Chapter 2- Shadows
1922
Edward's relationship with Carlisle and Esme had only become more distant after the wedding. Although Edward was not technically present for the wedding; which was a well-decorated, small ceremony, attended by a few of his old friends including members of the Denali coven; Edward still lurked in the shadows, spying every so often on the event. He made sure nobody saw or heard him but he was always stored in the back of everyone's thoughts. They were all thinking the same thing, "how could he not support Carlisle on the happiest day of his existence?" Edward couldn't care less what they thought. What hurt him partially however, were the disappointed thoughts of Carlisle, when he felt the missing presence of Edward as he said his vows. Carlisle had hoped that Edward would be the best man, but he was forced to choose Eleazar as his second option. Nevertheless, the wedding went well and everyone was happy; everyone except for Edward of course.
After they married things went back to the way they were. Carlisle went back to work after his honeymoon on the Island he bought for Esme. Esme worked on the house and planted a beautiful garden, something they had never had prior to her arrival. One day, as Edward was returning back to the house after wandering around in the city, he spotted from a far away distance in the woods, Carlisle driving into the driveway, returning from his hospital shift and Esme greeting him from where she was gardening by the porch.
Through the vines, Edward glared at the man he used to see as a shining window of hope, someone who had unending compassion, someone who used to understand and now it was blazingly clear that Edward had been mistaken all along. Carlisle was weak, selfish and he let him down like everyone else that had ever mattered in his life. How far they had fallen in the time Esme had been with them. Carlisle now made it staggeringly clear that Edward's existence was always just a simple experiment; a secret way of testing out his ability to create a companion for himself that followed his 'vegetarian' way of life. Edward felt one thousand daggers pierce his unbeating heart when he came to this realization. How could he be so naïve to think that Carlisle favoured him more than any of the other humans that had died under his watch during the influenza epidemic? Sure they may have had their happy moments over the years, but this was nothing more than a few happy moments for Carlisle. It was something to ease the boredom of over three hundred years of solitude. As Edward watched the couple kiss a tender, playful kiss on the driveway. Edward felt like for the first time in his existence, he was truly alone.