About Architect David M. Childs, Design Partner

About Architect David M. Childs, Design Partner Architect David Childs (born April 1, 1941 in Princeton, New Jersey) is best known as the designer of the One World Trade Center we see today in Lower Manhattan. His long relationship with Skidmore, Owings Merrill (SOM) has given this senior statesman of American architecture wide-ranging experience and success. David Magie Childs was priviledged to attend the best private schools in the United states - from the Deerfield Academy in Deerfield, Massachusetts to his 1963 Bachelors degree from Yale University. His career as an architect began after completing a graduate degree from Yale School of Art and Architecture in 1967. He began his professional career in Washington, D.C. when from 1968 to 1971 he joined the Pennsylvania Avenue Commission. Fresh out of Yale University, Childs formed a strong relationship with both Nathaniel Owings, a founding partner of Skidmore Owings and Merrill (SOM), and Daniel Patrick Moynihan, a future U.S. Senator from New York State. From 1964 until 1973, Childs future employer, Nathaniel Owings, was chairman of President Kennedys Temporary Commission on Pennsylvania Avenue in Washington, DC. In the early years of the Kennedy administration, the plan to redesign Pennsylvania Avenue was the most significant redevelopment project in the country, claims the SOM website. Daniel Patrick Moynihan, the young Assistant Secretary of Labor in the Kennedy Administration, led the governments plan to revitalize Pennsylvania Avenue and the National Mall. Through this Commissions hard work, negotiations, and consensus, Pennsylvania Avenue is now a designated National Historic Site. One could argue that Childs early experiences on the Commission led the young architect to a lifelong proficiency in public architecture, city planning, and the politics behind construction and design - skills needed to accomplish his goals in the complicated days after September 11, 2011. David Childs has been associated with SOM since 1971, at first working on projects in Washington, D.C. From 1975 until 1981 he was Chairman of the National Capital Planning Commission involved in the 1976 Washington Mall Master Plan and Constitution Gardens. He worked on the 1984 National Geographic Society M Street Building and then the U.S. News and World Report Headquarters, both in Washington, D.C. By 1984 David Childs had moved to New York City, where hes been working on SOM projects ever since. A portfolio of his projects highlights a number of buildings in New York City  - the Worldwide Plaza at 825 8th Avenue (1989); Bertelsmann Tower at Times Square (1990); Times Square Tower at 7 Times Square (2004); Bear Stearns at 383 Madison Avenue (2001); AOL Time Warner Center at Columbus Circle (2004); and, of course, 7 World Trade Center (2006) and 1 World Trade Center (2014). Moynihan Station Redevelopment at the James A. Farley Post Office and 35 Hudson Yards are his latest project for the City of New York. Outside of The Big Apple, Childs was the design architect for the 1998 Robert C. Byrd United States Courthouse in Charleston, West Virginia and the 1999 U.S. Embassy in Ottawa, Canada. In May 2012, David Childs was one of fifteen Architects of Healing receiving a special AIA Gold Medallion for his redesign of One World Trade Center and Seven World Trade Center in New York City. Childs is a Fellow of the American Institute of Architects (FAIA). David Childs In His Own Words I like big complicated projects where you have to assemble teams, deal with the down-and-dirty contractors, the marketplace and the leasing agents with an imagination level only as high as what made money last time. - 2003, The New York Times Each of us architects has had mentors and teachers whose work and words have guided us as well. For me they include Nat Owings, Pat Moynihan, Vincent Scully. It is thus been a very collective effort in the fullest sense, and I believe every American can equally take pride in what is and has been accomplished. - 2012 AIA National Convention You know what a Richard Meier building will look like; theres a style. Im more like Eero Saarinen, whom I revere. His buildings all look different. - 2003, The New York Times The U.S. invented skyscrapers, but weve fallen behind. WTC 1 is a solution to many technical problems, and it represents the very best in codes, structure, and safety. Its a concrete core with steel exterior, which is an efficient and safe system, but it had not been done in New York for a host of reasons, mostly because of the arrangement between trade groups. The form tapers on its four corners, which buildings - like trees - want to do anyway. - 2011 AIArchitect What Others Say Throughout his years of practice in Washington, Mr. Childs became noted for his design of appropriate architecture, buildings and spaces that respond to their settings and programs rather than pursue a preconceived architectural image. - U.S. Department of State Your work demonstrates that architecture is the art of compromise and collaboration, that it is a social act, never created by one person working alone and always creating community. As a creative artist successfully negotiating within a world governed by corporate objectives you have shown that aesthetic vision and functional considerations can coexist, that architecture is the art of both the real and the visionary. You compose steel and glass the way a poet constructs phrases and in so doing create physical entities that reflect personal aspirations and a collective self-image. Your buildings grace our environment and enrich