Chapter one- The rosy red apple

Ohio, 1911

It was a rather warm day. The beam of the sun softly shone through the glass window, and landed on a young maiden, who was lying on her bed. She had creamy skin, slight freckles, dark-honey coloured eyes and unruly caramel curls which reached mid back. She stared wistfully out of the window, watching the world go by. Her sketchbook was open in front of her, as she drew the scene which her eyes were so intently focused on. She yearned to go outside, yet her mother had made her stay in, because apparently, she spent too much time in the great outdoors. The girl sighed. She hated not being able to amble freely through the soft grass, looking up at the cloudless blue sky. She wished to twirl round in her dress, the sun glowing on her face.

"Esme?"

A voice broke her out of her daydream. She sighed.

"Yes mother?" She asked.

Her mother came upstairs.

" Darling, I think I've kept you in long enough. Go on, go out for a bit- but an hour maximum, and not a minute over." He mother said, smiling slightly.

Esme beamed, and hugged her mother. After thanking her, she slipped on her boots and rushed outside.

The warm air collided against her, and she sighed in content. She ran through the fields for a while, until she was a safe distance from her house. Then she slipped her boots and stockings off. She felt the soft grass stroking her bare feet and giggled at the sensation. Twirling round, she looked up into the blue, and grinned happily. Just then, she stopped. She noticed a red apple lying on the ground near her. Picking it up, she took a bite. It was slightly sweet, but it wasn't the richest apple she had ever tasted. She looked up to see where it had magically appeared from- and saw a very tall, old apple tree. Smiling in delight, she examined it. It was sturdy and had many branches- it begged to be climbed. And Esme could see at the very top, a juicy, deep red apple. She licked her lips appreciatively. It looked too good. Too good to reach. But not for Esme. She smirked, and hoisted herself up onto the first branch. Then she reached her arms up and grabbed onto the second, and soon began climbing up the apple tree like a monkey, as if it were second nature to her. Finally, with one last heave, she scrambled onto the highest branch. She looked out at the world, and laughed freely. Everything looked so small, so beautiful. She could see her house, she could see her fathers field he worked in, she could see her school. It was all like a picture out of a fairytale book Suddenly, she realized why she had climbed up in the first place. The apple. And sure enough, there it was, just an arms length away. She leaned up, and plucked it from the branch- and lost her balance. It was just a slight wobble, but it sent a jolt of panic through her, making her lose her grip and then slip from the tree, the apple still clutched tightly within her hands. As she screamed, she felt the world zooming past her. Down she went, until she landed with a thud onto the grass.

She noticed two different kinds of pain. The first came from her head, and accompanying that was a warm liquid around her hair. Blood.. She thought uneasily. This pain was practically nothing however, compared to the immense pain shooting up her right leg. As she peered down at it, she began crying at the sight of her poor, mangled limb.

" Help!" She screamed, hoping someone would hear her. Sure enough, he father came rushing over.

"Esme!" He gasped. He gingerly lifted his dear daughter into his arms, and lifted her onto his vehicle. He told his fellow worker, Fred, to alert his wife of what had happened, and that he would be taking Esme to the hospital. As Fred left, Esme's father started driving the poor, sobbing 16 year old to get her fixed up.

Esme woke up to voices. She vaguely wondered where she was, when it all came flooding back to her. She had fallen from that damned tree, and her father had found her. As she focused on the scene around her, she realized she was in her fathers arms, and he was talking to a nurse.

" Name?" The nurse asked.

" Her name is Esme Anne Platt. I'm her father. I found her in the fields like this and immediately brought her here.." Her father explained hurriedly.

" The doctor will be with you shortly. For now I shall take her to her room."

The nurse took Esme into her arms, as Esme's father kissed her poor bloodied forehead.

" Get well soon dear." He said, before shaking his head and leaving.

She gazed out of the window, sighing. Esme had been taken to a room, and was lying on a bed, her mangled leg hidden by blankets. Her head was still bleeding, and she felt extremely light headed, but no matter. She guessed she deserved this for her foolish behaviour. But then, she realized, if she hadn't done this, she wouldn't have got her prize. She remembered the apple in her pocket, and the bubble of laughter escaped her lips. She was pretty proud of herself for achieving such a goal, as she had never climbed a tree quite so high. But then again, she remembered with a wince, she had never fallen out of one either. She continued to gaze out of the window.

" How I wish I was out there now... even if she landed me in this hospital, mother nature shall always remain my dearest friend.." She murmured.

" She is a faithful friend, miss."

Esme started, and looked up- and most definitely seized breathing. For standing before her was the most beautiful creature she had ever laid eyes on. He had pale skin, smooth and soft. His hair was a golden, straw colour, combed neatly into place. His eyes, Esme noticed, were divine. They were a gentle gold, with flecks of soft brown. He was wearing a doctor's outfit, and Esme was surprised to realize he was a doctor, though he looked scarcely over 23. The realization hit her. He was her doctor. Her angel.