama imploding in my head.