The Manstress [EdwardxJacob]

The Man in the Mirror 🙊👁

Theirs was a perfect marriage. Oh yes, they had their ups and downs just as every couple did: but it was their love, which held fast and strong, that guided them through thick and thin. No matter what, Edward knew in his heart that he and Bella would always work things out. They were stronger together than they ever had been apart.

This is what Edward would like to say. It's what he wanted, once upon a time. When he was younger, and looked upon the world with a fresh and hopelessly infatuated gaze, this is what he thought it would be like.

But he's grown into the reality that things aren't always as advertised. Not love; not marriage; and lately, he's discovered, not even himself.

It's a very disconcerting thing, to look upon oneself and not recognize the person before you. As Edward stares at his face in his bathroom mirror, he tries hard to find traces of the person he'd been so sure he was.

When Edward had returned home that morning, Bella had already left for work. The silence of the house was somehow worse than having to face her after what he'd done. He knew it would only be a matter of time until he'd have to own up to his mistakes, and putting it off only made the dread he felt intensify.

Edward leans forward over the bathroom counter and peers at his reflection. A stranger stares back.

The man in front of him has dark hair and pale skin, with high cheek bones. All of that is familiar.

What isn't familiar is the guilt that pools in those eyes, a guilt he can feel tightening around his heart and churning sickeningly inside him. What isn't familiar is the longing he can feel in every inch of his body, tugging at him.

What isn't familiar is that he would even need to feel any of these things. What isn't familiar is that the man in the mirror would do something like that. What isn't familiar is that the man in the mirror is him, and he's never had a harder time accepting that.

Edward closes his eyes tightly and feels the beginning of a headache in his brow.

Enough.

He pushes away from the counter and stands back.

Enough. I need to get past this.

He leaves the bathroom and opens his closet, staring at the array of clothes. Silently, Edward dresses in slacks and a collared white shirt. He still has a job he needs to get to. His life hasn't been put on hold because of this.

Before he leaves, he splashes water on his face in the washroom.

He studiously avoids looking in the mirror.

Because what really isn't familiar, what really makes him sick with himself, is that he would do it all again.

Notes:

Thanks for reading chapter three of The Manstress! I hope you enjoyed it :)

If you liked this chapter, please leave a comment or a vote. Your support means so much to me <3

~ahoge chan xx