YOU WEAR YOUR BEST
APOLOGY, BUT I WAS
THERE TO WATCH YOU
LEAVE. AND ALL THE
TIMES I LET YOU IN,
JUST FOR YOU TO GO
AGAIN. DISAPPEAR
WHEN YOU COME BACK,
EVERYTHING IS BETTER.

YOU USED TO SHINE SO BRIGHT

Over the course of humans existence, there were few things that seemed consistent. One of these being an ideology of eternalization. Living forever. Whether it was an actual idealization of living forever; never aging and being able to survive through history, getting to see the world from the beginning to the end. Or, in most of the humans experiences, this eternal glory was done through their actions. Doing something noteworthy enough to be written about — to have stories and history that bend to them. This goes as far back to the Neanderthals and their drawings across the walls of caves, trying to leave a lasting image upon a rock for the next generation to see. To native tribes with their spoken word ceremonies and tales (most of which lost their sacredness when written onto paper) as they recount the actions of the tribal members that fought bravely in wars. But most of all, history took a note of the eternalization carried by both the Ancient Greeks and Romans. After all, how many of the world's most famous philosophers hailed from these time periods. How many stories do people across the world know about them? It was a simple thing that they had done, making their mark across history. And, in the end, they were the ones to make their mark on eternity. Etching their names into the very fabric of the universe around them — because not one person in the modern world didn't know at least something about the Ancient Romans and Greeks.

Coincidentally enough, it was also during the time that history was being made that people actually learned more about eternity. About being able to survive for longer than what they believed eternity to be. See, defined over the course of human existence, people expected one final outcome in their life. They walked a fine line between life and death knowing that ultimately, in the end, death would come knocking on their door saying it's time to let go. And they would go, even if they didn't necessarily want to do so, because there was no other option. If there were, children wouldn't lose mothers and mothers wouldn't lose children. People wouldn't die if there were a choice between life and death — or, then again, maybe people would. But it would've been their choice to do so. But see, even though the Romans and Greeks wrote tales about creatures and people would could live forever. Tales of people with pale, sparkly skin and youthful looks that never seem to go away. And tales of people who seem to be reclusive, jumpy, afraid of the world around them. Despite these tales, people believed they were just that. Tales. Stories. No, the story of vampires was just that to people. After all, how many pieces of literature existed for people to consume showing all types of creatures. Whether it be Bram Stoker or the Brothers Grimm — tales of absurdity were created to fulfill the minds of people. Things that people knew would never be true, yet their deepest desires couldn't help but yearn for them.

Then again, don't all stories come from some seedling of truth?

Verity Finley Harlow wasn't quite sure what to make of the world — after all, she had only been on it for nearly sixteen years. What sixteen year old knows what makes the world run? Actually, Verity Harlow liked to think she didn't know much about anything. She used to think the world was a fair place, where good people who did good things got to reap the benefits of doing so. Where good people who did good things got a leg up in the world, something that helped them become a better version of themselves. A world that helped them get the things that not only they needed, but the very things they wanted. Because, Verity Harlow had spent her entire childhood and early teenage years trying to be the best person she could be. Despite being labeled the goody-too-shoes and the teacher's pet, Verity was certain it would only bring good things. But then, everything in her world turned upside down. First, her parents tell her and her brother they were moving from their childhood home in Forks, Washington to North Carolina because their grandmother was sick. Second, it was the fact that their grandmother died only two months after they moved out there (and while Verity didn't regret moving there and having that time, she did regret it after watching her father grieve). Especially when the last big blow that completely shifted her world view was her mother dying within three months of her grandmother. That day, that night Verity Harlow lost her mother, she swore she could hear the Blue Ridge cry with her.

It was then that Verity Finley Harlow decided that the world did not care if you were a good person or a bad person, no matter what it would take and it would take from you until you gave into what it wanted from you.

