02 ── rosalie's past
»—— act four. breaking dawn, part one
☽⋅── TWO ──this beings you solace ─⋅☾
The wedding was nearing, and preparations were in full swing. However, before the big day, there were plenty of concerns and questions about the future.
In Carlisle's absence, during his hunts with the rest of the family, Eve was often cared for by Rosalie. During one such moment when they found themselves alone, their interactions rarely lasted longer than an hour. Despite Rosalie always being by Eve's side, there had been little personal conversation between them.
Today, it seemed, Rosalie decided it was finally time to share her tragic past.
The reason for Rosalie's decision was two-fold. First, whenever she observed Eve alone, she could detect the subtle doubts and worries etched on her face.
Secondly, Rosalie knew that Eve carried the burden of guilt, fearing that she was endangering their family. Although Carlisle and Eve possessed the unique ability to understand each other without spoken words, Rosalie suspected there were moments when even they missed the signs.
Her own experience taught her that even the most loving and caring of partners couldn't always perceive every facet of their significant other's innermost thoughts. The desire to share her own past story, riddled with tragedy, with Eve, was prompted by her observation of Eve's internal struggle.
Rosalie's reflections took a turn as she regarded Eve with a thoughtful expression. Her own experience had taught her the harsh realities of her immortal existence, the cruel trick fate had played in stripping her of a normal human life.
As memories of the past flickered through her mind, she recalled how she'd once loathed her immortal life. But then, amidst the turmoil, Emmett had entered her world, an anchor grounding her.
Through him, she found acceptance and unconditional love, and with time, she grew to love him in return. Yet, the fear of danger persistently shadowed their connection.
The presence of Eve and Eleanor introduced a new layer of complexity, shifting Rosalie's perspective. As she got to know them better, her heart expanded to embrace them as family, even amidst the underlying fear for their safety. Although she lamented the loss of the chance for a human family and the inability to age, Rosalie found herself grappling with a changing perception. The hatred remained, but it slowly softened, losing its intense grip over her.
The sight of Eve, consumed by the weight of guilt and worry, awakened a deep sense of empathy within Rosalie. She sought to offer Eve solace, a hope that even amid life's harsh realities, there was the potential for something more. It was a hard-fought lesson, learned through her tumultuous journey, and she yearned to share it with Eve.
Rosalie's voice was soft as she spoke, the door to Carlisle and Eve's bedroom slightly ajar.
"Can I come in?" she inquired gently, peering through the opening.
"Of course," Eve promptly responded, gesturing for Rosalie to enter the room. The door opened fully, flooding the dimly lit space with a soft glow that danced across Rosalie's flawless features, highlighting her captivating beauty.
"You know," Eve responded with a warm smile and a hint of amusement, "you never need to ask."
Rosalie made her way to the couch where Eve was settled, and with a brief glance at the unoccupied bed, her gaze returned to Eve's reclining form.
Eve chuckled softly, explaining, "I prefer not to lie on the bed when Carlisle isn't here. It feels strangely lonely."
Rosalie nodded understandingly as she took a seat on the adjacent end of the couch, facing Eve, "I get that," Rosalie replied kindly. "Sometimes comfort in familiarity, especially in a space that's meant for two, can feel lacking when it's unoccupied."
Eve smiled, appreciating Rosalie's empathy and understanding. A comfortable silence fell between them for a moment, before Rosalie spoke up again, her voice gentle but purposeful.
"Eve," Rosalie began, her voice low and sincere. "Can I talk to you about something? Something personal."
Intrigued, Eve sat up on the couch, turning to face Rosalie. A mix of curiosity and concern washed over her face as she replied, "Of course, you can talk to me about anything. What is it?"
Rosalie took a deep breath, gathering her thoughts before she continued. "It's about me, actually. My past, my life before I became a vampire," she began, her voice a touch subdued.
"There are things I've never shared with the family, not even Carlisle."
Eve's interest was piqued further. "Really?" she replied, her surprise evident. "I had no idea. I always assumed you told Carlisle everything."
Rosalie shook her head slightly. "There are parts of my history that I've kept hidden, even from Carlisle," she confessed, her eyes locked on Eve's. "Some wounds just never fully heal, no matter how much time passes."
Eve nodded, silently conveying her understanding. She reached out and placed her hand gently on Rosalie's knee, a silent gesture of comfort and support.
Rosalie's gaze flickered to Eve's hand on her knee, the comforting gesture not unnoticed. A small, pained smile tugged at the corners of her lips, touched by the simple yet meaningful display of empathy.
Rosalie's voice trembled ever so slightly as she began recounting her past. "My human life, in nineteen thirty-three, had simplicity. I was young, only eighteen, and considered beautiful." Her gaze turned distant, fixated out the window at the silver clouds beyond.
She chuckled bitterly at the memory. "My parents were firmly middle class. My father worked a steady job at a bank, and he took a certain pride in his success, believing it was earned through talent and hard work, rather than fortune."