our lives. - Colby Collge Sources Pennsylvania Avenue National Historic Site, National Park Service, https://www.nps.gov/nr/travel/wash/dc41.htm [accessed September 2, 2012]Nathaniel A. Owings, FAIA, Architect and Founding Partner, 1903-1984, Skidmore Owings and Merrill (SOM), www.som.com/content.cfm/nathaniel_a_owings [accessed September 2, 2012]The New Ground Zero: The Invisible Architect, Julie V. Iovine, The New York Times, August 31, 2003 [accessed August 15, 2012]Architects of Healing Videos, American Institute of Architects, 2012 [accessed August 15, 2012]AIArchitect Talks with David Childs, FAIA, John Gendall, AIArchitect, 2011 [accessed August 15, 2012]U.S. State Department, http://canada.usembassy.gov/about-us/embassy-information/frequently-asked-questions/embassy-architects.html [accessed September 5, 2012]Citation for David M. Childs, Colby College, May 22, 2005, colby.edu/news_events/commencement/2005/honorary/citation-childs.cfm [accessed August 15, 2012]

The eNotes Blog Top 10 True Confessions of Professors and Other LiteraryTypes

Top 10 True Confessions of Professors and Other LiteraryTypes If you have ever felt badly for not having read one classic work of literature or another, heres a dirty little secret that we professorial types are generally loathe to confess: no matter how well-read one is, there are always gaps in our reading. It simply isnt possible to have read everything ever printed, even if you just limit your wish list to the classics. So, if anyone ever gives you the stink eye at a cocktail party because you confess to not having read, say, James Joyces Ulysses, know that you are in good company. In a recent highly unscientific query of my friends and colleagues who are either literature professors, literary editors, or voracious readers, every single one of them copped to not having read a work that is generally considered required reading for our ilk. Here are the tearful (okay, literary license) confessions of the most widely unread classics that they promise (promise I tell you!) are definitely on the list: 1. Ulysses by James Joyce Here is Marilyn Monroe pretending to read Ulysses, just like 9 out of 10 people who claim to have read it. One person we know actually swears he has read it, but we do not like him very much. 2. Being and Nothingness by Jean-Paul Sartre. Perhaps, like us,   you always find some reason to avoid contemplating the futility of life and your own meaningless existence in the universe. Understandable. After all, you need to catch up on all the episodes of Mad Men you missed last season. So do we. 3.   Tropic of Cancer by Henry Miller If your only knowledge of this novel comes from The Librarian episode of Seinfeld, then you probably know it was a naughty book that Jerry checked out as a teenager, lent to George, who never returned it. Most of us havent read it either. We have been too busy arranging our other books into proper Dewey Decimal system order. Just thinking about it makes usdewey. 4. Hard Times by Charles Dickens Hard times? Slogging through this bleak, slow moving book is hard indeed for many confessors. For as many people who adore Dickens, just as many think hes a snore. If you fall into the latter camp, know that many professors anonymously agree with you. 5. Middlemarch by George Eliot If you ask a professor what he or she thinks of Middlemarch, prepare for a lot of hemming and hawing and words about its grand achievement and other vague niceties. If you are at the home of the professor, excuse yourself to the restroom. Wander about until you find which door it is propping open. At 1,751 pages, it does a fine job. 6. Gravitys Rainbow by Thomas Pynchon How do you suck the joy and light out of something as beautiful and ephemeral as a rainbow? Stick it in the hands of Thomas Pynchon. Like with Joyces Ulysses, few who claim to have read and understood Pynchon have read it, much less understood it. And if they have, we resolve to not like them very much either. 7.   Moby Dick by Herman Melville Ask professors to quote the first line of   Moby Dick and they will immediately respond, Call me Ishmael, even if they are in a coma. However, youd get the same results by asking them to identify which movie the line, Were gonna need a bigger boat, comes from. If pressed, youd probably get the whole plot and character sketches from Jaws, but precious little else about the intricacies of Moby Dick. 8. The Brothers Karamavoz by Fyodor Dostoevsky Most American academics will reluctantly admit that their knowledge of literature other than British or American is woefully inadequate. Most of us intend to rectify that situation, but, we are, after all, Americans, and our favorite subject is ourselves. (Is it telling that the spell-checker here does not recognize either Karamavoz or Fyodor) Anyway, for good party fun, ask a professor or other literary type to pronounce Dostoevsky after a couple of glasses of Pinot. 9. Don Quixote by Miguel de Cervantes Ask your favorite book snob to really detail the plot and themes of Cervantes masterpiece and you are likely to get a quixotic look. If youre lucky, though, he or she might show you the ticket stubs to the Broadway production of Man of LaMancha, you lucky devil! 10. War and Peace by Leo Tolstoy I dont know about you, but as a child I was under the impression that War and Peace was the longest novel ever written, and to get through it was a feat not to even be attempted, like trying to eat one of those five pound burritos in order to get your meal for free. Whatever the reason, most of us havent read it, but it is on our shelf of good intentions.

