Beating Hearts

Chapter 1

I have yet to truly edit these next few chapters. I wanted to bring them to you as quickly as possible! Hopefully there aren't too many mistakes!!! 🖤

The dreary skies of Forks washed over the empty field around her. A place that was once filled with love, happiness, and color now seemed as meaningless as everything else.

In the back of her mind, she knew she shouldn't feel this way. Her parents would be disappointed with the way she became just a shell. A hollow, sad shell. But it was inevitable.

Distantly, she could hear the sound of her name echoing over and over.

"Ness?", the echo spoke. But she did not respond.

"Ness," this time louder, closer.

"Ness!" Her vision went from black, to color-filled once more. She turned to see a sad smile on Alice's features. A look that was never often seen. "Are you ready?"

The mere thought of speaking made her want to vomit. The cries and wails that desperately wanted to crawl from her heart, and up her throat, stayed put. "Yes, aunt Alice."

Suddenly, Rosalie was to her left, both women wrapping their arms around her as they walked through the field to the swarm of familiar faces dressed in black.

Charlie instantly wrapped his arms around her body, encasing her in a tight hug. "I'm so sorry," he whispered, tears staining his cheeks.

It broke her heart that he was trying to comfort her more than himself.

Words weren't enough to help soothe the pain. Instead, her hand placed itself on his cheek, visions clouding his thoughts of his Bella with Renesmee. Beautiful memories that would stay with her, and now Charlie, forever.

"Thank you," he sobbed, kissing her on the forehead.

Each person came up to hug her and express their condolences. She hated the words, the touches. All of it. In this moment, Renesmee just wanted to curl up next to the stones that read her parents' names, and let out every emotion that has been built up for 32 hours.

Carlisle made his presence known behind her, wrapping an arm around her shoulders. "Ness, are you sure that you don't want Jake-,"

"No."

A sad sigh escapes him, his grasp tightening. "It wasn't him who did this, Renesmee. He was family, too. He deserves to be here."

She shakes off his arm, fully facing her body towards his. "I know it wasn't him, or his pack. I don't want to see one werewolf right now. Don't you dare try to make it seem as if I shouldn't feel this way at their funeral."

Carlisle nods in agreement, "I understand. You have every right to feel this way."

In the back of her mind, a small part of her did realize that rejecting the imprint bond more than likely had Jake in agony. And to top that off, he lost two of his close friends. But she had lost her parents. To a pack of rogue wolves. Even though Jake was like a brother to her, she couldn't see past that.

It had taken her all night to go over the words for the speech she had written, then re-written again 7 times.

Nothing seemed good enough.

Renesmee had chosen to be the last to speak, which she then realized was a mistake. Because with each beautiful memory given, the emptier her heart became.

And then eventually, it was her turn. "Renesmee, sweetheart? Come up here, please." Esme's tone sounded sweet as honey. Her voice alone could soften anyone's heart, and always brought joy to hers. But not today.