Disclaimer: I do not own the twilight saga. However, I hope that my story can live up to the standard set by the person who does own the twilight saga; the brilliant and beautiful Stephenie Meyer. Now that that's out of the way...please enjoy the fan fiction!
A Rose
A lovely rose with petals soft
A scent so sweet and light
So beautiful a flower
With colors shining bright.
But something not so savory
About the fragrant rose –
The thorns, so sharp upon the stem,
That sharpen as it grows.
Yet still lovely is the flower
Despite the thorns that prick
Just as life and love are sweet
They too have thorns that stick.
But do not fear to live or love,
Life's not exempt from pain –
So pick a rose, you may get hurt,
But you will also gain.
~ Elizabeth
Preface
I've stared death down many times before. I've looked into the eyes of a deranged tracker. I've struggled to find the surface before I drowned. I've witnessed the embitterment of a vampire bent on revenge – namely killing me. I've been destroyed from the inside out by the one I loved. And as if that wasn't a long enough list, I've also faced down the most terrifying assembly of vampires in recent history.
But this was different. I had always trusted in Edward; relied on him. No matter how grim the situation seemed or how overpowered we appeared, I silently put my faith in Edward believing he would find a way to rescue me. And he did. Even in our darkest hour against the Volturi, he helped give me the courage and strength to withstand their attacks and protect my loved ones. But now, with our roles reversed, Edward had trusted in me. And I had failed him.
And it wasn't just Edward. My head throbbed as questions pulsed through my mind. Where was Renesmee? Was she safe? What about Jacob and the rest of his pack; were they safe? What about my family; were they safe? And Charlie; was my father alright? I could never forgive myself for the suffering I caused my dear friends and family members to go through. I had failed them all.
What could I do? I had often felt that, once I became a vampire, I would become a great asset to the Cullens. But, just as when I was mortal, I remained a liability. I watched with blank horror as pillars of purple smoke rose across the horizon. How many of them were enemies – and how many of them were friends?
Our attackers circled closer and closer towards me, snarling and hissing. They were beyond reason, beyond rationale. I wished they would hurry and kill me. My psychological pain was growing to proportions far greater than anything they could inflict upon me physically.
I wanted to hurry to the afterlife. I smiled to myself amidst the bedlam as I imagined meeting Edward there, with his same sly, crooked grin. I would run to him, embrace him, and then whisper in his ear, "I told you vampires don't go to hell." Then he would hold me, tell me I was right, and our lives would pick up where we left off on earth.
My daydreams were abruptly shattered with the advance of my predators. I instinctively lunged to my right, but two vampires hedged me off. I tried to spin around and run, but it was too little too late. I felt a pair of feet slam into my back, knocking me hard to the muddied ground. I struggled in vain as two more pairs of hands restrained my arms and legs, another pair shoving my face deeper into the puddle of mud. I felt an intense pain in my neck as sharp teeth sank into my skin, the venom stinging as it entered my body and mixed with my own. My chest felt heavy, although my heart no longer beat. I was blinded and I suddenly felt like I was floating face down in the ocean, drowning in my own misery.
This was it. All good things must come to an end. The promise of immortal life and happiness was too great. Perhaps that's why there is such misery and such joy in the world. Life must be a lot like Newton's third law; for every action, there is an equal and opposite reaction. For every bit of joy in life, there is an equal amount of sorrow and pain.
I had enjoyed too much happiness. And now I had to accept the consequences. Pain.