A/N: I don't own Twilight. This is a challenge for me to improve my writing skills. I want to thank KlrTwiLuver for generously offering to beta my work.
The Twilight Twenty-Five
thetwilight25[dot]com
Prompt: Image 5
Pen Name: ssherrill115
Pairing/Main Character(s): Bella (Charlie)
Rating: T
Photo prompts can be viewed here:
thetwilight25[dot]com/round-5/prompts
I always loved the first snowfall of the season. Do you remember dad? We would always go outside and catch snowflakes on our tongue. Even living in Washington where the snow was plentiful, you still allowed me to get excited when it first snowed. Who would have thought a happy memory would become such a sad one today?
I remember hiking in the woods to find our Christmas tree every year. You would never think to buy a tree off a lot. We didn't always have a traditional looking tree, but we always made it beautiful. You loved the snow flake ornaments that I used to make when I was a kid and I still make them today. Every year I drudge out the pretty paper, the string, and the glitter and make those stupid ornaments just like I did for you. They make me happy too. Snow makes me happy when I look at it.
Remember the year you were trying to play Santa Clause. You went up on the roof thinking that I would be so excited to see Santa there. You nearly scared me to death, Daddy! I thought some man was trying to break into the house and I couldn't find you. The ladder fell and you were stuck up there… I had to call 911 and your buddies from the force got quite a laugh out of that one. I was six years old and you were my hero. Daddy, you are still my hero today.
You have always been there for me like when I fell as I was learning to ice skate. Man, I busted my butt and all the kids were laughing at me. You came all the way out on the ice and danced with me around the rink like we were professional ice skaters. Everyone was looking at us and smiling. You were just trying to hide the fact that my knee was bleeding. You didn't want people to make fun of me. You wanted people to be in awe of me. You were my hero. You are my hero.
I remember making soup on cold snowy days while you were working, patrolling, and trying to make sure everyone in the town was safe before heading home. You were so dedicated to everyone in our town. You came home when your shift was over and we snuggled under the quilt on the couch, ate soup and talked in whispers because snow seemed to make everything feel quiet and muffled.
You always loved the snow and made me love it. You told me that I could be the snow princess. You even went so far as to buy me that beautiful white dress with the blue crystals on it because you said it made me look like the snow princess. Too bad I only wore it one time to church. It was so dressy and I felt overdressed and awkward. But you said I was the most beautiful snow princess in the world. I still have that dress. I will never get rid of it. I will be your snow princess forever.
When I went through my transformation into this eternal life, I didn't think about the future. Edward and I have stayed busy, and on the move with Nessie and Jacob for so long, I just didn't think this day would really come. When we first offered to change you, you declined and said you were who you were and you wanted to stay that way.
As time moved on, and you got older, I regretted not changing you. You married Sue and were happy, but you were getting older. Time flies by swiftly for a vampire. It seems like just yesterday I was telling you about my transformation for the first time. I was so terrified that you would be mad and have a heart attack. But you didn't. Just like you, the hero that you are, you accepted that I chose to be a vampire. You accepted that your granddaughter would marry Jacob even though she was only a couple years old at the time. You have always accepted me. You have always been my hero.
When your age started affecting you, I suggested it again, that you allow Edward or me to change you. I didn't want to lose you daddy. But you just said, "You guys should have convinced me of that when I was forty – no one wants to live for eternity in a sixty-three year old body."
Why didn't we change you when we had the chance? Edward says it is much better this way, that you are happy this way; that this is the natural way. But I hate it.
I always knew that I would have to say goodbye to you someday. I just didn't want to admit it to myself. I always knew this day would come, but it seems so cruel. Why do humans have to die? And why do we bury them in the ground? Oh, I went to church with you, Daddy. I know that we believe ashes to ashes, dust to dust… and I know that you are in heaven with God, and looking down on me right now, wishing that I was not crying. I know that you want me to be happy and celebrate your life. But I want to be sad.
I want to cry. Do you know vampires can't cry? We feel real emotions, we have the feeling of crying, but tears never leave my eyes. I want tears to leave my eyes, Daddy. I want to cry for you. I want to be human and die, so I can go to heaven to tell you one more time that you are my hero and that I love you so much it hurts my heart.
I'm sorry we didn't change you. I'm sorry you won't spend eternity with us. I wish I hadn't listened to Edward. I think he was wrong about this one. When I look at Sue I want to change her too, but she says the same thing about being trapped in an old lady's body for eternity. She is the lucky one. She looks forward to the day when she will see you again in heaven. She can cry.
Everyone is gone now, Daddy, and I have to leave too. Edward is concerned and he wants me to come back to the house. He didn't want to leave me out here, beside your grave, alone. I just don't want to leave you. I don't want you to be cold. I don't want you to be alone. I will talk to you everyday, Daddy, and I will pray to God that one-day he will let me see you again. I will be a good person because I am your daughter. I will be a good person in honor of you, my hero.
Daddy, did you know snow flakes don't melt on vampire's tongues?