Lust on a Deathbed by dyedinwool

Official Description:

Bella Swan is committed to a mental institution after a failed suicide attempt. A resident doctor is quietly assisting the suicidal population find their end. With her disturbing past and a doomed future, will Edward extend the favor once more? AU

Lust on a Deathbed by DyedinWool is a terse drama, reminiscent of a stage play. There are few characters, simple staging. Dialog, not action, drives the story.

Edward Cullen is a psychiatrist in a present day residential mental health facility. Bella Swan is a confined patient, whose unsuccessful suicide attempt mirrors her unsuccessful life. True to canon, Edward is inexplicably drawn to Bella and she is genuinely puzzled by his interest. Bella is defined by the layers of pain she has wrapped around herself. Gingerly, Edward pulls away those layers, as though pulling apart the end of a Q-Tip to reveal the stick.

Bella’s reason d’être is truly cataclysmic. She is determined to end her life. Edward wants to save her, but how? He devises a haphazard rescue plan. The story changes settings and the witty, intense conversations between these two intelligent, damaged souls keep me wanting more.

Lust on a Deathbed is written entirely from EPOV. He is not a swaggering, confident man. His self doubt and candid descriptions of his demons are refreshing. He wants to romance Bella, but her physical and mental conditions are a formidable barrier. Edward stomps on the boundary of the physician/patient relationship, but feels guilty doing so. He has considerable tools at his disposal to solve (most) any problem, but is reluctant to use them.

Wooly has written a taut drama, carefully plotted, described authentically with believable characters. LoaD updates frequently. It is not entirely humorless. When Edward reveals some of his own secrets, Bella’s response is surprisingly snarky.

What elements in FF suck me in? Well, lemons, of course! Lemons in LoaD are elusive. However, a compelling story and great writing win me every time. I care about these characters. I want them made whole. I want to know their backstory, and DyedinWool has been stingy with the details. LoaD is a WIP, filled with tension, angst, and a HEA is miles away.

Read Lust on a Deathbed and let me know your theories.

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