Honestly...

One of the things that still grips me, even knowing the outcome of the saga and all that transpires from the first pages of Twilight through the last of Breaking Dawn, is Bella's honesty with Edward. It would have been so easy for her to hide from him; her thoughts were already blocked from his unique ability to mind-read. And as frustrating as it was for him to not know what was on her mind, she was as willing to share with him everything she was thinking... especially before she became his protector.

Over the course of the series Bella transforms not only from a human form to one of an immortal, but also from a clumsy and awkward girl to a graceful and agile woman. It's easy to attribute all of her physical changes and abilities to the vampire-characteristics we admire in the novels. But I see so much more of a change in her due to the process of falling in unconditional love, getting married, giving birth to a child, and in essence... maturing into a woman.

Bella's journey, although set in a mystical story with monsters, magic and suspense, is a timeless tale of a simple girl growing up and trying to make the right choices. Throughout Twilight, Bella is in constant need of protection from Edward, his "lifestyle", and other outside influences. Of course we find Edward coming to her defense time and time again. And so begins New Moon, another story of her rescue at Edward's hands. I believe the hardest thing for him to do was to walk away, and that he really did think it was the best option. But here comes the twist... and as you read the books you can feel the transition... Bella's life, her every breath, is about saving him, her true love, at all costs. She becomes Edward's protector and in so doing, begins to hide her thoughts from him. This cross-over develops further throughout Eclipse and Breaking Dawn. She doesn't hide her thoughts merely to protect his life, but to protect his heart. It's ironic. The greatest gift she can give him, and at the end of the saga we witness this (with tears in your eyes if you're anything like me), is her unshielded heart, her naked emotions, her true, unguarded self. It's all he ever wanted. So Bella comes full circle for her Edward.

Our natural instincts for self-preservation usually result in caution. Bella's actions are the opposite. Of course we wouldn't expect anything different from her, now that we know her, and in the context of a romance novel. But would you be completely honest with the object of your fascination, especially when you knew that you didn't have to be? She could so easily have hidden her responses, masked her love in some way. I suppose that's the attraction. We don't often see in real-life a love story so compelling, we don't witness the emotion, or the commitment. This type of love, is it only seen in the pages of a book or are we missing something here? Perhaps if we tried being as honest with our "Edward" as Bella is, then it wouldn't be so outrageous to think that this soul-mate/once in a life-time/unconditional true-love romance could exist, and that it could develop so quickly.

We get all wrapped up in pretenses, in what others see in us, in what we want the world to think, that we often allow that special someone to pass us by. Bella simply put herself out there, exposed the raw nature of her emotion. She didn't run, she didn't hide, she didn't make excuses for her feelings... She knew what she wanted and she pursued it... Him. And in so doing, she found herself in the deepest love a human (or perhaps any creature... fairytale or otherwise) might experience.

So maybe that's the secret, the missing piece, the answer to those of you searching and coming up empty or broken or not fully satisfied. Just be honest... with yourself and with the object you desire. Bella was and look where it got her. It's not so surprising then to see how quickly and completely Bella's and Edward's love grew and transformed their lives, and the lives of those they touched... ours.

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