I feel bad for Stephenie Meyer.

The author of the super popular “Twilight” series had the rough draft of her fifth book, “Midnight Sun,” inexplicably leaked onto the Internet. Her Web site says that while the fifth installment will still be her next project, creatively, I can’t imagine how she must feel.

I understand fans – myself included – are interested in what comes next in the saga. Her Web site says the book will begin at “Twilight” and be from Edward’s point of view. It’s definitely a hefty undertaking; who can honestly say they can depict what a vampire is thinking or feeling at any given time?

I must admit as well, however, that I’ve read part of what’s available of the leaked copy. No worries, copyright police, I linked to it off Meyer’s Web site. Go find some other college student to harass.

So far, while obviously a rough draft, the story is coherent and interesting. It stays true to “Twilight” in terms of events as well as characters. Edward is still as calculating, yet utterly unsure of Bella as Bella depicts him from her point of view in the first novel. That, and who wouldn’t enjoy thinking about Edward for another 200+ pages if only just for a rough draft copy.

I understand Meyer feels violated creatively; her work was stolen right from under her and published online without her permission. Writing is like any creative product: It’s very personal.

So what I’m saying, dear readers, is be patient. There’s nothing like a ticked off author to give your favorite story an absolutely ill fitting ending. Give her a chance to get her thoughts on paper, have it edited, marketed, and whatever before you go ga-ga over Edward for the fifth time now. If anything, go stalk him via Facebook’s bumper sticker application. There are by far plenty of them to go around.

I wonder if J.K. Rowling ever felt this way.