Symbolism, Imagery, Allegory
While reading the book you probably noticed that, following Chapter 3 in which Edward breaks up with Bella, there are some blank pages, merely titled "October, November, December, January." In Chapter 4, the first page only holds one paragraph:
Time passes. Even when it seems impossible. Even when each tick of the second hand aches like the pulse of blood behind a bruise. It passes unevenly, in strange lurches and dragging lulls, but pass, it does. Even for me. (4.1)
It seems that Stephenie Meyer wanted to give us a visual representation of how, after Edward’s departure, Bella loses all sense of time. It passes like meaningless, blank pages until she finally wakes up from her stupor months later.