Cracks in the Pavement by VampiresHaveLaws
Review by phoebes.promise
Rating: M
Genre: Angst/Romance
Characters: Edward/Bella
Summary: Life is never perfect, the cracks always appear. "My Polaroid would show the face of a girl who has forgotten how to truly smile." Even the strongest of dreams can fail to become enough.
Complicated heartache and painful silence fuel this beautifully written love story by the talented VampiresHaveLaws, also author of Evading Edward.
It doesn't surprise me that he pretends I'm not here.
We've known each other for so long, I sometimes forget that hasn't always been the case. It feels like he's always been in my life, long before he'd spoken those first words to me all those years ago.
I can list off his favourite foods; his favourite sounds and sights without hesitation. At least I used to think I could—now I'm not as sure. Things are different now. He's different... I'm different. We're different.
Cracks in the Pavement chronicles the fragile bond between a selfless, beautiful Bella and her handsome, distant husband Edward. They’ve lost their way on the journey of love and life. Bella’s ambitions of a graduate degree and future teaching English were dismissed for Edward’s family and career. As successful and comfortable as their days may be, they’ve clearly drifted from their hopeful, romantic path.
Sometimes it's easier when he faces the other way, that way I don't have to lie beside a constant reminder of what is so close… mine, but also so far away.
It was never said out loud; it simply happened over time, the distance growing further apart, stretching like an elastic band that I keep willing to snap, but never does. It holds strong and fast and I hate it.
VampsHaveLaws employs precious, quiet moments within flashbacks to detail the innocence and strength of their beginning. Heart fluttering kisses and delicate gestures juxtaposed to the difficult reality they tread now is difficult and emotionally intense.
My breath is shaky as I exhale. Is it supposed to be like this... so all consuming? Because right now I don't think I'm awake. It has to be a dream because things like this just don't happen to everyone.
I shake my head slightly on the pillow. "I'm the lucky one," I reply, my fingers moving to his lips, tracing their smoothness.
His lips pucker against them for the smallest of seconds, the atmosphere around us changing like the seasons—winter to spring and back again. "I'm going to marry you someday, you know," he states, his words holding so much promise, like rings on certain fingers.
Woven with textured phrasing and vivid imagery, the story is an extremely palpable read.
I hurry along, my hood getting blown from my head as the wind picks up and bites at my skin, tendrils of hair weaving in front of my vision again and again, willow branches wild in the breeze.
The layered, complicated personalities of the minor characters also threaten from the periphery. A few appear anxious to fill the gaps of this desperate relationship.
I can't help but feel that jealousy all over again as I remember her attention towards my husband, even if it wasn't anything more than being polite. I don't know her, yet a big part of me naturally wants to.
Cracks in the Pavement maintains a mature, complex and painfully realistic plot, not to be missed by readers who crave a brilliantly told, angsty tale.
I am so in love with this story. It is incredibly written and makes your heart ache. To everyone who isn't aware, it is also nominated for a Sunflower Award for "Best All Human Story" so show some love & vote starting May 4th.
http://thesunflowerawards.blogspot.com/p/nominations_21.html