Six Silent Goodbyes by VivaViva

http://www.fanfiction.net/s/5297800/1/Six_Silent_Goodbyes
http://twilighted.net/viewstory.php?sid=7202
Word Count: 33,542

Official Description: Bella never got a goodbye from each of the Cullens in New Moon… right? New Moon, canon.

Be sure to check out Broken Lullaby, EPOV of Six Silent Goodbyes.

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BQOTFU says: One of the stories that captured my attention late last year was Six Silent Goodbyes by VivaViva.

This story stays within canon and takes place during the beginning of New Moon. It’s not easy to write from six different points of view, but VivaViva pulls it off flawlessly. Not only does she delve into the minds of each of the Cullens, for the exception of Edward, but we are able to view each one of them in a different light. We know how Bella felt when Edward said his final goodbye and his reactions, but unable to explore the impact that the decision of leaving had on each one of them, until now.

VivaViva digs deep into their consciousness while keeping them within canon.

The story begins with Alice. Throughout her point-of-view the future shifts constantly, never knowing what Edward has decided. Until the moment he makes a firm decision and everything falls into place: “The future unexpectedly snapped into place and the road ahead was once again straight and still. Edward’s mind was made up, the plans were set, the disorienting fog in my head was gone, and I was furious.” The rest of the chapter explores Alice’s anger, sadness and acceptance.

The writer continues with Jasper and scrutinizes his guilt. She presents his softer side and his feelings regarding Bella. In the end, he is the one who keeps something of sentimental value that is tangible of Bella’s time with the Cullens.

Next she tackles Rosalie who has never agreed with Edward’s relationship with “that human girl.” At first glance, anyone would think Rosalie was jealous, but as we continue reading we discover a very complex character who’s exterior is tough, but her core is tender, delicate and accessible. “It was easy to throw out criticism and insults off the top of my head to mask what lay beneath, whether it was sadness or hurt feelings. I left it up to others to interpret my actions and read between they lines if they could. I would much rather be thought of as mean than vulnerable.”

Chapter four begins with Emmett’s point of view and as much as Edward and Emmett may bicker, this chapter gives us an entirely new perspective of their relationship.

“Edward took me for my first hunt, he held me back when I tried to drink from a human, and comforted me after I broke free of his grasp… We may not be biologically related, but I could never ask for a better brother… Using his gift to guide and encourage, never prying or betraying secrets.”

As much as Emmett cares for Bella he understands the Cullens must stay together.

“This part of my life was over, and Bella’s fate was out of my hands, no matter how much I wished otherwise. I had chosen Edward, just as I should have.”

Family sticks together and venom is thicker than water, but that doesn’t mean there isn’t heartache.

Emmett’s final line says it all “Goodbye, kid. Don’t fall too much…no one will be there to catch you.”

The last two chapters are the heart and head of the Cullen household.

Esme’s and Edward’s relationship as mother and son is shown to us on a deeper level.

“The weight of the world had appeared on his shoulders nearly overnight, like I blinked and the happy boy I loved was gone, and I was unable to recognize his replacement. Edward brooding I was used to, but Edward coming undone was entirely foreign to me. I was unsure of what to do.

“Esme,” he croaked. “Mom…”

He could not find the words to continue, but he did not have to, I already understood. I wrapped my arms around his frame and pulled him to me as close as I could, as he finally took his hands off the piano. It was the end of Bella’s lullaby.”

As his mother, she tries to hold him and comfort him. But who will comfort her?

She chooses the piano as a means to express herself, “I called “The Opus of Failure.”

‘C’ equaled rage.

‘D’ equaled pain.

‘B’ equaled loss.

‘G’ equaled despair.

“Goodbye, sweetheart. Without you, we’re incomplete.”

The final chapter ends with Carlisle’s goodbye. His frustration is apparent; not only because of Edward’s decision but also because of the sentences he placed on his family.

“My family had been shaken to the core in just a matter of seconds. The peace and happiness in our home, which had been formulated so scrupulously by Edward’s joy, was being left behind to wash away with the endless Washington rain.

It was the end of optimism.

There was a shift in the world and I was responsible yet again…”

Carlisle debates with himself, Bella or Edward, we know who he chose.

“Goodbye. I hope you find your happy ending.”

SnowWhiteHeart says: Six Silent Goodbyes is not only a great story, but a really superior exercise in POV. VivaViva does an excellent job narrating Edward’s New Moon departure from each Cullen’s point of view. Each family member has a truly distinct voice, without being cliche or sounding like something we’ve heard a million times. Alice talking about shopping? Never. Instead, VivaViva incorporates their personality into their thoughts seamlessly. This segment from Alice’s POV was very refreshing to me.

“I haven’t seen this in awhile,” Jasper murmured, twirling my wedding ring around the third finger of my left hand. It had been months since I wore it last.

When we had first married, no one paid much attention to a young, newlywed couple. In comparison to us sharing a house with five other people and the uneasy vibes we gave off, being married young was the most normal thing about Jasper and me in the eyes of the public. It was almost mundane.

But as the 60′s started to wind down and marrying early fell out of vogue, I began to hide my ring for the sake of blending in. Sometimes I wore it on a chain under my shirt, other times as a charm on one of my bracelets. It even made a brief appearance on my key chain alongside the key to my ’73 Monte Carlo.