She continued, "As for me, I saw the poor, those less fortunate, struggling. My father instilled in me the idea that they were to blame for their own troubles."
Eve's heart ached as she listened to Rosalie's words, noticing the pain in her expression. Though she had never experienced anything close to what Rosalie described, her heart ached for her, and her hand gave her knee another gentle squeeze.
Rosalie's voice held a touch of sadness as she continued, saying, "My mother's responsibility focused on tending to the house, my two younger brothers, and primarily, me. I sensed then, albeit vaguely, that my parents yearned for more, even though they had so much more than most. They aspired for greater social standing."
She paused for a moment, a flicker of realization passing across her features. "My beauty, it seemed, was a gift more precious to them than it was to me."
"Despite their dissatisfaction, I found contentment in myself, in being Rosalie Hale. From the age of twelve, I savoured the attention of men, who watched me with admiration wherever I went. My girlfriends envied my hair when they touched it, and my mother was proud of me. My father took pleasure in purchasing attractive dresses for me."
Rosalie's recollection was tinged with a hint of nostalgia. "I knew my heart's desires, convinced that my dreams would come to fruition without fail. I yearned for love and adoration, envisioning a spectacular, extravagant wedding. I craved the admiration from a whole town as I walked down the aisle, arm in arm with my father, their gazes locked on the most beautiful woman they'd ever seen. For me, adoration was as essential as air, and while I was aware I was juvenile and materialistic, I found contentment in that."
"My parents had instilled in me a desire for material possessions. I longed for a spacious home adorned with elegant furniture that others would maintain and a contemporary kitchen where someone else would cook. Granted, my aspirations might have been shallow, but I was young and unapologetically vain. I couldn't fathom any reason why I wouldn't obtain the luxuries I coveted."
"Despite my superficial desires, there were some things more profound that I longed for. My dearest friend, Vera, got married young, at just seventeen. She married a carpenter, someone my parents would never have approved of for me. A year later she had a baby boy, a beautiful child with dimples and curls in his hair. It was the first time in my life that I had felt such intense jealousy toward someone else."
Rosalie's gaze met Eve's, and her eyes held an almost otherworldly depth. "It was a different era. Though we were the same age, I felt ready for a future filled with love and family. I longed for a life like Vera's, complete with a devoted husband who would greet me with kisses upon returning from work. However, my aspirations held one significant difference—I envisioned a grander, more opulent house."
Rosalie's voice changed, the wistful tone replaced with a hint of bitterness as she continued, "In Rochester, one family stood above the rest—the Kings. Royce King Sr. owned the bank my father worked at, as well as most of the town's profitable enterprises. It was his son, Royce King Jr., who laid eyes on me for the first time."
She spoke the name with disdain, the syllables almost spitting out through gritted teeth. "Jr. was the designated successor, and he started overseeing various positions at the bank. Two days later, my mother 'conveniently' forgot to pack my father's lunch, insisting that I dress up in a white organza dress and put my hair up, just to deliver it to him at the bank. I found it strange at the time."
Rosalie let out a harsh, humourless laugh, her amusement edged with a hint of mockery, "Initially, I didn't notice anything particular in Royce's gaze. I was used to being the centre of attention, and everyone's eyes followed me. However, from the very first night of our courtship, he began sending me bouquets of roses. Soon, my room was filled to the brim with them, leaving the faint scent of roses on my clothes. As if that wasn't enough, Royce was not only charming but also handsome."
"My parents were ecstatic—delirious, even. This was all they had ever aspired for me. And Royce appeared to be the embodiment of my desires—the fairy-tale prince who would ensure I lived as a princess. Everything I longed for and more; was less than I deserved. We were promised to each other within a mere two months."
"Our time together was limited. Royce explained his busy work schedule, and he appreciated being seen with me in public, where everyone could admire us. We attended numerous parties, danced, and looked our best. Being a King came with perks—every door was accessible to us, and red carpets were waiting around every corner."
"The engagement ended as quickly as it began. Planning for the extravagant wedding commenced without delay. It was everything I had ever dreamed of. When I visited my dearest friend, Vera, the sense of jealousy faded. I envisioned my fair-haired children playing on the expansive lawns of the King's estate, and I wondered if I should pity Vera. At the time, it seemed impossible that I should have everything I wanted, while she had nothing."
Rosalie suddenly fell silent, her jaw tense and rigid. She spoke softly, her voice a whisper. "I was with Vera that night."
Her expression froze like marble, hard and unmoving. "Henry, Vera's little boy, was adorable—smiling and dimpled, just learning to sit up on his own. As I prepared to leave, Vera held her baby in her arms with her husband's arm wrapped around her waist, and he kissed her cheek when he thought no one was watching."