Lean Operations (Future State Design) Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 5000 words

Lean Operations (Future State Design) - Essay Example At first the rationale and importance of this proposal is discussed with a reference to the previous task of the Manufacturing Director and the circumstances surrounding the recent appointment of a new Manufacturing Director. Then a description of the tasks that have been assigned to the Manufacturing Director for the completion of this assignment is given. After this the areas of concern regarding the requirements of the task have been discussed. Using the understanding of these areas of concern, the Manufacturing Director devises a comprehensive new strategy to address the organisational issues facing the company. In this document a Cellular Manufacturing system of production is proposed for implementation as Crockwood Seat Suppliers’ new work flow system. ... The company has recently suffered great losses and is in danger of having to shed almost forty five percent of its work-force in twelve months according to the current trend because of dwindling customer demand. The manufacturer has contracts with two other firms, namely Lanchester Steels Ltd and Coventry Covers, for the supply of the two required raw materials – sheet metal and seat cover rolls. All production processes of the vehicle seats are performed at the company’s shop floor except for plating for which the company contracts a metal works firm as it does not have the capability. In the previous part of the project, the Manufacturing Director assessed the current state of working of Crockwood Seat Suppliers. He was appointed to improve the fortunes of the company which was losing not only money but also customers due to the inefficiencies in its functioning. The two main areas of concern for the customer with regard to the company CSS are firstly the enormous lea d time which means that the customer has to wait around 51 days from the placement of the order for the delivery; this is unacceptable not only for a majority of large-scale automotive manufacturers but also for, the smaller-scale, spare parts dealerships (â€Å"Dubai's automotive spare parts trade worth AED 37 billion†, 2013). And secondly the disparity of cycle times for different manufacturing processes which causes a neglect of the Takt time (Linck 1999, p. 5) which must be adhered to in order to meet the demands rate. Also the disparity in the EPEI (Feld 2001) of different processes is causing a waste of human capital as twenty percent of skilled workers have very little work to do, though

Moral Views on Plastic Surgery Assignment Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 1500 words

Moral Views on Plastic Surgery - Assignment Example Second will be the evident willingness of surgical operators to offer layaway surgery plans that are arguably meant to help patients afford surgery while at the same time carry out illegal plastic surgery operations. Finally, this essay will explore the question of how the American pop culture as well as the different media channels have influenced personal awareness for millions of people, making them indulge into the modern ideals of attractiveness and, as a result, driving them towards having unnecessary plastic surgery. Sociocultural and religious aspects will also be explored. John Stuart Mill’s ethical theory of utilitarianism this suggests that the basis of morality is the action that one chooses to take. The ethical decision made in this regard should be focused on maximizing utility or pleasure. He states that people generally focus on the achievement of pleasure, meaning that they should engage in making decisions that are confined within the premise of utilitarianism (HAUSKELLER, 2011). In what he refers to as the greatest happiness principle, he adds that one’s action should be judged on its extent to rightness or wrongness based on the extent of pleasure or pain that it causes for the highest number of people. However, it has been argued that there are two different kinds of pleasure, which include bodily pleasure and intellectual pleasure. Intellectual pleasure should take precedence, owing to the fact that it stimulates the mind and amounts to more benefits for more people. For instance, a person that composes a good song creates p leasure for millions of people while one who listens to music creates pleasure for himself. As such, composing his of higher pleasure than listening, just like having sex to have a child than doing it for pleasure. Having discussed the ethical insights presented by Mill, a look at the

Great expectations Essay Example for Free

Great expectations Essay Chapter 11 sees Pip on his second visit to Satis House, and the early introduction of several important characters such as Jaggers and Herbert, who play vital roles in Pips later life and great expectations. Ms. Havishams poisoned and hateful mind can be seen through her malicious thoughts that are reflected through her choice of words: I am yellow skin and bone. She has clearly brooded a great deal over her past and has lived the majority of her adult life full of contempt and bitterness for the entire male race. An air of Mystery is given to the fact that we do not actually know the cause of Ms. Havisham resentment, all we do know is that she was once to be married, and due to some occurrence or misfortune, the wedding did not take, but everything, from that fateful day, has stayed still. The time has stopped at twenty minutes to nine, and even her bride-cake is still there. One assumes, after reading the Chapter, that the mystery plot will be solved eventually, and the suspense lures the readers further into