Eventually though, even my “wedding necklace” and my “marriage bracelet” became too conspicuous as collared, long-sleeved shirts were replaced by the more form-fitting, halter neck dresses of the disco era. To maintain the human pretense, wearing my ring of polished white gold and diamonds everyday became a thing of the past. It now took up residence in the back of my desk drawer and only saw the light of day when I was in need of extra comfort.

“I felt like wearing it,” I replied, holding my hand up slightly with splayed fingers. The diamonds on the band glinted dimly in the light as I beca
me entranced with it, tracing the leaf-shaped pattern with my eyes over and over again.

“Hmmm… I like it when you wear it.”

He resumed twirling my ring around and around, the band tickling the junction where the base of my finger met my palm. It was an incredibly small gesture, but one of stunning intimacy. My husband was proudly proclaiming me his wife all over again, while we huddled together in between his sock drawer and our overflowing laundry hamper.

Here, we get precious insight into Alice’s life. We see a fresh bit of info that sheds light on her character without being overly-Alice. A touching moment with Jasper becomes a calm before the storm as the events of Edward’s departure shake all their lives.

Part of what’s so great about this story is the theme that regardless of the circumstances that surround our loved ones, our lives are still our own. We see each family member mourning the loss of Edward’s human love, but each and every one has their own life to worry about. To me, that makes the fictional Cullens very real in this story. Normally, it’s simply Rosalie who is self-absorbed, but here, we simply see that Edward is disrupting their lives, and although they love both Bella and Edward, his choice is affecing his family negatively. Ironically enough, I love how human it is.

The segment that touched me probably the most was Emmett’s, surprisingly. While I was expecting waterworks reading Alice’s and Esme’s chapters, it was Emmett’s brotherly love for Bella that caused me to bust out the Kleenex. Here, we see Emmett’s adorable frustration while shopping for groceries– trying to make their move across country look more realistic.

I let out an incoherent cry of aggravation at my disobedient thoughts, earning me an inquisitive glance from another patron until he caught me looking at him and scurried away, eager to be out of my off-putting presence. I paused by the doors in the refrigerated section, resting my palms against the glass and pressing my weight onto my hands. I let the cold settle around me in an invisible embrace, as I filled my head with images of pasteurized milk and wondered at the differences between 2 percent and non-fat.

But like many times over the past 38 hours, I quickly slipped back into thoughts of Bella and my own unhappiness.

Being around Bella was as comfortable as breathing in my opinion, despite the effort it required. Yes, her blood and fragility made for a potentially lethal situation, but that all got pushed to the back of my mind when I spent time with her. When she looked at me, I knew she saw Emmett, her friend Emmett. I wasn’t vampire Emmett, I wasn’t dangerous Emmett, and I wasn’t untrustworthy Emmett, I was just a man. With Bella, I was as close to feeling human as I could ever be.

It was easy to forget my more sinister inner nature, because she forgot it too.

I allowed myself the luxury of vanishing into my Bella-centric memories one last time.

He goes on to describe a scene of him goofing off with Bella, and it’s just adorable. Their touching brother-sister relationship, as Emmett points out, is just as close as Alice’s and Edward’s, which I thought was a great analogy. So, if you’re in the mood for a story with a very creative format and very realistic Cullens, I suggest Six Silent Goodbyes.

Kassiah says: NGL, I hadn’t planned on reading this fic. Then I read BQOTFU and SnowWhiteHeart‘s amazing reviews and realized I couldn’t not read it. Six Silent Goodbyes is one of the most well-written, beautiful pieces of fiction that I have ever read. I just want everyone to read it, right now.

I wanted to pick out parts from each POV to share with you but don’t want to overwhelm you. Really, this is a short fic and a must-read for any Twilight fan. I love how VivaViva answered some questions for me, like how canon-Alice was able to leave Forks without telling Bella goodbye and what took place in the time between when Edward dropped Bella off at home following her ill-fated birthday party and when they go to school the next morning. This story is very thought-provoking, especially dealing with Emmett’s relationship with Bella, and Carlisle’s steadfast support of Edward.

Surprisingly, I had a hard time choosing a POV that was my favorite–they all offer such wonderful insight not only into their characters, but to Edward and Bella’s relationship, as well. I love them all, even Rosalie’s . One of my very favorite parts came from JPOV, which is in Chapter 2:

To make matters worse, Alice was insisting on thoroughly documenting the night. I was dreading having photos of an event that could so easily take a turn for the worst, but I knew Alice had been inspired by what she saw on T.V. and wanted to have as much of a “human experience” as possible. I could not deny her.

That was how I found myself clicking a camera shutter at Alice’s bidding.

Edward spoon feeding Bella ice cream. Click.

Bella throwing said ice cream at Edward when he laughed at her explanation of the wonders of the frozen treat. Click.

Edward trying and failing to coax Bella into dancing with him. Click.

When one camera was finished, Alice would hand me another. If Emmett were there, he would have called me “whipped hardcore,” but I was actually enjoying it.

I cannot tell you how much I want you to read this fic. It is, without a doubt, very worth your time, and I highly recommend it.