"The gesture bothered me. Royce's kisses never felt quite as tender as that. I dismissed the thought, reminding myself that Royce was my Prince Charming. One day, I would become his queen."
"The night was dark, the streetlights casting a dim glow. It was colder than usual for late April, and I fretted about the weather. The wedding was only a week away, and the thought of rain on such a special day weighed heavily on my mind. As I rushed home, I couldn't think of anything else. But then, suddenly, I heard them—a group of men standing under the glow of a broken streetlamp, their laughter echoing through the night. Drunk. I silently cursed myself for not calling my father to walk me home, though the distance was short, it seemed unnecessary."
"And then, he spoke my name. I didn't want to look at him. One part of me wanted to ignore him, to go on as if I hadn't heard the slurred call. I could have been at home now. But I also knew who he was. Royce King."
"Rose!" Royce called out, his words slurred as the men chuckled drunkenly.
"I hadn't noticed before that they were so well dressed. It was Royce, along with some of his friends, the sons of other affluent men."
"Here's my Rose!" he shouted again, joining in the laughter. "You've kept us waiting so long. We're cold.'"
"I had never seen him drink before. Only a toast or two at parties, and he never seemed to like champagne. Little did I know that he preferred something much stronger."
"He was accompanied by an unfamiliar young man, a friend of a friend who had come from Atlanta. The man called John was dark-haired and tanned, his gaze running up and down my body in a way that felt like he was sizing me up."
"'It's difficult to judge,' he drawled, his words slow and deliberate 'She's too covered up.'
"They all laughed, Royce, joining in, laughing louder than the rest. Suddenly, Royce tore off my jacket, the brass buttons scattering across the street."
'Show him what you look like, Rose!' he commanded, ripping the hat from my head. The pins left painful, burning trails across my scalp."
"I won't burden you with the details," she whispered softly, her voice barely audible. "They left me for dead in the cold, dark streets. I could still hear their boisterous laughter even as they stumbled away, mocking Royce about finding a new bride. He chuckled and replied that he would need to learn patience first. I waited there in the freezing cold, my body writhing with so much pain that I was surprised to find myself still alive. It started to snow, and I wondered why death wouldn't come to put an end to my torment. I longed for death to come and free me from my excruciating pain."
"Carlisle found me then. He had detected the scent of my blood and came to investigate. I recall feeling a distant sense of annoyance as he worked to save my life, my mind still clouded with anguish and despair."
"When he picked me up and began running, I thought I had died; everything happened so quickly that it felt like flying. Then I found myself in a brilliantly lit room, engulfed by warmth. As the pain started to subside, relief washed over me, but I became alarmed when I saw Carlisle cutting into my wrists, ankles, and throat. It hurt me so much that I cried out aloud, assuming he had brought me there to cause me more pain. Next, a fierce pain engulfed me, like fire coursing through my veins. I no longer cared about anything else and began pleading with him to put an end to my torment"
"I used to hate Carlisle for turning me into an immortal, but with time, my anger faded, and I forgave him because I realized it was pointless to hold on to resentment. My human life had been good, and then it shattered, but in the end, I just wanted you to know that while life can be unfair, even challenging at times, somehow, it has a way of healing and getting better. With patience and perseverance, things can improve."
"Although life can be cruel and difficult, with time, it can heal and become better. I hope in some way, this brings you solace," concluded Rosalie gently, her eyes reflecting a warm compassion.
"You may feel guilty about the current situation or what the future might hold, but please know that none of us hold any blame against you, not for a moment," Rosalie continued, her voice gentle as she held onto Eve's hand firmly, reassuringly. "You are a part of our family and our connection with one another will stand strong and unwavering, for all eternity."
Eve's eyes welled up with tears as her babies kicked in her stomach. In response, she pressed Rosalie's hand more firmly to the spot where the kicks were coming from, a small smile playing on her lips in response to the sensation.
As Rosalie's second hand rested on top of her stomach, joining the first, she felt the babies kick again, their movements stronger and more deliberate. Eve laughed softly, the sound filled with a mix of wonder and joy.
"I think they really appreciate all the love they're getting from their older sister, Rosalie," she chuckled, her eyes sparkling.
Rosalie drew closer to Eve's stomach, listening to the sound of the babies' movements. Her eyes softened as she spoke in a gentle, affectionate tone, "And I love you both." She then began to hum a soft, melodic tune, her voice carrying a soothing effect on the unborn twins. The kicking gradually slowed, their movements responding to the tranquil and loving atmosphere that Rosalie had created.
Eve took a moment to steady herself before responding, "Thank you for opening up and sharing your past with me, Rose. I can only imagine how difficult it must have been for you. Know that I love you too, and you have become like a daughter to me. I am eager and truly grateful to walk alongside you all, for the rest of our time together in this world."
Rosalie released a soft sigh, her lips curving into a genuine smile.
Bạn đang đọc truyện trên: AzTruyen.Top