the novel . The suspense that surrounds the character of Ms. Havisham is half-satisfied when the readers find out the truth of what actually happened to Ms. Havisham, (that she victim of a conspiracy of which her money was the ultimate motive), in Chapter 22 from Herbert. Satis House is dismal and unchanging. Like the bride-cake, which now has black fungus growing out of it and speckled-legged spiders with blotchy bodies running to it, Ms. Havisham has also deteriorated. The vermin, the poison and the hate also rush flood to her mind, causing her to lose all control of any logical decisions or rational thoughts. Like the cake, Ms. Havisham is also dropping to pieces, covered with dust and mould. Ms Havisham could be described as being Satis House herself, she has become part of her landscape, as she herself says: It and I have worn away together. All the death images, corpse-like, shroud, grave-clothes, all symbolise the slow death of Ms Havisham, the cruel image of her rotting and decaying a result of her twisted, evil mind. The suspense and thrilling horror surrounding Ms. Havisham sustains the readers attentions, as they listen attentively to hang on to every word she speaks, in the hope of any clues to what tragedy she was victim of that has made her into the person she is. The dull nonsensical conversations made by the relatives emphasise just how intriguing Ms. Havishams character is. Her dramatic flairs of speech and over-exaggeration: when they lay me dead captures the readers much more than the repetitive, irrelevant conversation made by the relatives. Ms. Havishams relations are characterised as being money-greedy, selfish people. Their only reasons for visiting their half-sister is simply for her large fortune and in the hope that they, once she is finally dead, will inherit each large portions of her money. The dreary, dull conversations that seem to have no concluding points underlines the uselessness and narrow-mindedness of these people. Certainly, the descriptions of the relatives are far from flattering: so very blank and high was the dead wall of her face. Dickens has chosen to make these characters into comic figures. They represent Dickens view of the majority of middle-high class of society, educated yet still fools. Camilla, in particular, provides entertainment for the audience with her ridiculous self-pitying airs: I cried about it from breakfast to dinner. Her pretence is obvious, and one may guess from Ms. Havishams contempt for her relations that she understands that they care not for her but for her money: when you come to feast upon me. Ms. Havishams relations are the image of a selfish and materialistic side of society. The readers are given an early introduction to the character of Jaggers, Pips future lawyer and guide to his fortune and the world of industrious, educated so-called gentleman. Again, like Ms. Havisham, the readers are lured into the burly man on the stairs. The description is mysterious and surprisingly detailed for just a stranger: eyes set very deep in his head. When Pip states: He was nothing to me, and I could have had no foresight then, that he would be anything to me Our suspicions are nearly confirmed that Jaggers will play an important part in Pips later life. Jaggers description is interesting when one looks for clues in his personality, his eyes also being described as being: disagreeable sharp and suspicious, a clue to Jaggers alertness and ability to see through people as if they were transparent. His bushy black eyebrows that wouldnt lie down but stood up bristling symbolises Jaggers habit of attentively understanding a persons mind by every move that they make. The hands that smelt of scented soap is Jaggers future tagline or reference to himself, the idea of washing away the guilt of dealing with guilty criminal convicts. Herbert, the Pale young gentleman is first introduced in this chapter, as an unhealthy boy, with pimple on his face and a breaking out at his mouth, yet, his brave attitude and desperation to fight a fair and just battle appeals to the readers. As he says to Pip after he has been so easily defeated: That means you have won. Even Pip is surprised by his moral integrity: He was so brave and innocent, his ability to accept defeat and fight an unlikely battle gains respect from the readers, and Herbert is seen as a comical figure at his vain attempts fight back at Pip. He later carries the image of honesty when he is an adult, and represents the gentleman whose of free-spirit, whose cares lie not in money and reputation, but in the happiness of life. In Chapter 11, we are introduced to several new characters and are given distinct and sometimes obvious clues to Pips later life. They later play a great influence on Pips thoughts, actions, and journey to become a true gentleman.

Mirror: Reflections of Truth Essay -- essays research papers fc

â€Å"Mirror†: Reflections of Truth In Sylvia Plath’s poem â€Å"Mirror†, the reader takes a look into the messages presented and compares them with the reflections that are cast in a mirror and images in a lake. When reading this poem, we discover that the speaker is the actual reflection that gives the interpretation of its views. The first interpretation is shown as a mirror on the wall â€Å"I am silver and exact. I have no preconceptions.† (1), second as the water in the lake because she states â€Å"Now I am a lake.† (10), and third through the eyes of an aging woman that is revealed in line 17 â€Å"In me she has drowned a young girl, and in me an old woman/ Rises toward her day after day†¦Ã¢â‚¬  In the first stanza the reflection personifies the ability to take in what it sees without judging stating â€Å"I hav...