That same night was the night Verity Finley Harlow began to question the very fabric of reality that people were raised to believe in. She felt too in-tune, too in-touch with the world around her that night. When she felt the mountains crying with her it wasn't just a metaphorical sense. It settled deep within her bones, like something had told her there was something more out there. Something that didn't quite meet the eye — something that would make sense when she saw it. But, then again, those were just thoughts that a grieving girl clung onto. Hoping, praying, wishing that it was just a way for her to stay connected to the two people she had lost. See, Verity knew she could question the reality around them. But nothing was going to be different because of her questions. At least, not just because she asked them. Especially when she let them all fizzle out, her thoughts died down the weeks after her mother's funeral. Quieted even more as her father told her and her brother they were moving back to Forks.

Except, here's the thing, Forks only seemed to perpetuate some of these questions. Even made her begin to question if there was such a thing of eternity (something Verity Harlow had never believed in before). And suddenly she was caught within this internal debate between the laments of mortality and woes of immortality — she wasn't quite sure which one was worse.

But, there's no way she would ever have the chance to know the answer to that one. (After all, you'd have to believe in vampires and werewolves and witches (oh my!) for the answer to even be plausible). (Ironically enough, Verity Harlow did not believe in any of the three).

BUT I WATCHED ALL OF IT FADE.

VERITY FINLEY HARLOW
portrayed by lucy boynton

•
•
•

ADDITIONAL CAST
paul rudd ... nathaniel harlow, md
nick robinson ... avery harlow
adeline rudolph ... gemma chan
anne hathaway ... savannah greene, md

•
•
•

AUTHORS NOTE

... now who would've put this on their 2023 bingo cards?

anyways ... SURPRISE I GUESS! i took a very long step back from this fic (very warranted bc let's talk about it for a moment: when i first started writing this fic, i was part of a not-so-healthy mindset and friend group, said friend group was pretty much led by someone who gaslit us a lot and not long after i started pulling away from literally everything related to wp bc of it a Google doc dropped and 💃👆 needless to say i lost inspo for this fic for a hot minute) (life is so much better without someone constantly nagging in my ear for graphics and never letting me talk about myself or my own fics but instead would never shut up about theirs) (anyways ... Cass ur a fucking legend for that doc queens-hope)

So ... 2023 bingo card update? Anyone had this one theirs? (Anya honestly might have that might be why she was in my texts telling me things) (I'm joking but also ... am I really?). Anyhow!! I've honestly been thinking about this fic for a while now and I missed vedward and writing for Verity in particular. I had such a cool plot and a cool ending planned out (define: cool) (I'm not allowed to but anya can say something in the comments if she would like about their ending) that it felt wrong to leave it unfinished. Especially when I could do something to bring back the spark I had. Now, who knows how long it's going to take me to rewrite this fic especially since I discontinued it at 17 chapters but. I will try. Who knows I started this fic before I had even graduated high school (or right after I had idek anymore) so 💃👆 kinda funny that I'm getting into this right before I graduate from college (scary). (Graduation time is now counting down at less than two months before I walk across a stage and receive my degree) (also counting down like one month before I send in my graduate school applications) (scawy).

Anywho! Let me know your thoughts, I hope you guys like the new-er vibes of the fic! I'm actually not hating the summary as much as I normally do my summaries so!!! Pls comment and let me know tho that's what I live for my bros!

DISCLAIMERS
1. I do not own any of the plot lines and or characters created for Twilight. Any and all other characters and plot lines that are not seen in these books/movies are my own, please don't steal.

2.  This book may contain some of these things: violence, blood, gore, death, drugs, alcohol consumption, sex, sexual activities, crude language, mental health, etc. Please do not interact with this material if it will mess with your mental health!

DEDICATIONS
to the hogwarts founders: ownthelight, angeIeyes,
findtheforce
to the milfs: halosnite, foxgIoves, fxllmoons, awfulmoons, bananapopsicIes
and to my many other friends whom I love and appreciate: spacemania, silksenses, sombersuns, arsvenal, aethrastic_dreamxx, bayports, luckyvirgo, elfaouly, bokuroos, xonceuponatimex, dunbonnet, protectremus, sanktham, luckyvirgo, REGULUSBLVCK, svperboy!

thank you for reading,
THE LAMENT OF MORTALITY.