The Twilight Saga 5: Midnight Sun 24. Blood

There were distant sounds of a fight, the loud noise of a vampire being torn apart, but my eyes were only able to see one thing ?C Bella. She was lying on the ground, crumpled, broken, while the pool of blood continued to grow wider underneath her. The red fluid, spilling, wasting, on the floor, the scent pulsing through the air. The amount was cataclysmic, as each second passed a distinctive, yet intangible, spice of the most delicious aroma left burning lacerations in my aching throat. My knee was placed resolutely in the middle of the puddle, soaking me in her blood†¦her life. I took a deep breath and ignored my longing, my lust, my ravenous desire – I focused on the angel. â€Å"Bella,† I soothed her. â€Å"You're going to be fine.† Unresponsive, detached. A plea entered my voice. â€Å"Can you hear me, Bella? I love you.† I sent a reverent petition to which ever god would answer a creature like me. â€Å"Edward,† she croaked, answering my silent request. â€Å"Yes, I'm here,† I declared earnestly. Slow, small, and irregular quantity of tears trickled down her cheeks. â€Å"It hurts,† she uttered many inarticulate lamentations of grief as her eyes closed tightly. Her words plagued and tormented me. I lightly brushed her hair from her face. â€Å"I know, Bella, I know.† I shifted my posture to Carlisle. â€Å"Can't you do anything?† I asked him urgently, peremptorily. This doesn't look good. I need you to prepare yourself for the worst. â€Å"My bag please,† Carlisle reached his hand out. The scent†¦Alice's eyes were wild when she passed the bag to him. â€Å"Hold your breath, Alice, it will help,† Carlisle declared while grabbing his bag. â€Å"Alice?† Bella questioned in a sustained mournful cry. Alice continued to hold her breath, unable to answer her. Bella, she lamented a sigh silently. â€Å"She's here,† I assured her. â€Å"She knew where to find you,† I silently thanked Alice as our eyes met for a fraction of a second. Alice made a slight and quick bend of her head. Not soon enough, her eyes were deep with sorrow. A quick glance around the room brought the total devastation and destruction back into focus. The mirror was cracked and shiny blood was smeared across the floor and mirrors. â€Å"My hand hurts,† Bella mumbled in an almost unintelligible extent, bringing me back from my distraction. â€Å"I know, Bella.† Another scorch mark broke down my throat as I took in another breath to answer the angel who was lying in front of me. I'm about to administer some morphine into her system. Her pain should go away fairly quick after that. â€Å"Carlisle will give you something, it will stop.† All the noise, the fighting, the sound of cracking wood, it was all drowned out when a sharp and piercing cry echoed through the Ballet Studio. â€Å"My hand is burning,† Bella shouted, her eyes fluttering, trying to open but were restricted because of the blood. â€Å"Bella?† I cried out, frightened. I felt a great mental suffering, as her screams were slowly torturing me. The morphine should be working. Another loud wail. â€Å"The fire! Someone stop the fire!† she screamed and moaned in paroxysms of grief. I looked over my shoulder as Emmett was starting a fire to burn James ?C but it was nowhere near us. I turned back to her, going to the source of her first cries. There were perfect teeth imprints on her wrist where a vampire, I growled in rage, had bit her. â€Å"Carlisle! Her hand!† I yelled in disgust, hoping he might have a remedy or that I was wrong all together. An icy surge of terror filled my lungs. I watched as his eyes looked over the outline of the mark. â€Å"He bit her.† Carlisle stated in revulsion. A deep breath entered my lungs as her scent rippled down my flaming throat, the horror entering my body. My view was obliterated by anger ?C I was seeing red. I can't do it. â€Å"Edward, you have to do it,† Alice commanded while wiping the blood out of Bella's eyes. Her stare was so intent you would think she was trying to force Bella to mend just by looking at her. â€Å"No,† I roared, looking at Carlisle, hoping he would tell me something different. â€Å"Alice,† Bella cried in a low, mournful sound. Edward, if you want her to stay human†¦ â€Å"There may be a chance,† Carlisle persisted. â€Å"What?† I begged, not understanding why they wanted me to do it. â€Å"See if you can suck the venom back out. The wound is fairly clean,† Carlisle explained as he stitched Bella's head wound. The shock from this statement was so huge it rooted me to the spot for several seconds. â€Å"Will that work?† Alice's throat was obstructed by the fear of losing her friend. I assume it would work the same as a snake bite. â€Å"I don't know,† he admitted. â€Å"But we have to hurry.† You have to do this, Edward; I can't do this for you. The thought of consuming her blood, even if it was saving her life sent pleasure and pain flooding into my body. To taste her would be wrong†¦fallacious. I felt utterly disgusted with myself but the temptation was growing. My veins felt like they were being filled with acid as I contemplated putting her life in more danger†¦the liability†¦to place her in mortal peril, where she may never come back to me†¦ I felt like I was choking. â€Å"Carlisle†¦I,† I faltered. The thoughts tilted back and forth in my mind like a see saw. â€Å"I don't know if I can do that,† the words were laced with the agony that was consuming me, I felt like I was being strangled, desperate for air. Carlisle was working quickly over Bella's head, pulling a needle through her skin over and over, sewing her up. He looked at my face. â€Å"It's your decision, Edward, either way. I can't help you. I have to get this bleeding stopped here if you're going to be taking blood from her hand.† Bella jerked a quick sharp pull of her body. Another thrust and a suddenly arrested motion as she thrashed against the burning pain in her hand as my mind was racing for alternatives. â€Å"Edward!† she shouted spasmodically. Her eyes flew open and her dark brown eyes darted around in every direction until they landed on me. Watching her writhing in burning pain, pain that I remember well, burnt me, like I could feel it too. I could take the pain away ?C I could make it all stop ?C but would I take her life in the process? â€Å"Alice, get me something to brace her leg!† Carlisle shouted as he was finishing up the stitches on Bella's head. Maybe he should let her become a vampire; it would make things a whole lot easier. â€Å"Edward, you must do it now, or it will be too late.† At his thoughts ?C to think of Bella as a vampire ?C death would be better than this†¦this†¦life. Bella was beginning to jerk in violent spasmodic muscular movements, the abrupt motions making her leg flail limply around. Carlisle caught her leg to hold it still. Now, Carlisle ordered in his head. I shot him a furtive look. My fingers wrapped around her tiny and delicate wrist, preventing her involuntary reflexes, like she was pulling her hand away from a flame. The desire to taste, the agony of the bite†¦every second I bent closer to her my mind tittered on an unstable line of right and wrong. My mind was traveling between two different worlds. Reason, truth, maybe some standard or principle ?C this had to be the solution; the right answer. Not proper, awry, not appropriate. The thoughts scattered across my already stressed mind as I bent down further. She thrust against my hold making the prolonged pain of my intense mental suffering grow exponentially. Her breathing was harsh and ragged as her wild yells filled the studio, reverberating off the mirrors and walls. My lips touched her skin, the fresh blood soaking into my lips. Hunger. Completely ravenous. I pulled her blood from the bite wound and it rushed into my mouth. The blood was hot and wet in my mouth. Sensations I'd never felt before tingled my tongue, sending a pleasurable warmth down my frozen and dry aching throat. Each second the monster was threatening to take over as he reared his head in appreciation. She screamed and lashed, struggling to get away from my grip. I knew it was hurting her, but my instincts had taken over, I held her tighter, intensely eager to devour the palatable, savory†¦delectable†¦I tried not to moan in pleasure. The luxuriant fullness that had consumed me brought intense satisfaction. I was ultimately determined to seize her, to have all of her, as I sucked down the blood in large gluttonous amounts. I could feel her becoming limp in my strong grasp as I continued my consumption of her gratifyingly warm, red†¦crimson blood. â€Å"Edward,† Bella mumbled incoherently, bringing me from my frenzy ?C like a soft voice had just whispered in my ear. Edward! Please†¦please don't kill her. Stop! Alice cried in her mind, not wanting to scare Bella. â€Å"He's right here, Bella.† Her voice trembled slightly, her visions showing her an unsure course. Bella's eyes rolled in her head like marbles on an unstable surface. She was dying. With a stupendous effort I let go, placing her hand down gently, forcibly reminding myself of her delicate nature. The dazzling sunlight of the day bathed the studio with a natural light, making the pool of blood glitter. Bella was silent and limp, her heart barely pumping the little amount of blood that was left in her body. Did I kill her? I felt like someone had just stabbed me in my heart. Would this be her brutal ending? I felt a horrible compression in my chest at my thoughts. They placed an inexcusable trust in me! I looked at her intently, waiting for another reaction with increasing desperation. She took an unsteady breath ?C the small cry of pain still present. I was devoutly thankful to whatever god had been watching over her this morning. â€Å"Stay, Edward, stay with me†¦Ã¢â‚¬  She barely breathed. I sighed heavily at the beautiful angel voice. â€Å"I will,† I promised, the stress of the situation still evident in my triumphant voice. I put her words on repeat in my mind, realizing even though I put her in this danger and almost sucked her dry of life, she still loved me†¦still wanted me to stay with her. I brushed my hand lightly against her cheek. A small sigh escaped her lips, her pain obviously dulling as her eyes closed lightly. You didn't kill her, Carlisle thought proudly. â€Å"Is it all out?† he checked. I didn't kill her. The relief was so exquisite it was nearly pain. The ache†¦anxiety, my oppression was slowly dissipating. â€Å"Her blood tastes clean,† I breathed a sigh of relief. â€Å"I can taste the morphine.† Let's make sure before we take her to the hospital. The morphine might be covering up the pain. â€Å"Bella?† Carlisle called out, bringing Bella from an almost slumber. Bella didn't bother to open her eyes, her body lying limp on the ground. â€Å"Mmmmm?† â€Å"Is the fire gone?† Carlisle stared at me, waiting for the answer. Bella's voice was slow and sluggish. â€Å"Yes,† she sighed. â€Å"Thank you, Edward.† I felt a profound feeling of warmth radiate from my body. â€Å"I love you,† I breathed in deep affection. To taste something so sensational and be able to stop†¦ I sighed, the benevolent reverence I had for her grew suddenly, like she was divine in nature. â€Å"I know,† she breathed once more, her words becoming incoherent with sleep. At her words ?C her almost sarcastic words, a low chuckle escaped my lips. The sound was doused in relief. Did you see her mother? Is she dead? Carlisle's face looked grave. We both listened for a moment, trying to hear a heart beat†¦someone breathing, but there was nothing. I shook my head. â€Å"Bella?† Her lips twitched into a frown. â€Å"What?† she mumbled. â€Å"Where is your mother?† he asked. â€Å"In Florida,† she sighed. Then her face barely distorted in anger. â€Å"He tricked me, Edward. He watched our videos.† I gritted my teeth in anger, the reminder of James came to the forefront of my mind as I looked over my shoulder at the rapidly growing flames that were licking up the walls of the studio. â€Å"Alice.† Bella's eyes fluttered and failed to open. â€Å"Alice,† she called again. â€Å"The video ?C he knew you, Alice, he knew where you came from,† her voice drifted off weakly. â€Å"I smell gasoline,† she added quietly. This building is going to be up in flames shortly, we need to leave. â€Å"It's time to move her,† Carlisle looked at me. Can you carry her? You must be careful not to hold her too tightly. We don't want her ribs protruding into her organs. I nodded my head. â€Å"I want to sleep,† Bella protested. â€Å"You can sleep, sweetheart, I'll carry you,† I tried to soothe her as I brought her gently into my arms, like she was a delicate soap bubble. She's more fragile than a soap bubble, I laughed internally, the first real signs of the ending danger.†Sleep now, Bella,† I kissed her lightly on the forehead, the blood unaffecting me in this most relief filled moments. She fell limp in my arms, her eyes shut lightly, like she was in a deep slumber. I emerged from the flames of the studio as Alice opened the car door of the Cadillac for me. I slowly laid her down in the backseat. I sat beside her, pulling her into my lap. I wanted to keep her as close to me as possible. I looked up through the shining sunlight, where Alice was glittering like millions of tiny facets were embedded in her skin, and noticed the relief on her face also. â€Å"Where's Emmett and Jasper?† I wondered, catching a glimpse of the Mercedes still parked out front. â€Å"They've gone back to the hotel. I'm not riding with you, I'm going to meet them there. We are going to set up a†¦scenario.† I saw in her mind the plan ?C they were going to break the glass wall of one of the stair wells ?C saying Bella had fallen down the stairs and through the window, causing her injuries. â€Å"Will that work?† I asked. â€Å"Yes.† She stated while shutting the door and sprinting off in the dark shadows around the buildings. Carlisle was already in the driver's seat, the car starting. I didn't speak, and neither did he during our ride to the hospital, though I could always hear his thoughts. I guess the glass from the window and falling down stairs could account for her injuries. Hum†¦ Alice is truly clever. I can't believe Edward was able to stop when Bella's blood calls to him so absolutely. Two lefts and a right†¦ We pulled into the emergency room lane, Carlisle helped Bella out of the car and handed her back to me. I carried her through the large glass doors as they slid open for me automatically. The nurse at the front desk stood immediately, gasped at the sight of the blood, her thoughts becoming panicky, and ran to get help. Soon there were doctors and more nurses running through the halls, all ready to help her. It pained me to see the slowness that they moved, though their pace was particularly fast considering they were just mere humans. I brushed her face lightly as I placed her on the gurney. â€Å"My name's Dr. Carlisle Cullen. I would like to help in any way that I can. She is like family to me,† Carlisle spoke quickly to the doctor on duty. I knew he was beginning to feel this away about her, but he had never thought or said that statement out loud. She was family, though. To see all of the Cullen's, even Rosalie, ban together to protect the one fragile human that I loved so deeply made me realize that maybe she was my destiny†¦that even after tasting her blood, I was able to keep her alive. I shook my head. It was idiotic to think that way. I would have never tasted her blood if it weren't for me putting her in danger in the first place. This was entirely my fault. She was being rushed to surgery because of me. Her bones are broken†¦she was bit by a vampire! Each thought was a struggle, I saved her, but she wouldn't have needed saving had I never invited her into my secret life. Another thought. When I left Forks†¦if I never returned†¦she would be dead now. I saved her! The battle between right and wrong was taking over my body as I sunk down into the nearest chair and waited for some news. A couple of very long minutes later Alice came prancing through the doors, exultant at her prized display of a fake accident, her eyes were reminiscent. Carlisle came bursting through the big white emergency doors. â€Å"We need permission from her mother or father before she can have surgery.† â€Å"Already done,† Alice trilled. â€Å"She should be calling the hospital in three seconds.† Suddenly the phone rang and the nurses' station picked up. â€Å"Hold on just one minute, Mrs. Dwyer,† the nurse pressed the hold button and then another button to send the call back to the doctor on duty. â€Å"That's my cue,† Carlisle said. â€Å"I'll keep you informed.† He turned on his heal and walked smoothly and gracefully through the doors sending an everything will be all right, thought my way. I sighed and sank down into a chair. I sat still for an hour. A very long hour. I still hadn't recovered from the shock of seeing Bella in such a broken state as I sat there frozen and unmoving. Hate and revulsion were there, squarely in my chest, reminding me of the monster I am. I sat there, silent and unmoving ?C rigid as a wax work while the battle raged inside me. I kept turning cold thinking about what would have happened if I hadn't shown up. I shuddered. Another hour passed, and this one was longer than the first. I begged the earth to crack open and swallow me whole. Alice didn't say anything, just sitting quietly next to me, realizing it wasn't a good time to talk. I hoped to deflect any invitation to join into a conversation with her. Alice continued to gaze dreamily out the window. I heard feet racing down the hall way and I looked to my right as Carlisle busted through the big white emergency doors to report on how Bella was doing. â€Å"She's going to be fine. She will be out of surgery shortly. There was a lot of damage to her leg, but they were able to fix it. She should have no permanent damage,† Carlisle informed me, placing his hand on my shoulder, speaking bracing words of comfort. â€Å"Relax. I'll show you where her room will be.† I leapt to my feet. We walked slowly through the hallways of the hospital; the walls were bland and off white. There was a sickening smell in the air†¦the smell of iodine and death. We reached big metal doors to an elevator. Alice pressed the button to go up, already knowing which room we were going to be in. I waited impatiently for the doors to open. Ding. The elevator doors opened to admit us and we all three stepped through them, Alice once again pressing the button, one that said four. I felt a shifting under me as my stone like body was slowing ascending the many floors of the building. Ding. The doors opened to admit us onto the fourth floor, which was just as boring as the first. â€Å"This way,† Alice said. I followed her until we reached room four-oh-eight. I stepped through the threshold. No Bella. I sank down in the chair next to the bed, waiting once again impatiently. I leaned over and put my head in my hands, trying to dislodge the thoughts and feelings that were consuming my body, setting it aflame and then dousing it with cold water. The scent was still strongly present on my hands. I pulled them away to examine the damage. There was no white space, my hands were covered in scarlet blood. A stubby nurse walked into the room. â€Å"Oh,† she gasped. â€Å"I didn't realize anyone was in here.† I looked up at her and she jumped back several feet. His eyes! I looked away quickly. â€Å"I'll just come back†¦Ã¢â‚¬  she bustled out of the room quickly. â€Å"That's right! I almost forgot,† Alice chimed in. â€Å"What is it, Alice?† I groaned. She tossed me a small white box. I flipped it over in my hands. Contacts. Crap, another reminder, I thought angrily. I went into the bathroom to place the contacts over my bright red eyes†¦bright red because of Bella's blood. All of this because of my†¦need. It was true, I needed Bella. Would I ever be able to leave her and stop bringing danger to her door step? I fluttered my eye as an obstruction fell over my vision. I could see every line and contour of the wretched thing. I pulled the other contact out to place in my other eye. I brought my face close to the mirror, studying it. I was oddly flushed and more pink than normal; my eye was scarlet red because I was full of human blood. The gleaming red eye reminded me of the monster that I am. I sighed and placed the contact in my eye as my vision became obstructed again. I washed my hands thoroughly, watching the water turn red and run down the drain. I walked out of the bathroom. â€Å"Much better,† Alice said. I heard a squeal of wheels being pushed down the lament floor. Be prepared, Carlisle warned. Worry and anxiety filled my stomach like acid as I stood to open the door, realizing I had less resolution than ever.