Welcome all. Paradise is the story of Esme's first year or so as a vampire. It details her friendship with Edward, her struggle to control her newborn instincts, and of course, her blooming love for Doctor Carlisle Cullen. I hope you enjoy these chapters as you read on. Reviews are always appreciated.
*The Twilight Saga and all its characters belong to the lovely Mrs. Stephenie Meyer. No copyright infringement is intended.
Chapter One:
Falling
The summer months were tiring for a farmer's daughter, especially if she didn't have any brothers. While they had plenty of hired help on the fields, Mr. Platt still pulled his daughter out of school to have one more set of hands helping out.
Esme Platt was reluctant to work in the fields with her father, but it was better than staying inside all day in the kitchen like her mother, or inside the school house like her friends. She was more at home outside surrounded by nature, and by the end of the summer, she was usually sunburned and dirty.
When her father dismissed her from the fields for the day, she ran home to eat supper before venturing back outside and disappearing inside her imagination.
On a day like today, when the weather was warm and the sun was setting, she slipped out the back door and wandered down to the empty fields by the river, the grass reaching her waist after being untended for so long.
The earth was cool beneath her bare feet, her hands sweeping gently across the grass as she wandered through the field, the sun in her eyes as she watched it sink towards the horizon.
She imagined walking forever, never returning to her home, doing as she pleased and forgetting her worries about her daily life.
Yes, she thought with a smile, I could stay out here forever.
The fields were her escape from everyday life, where she could come to after she finished her daily chores in order to lose herself in a world of fantasy. She had imagined being an explorer and travelling every inch of the green sea, discovering hidden treasures that others had lost amidst their journeys.
The landscape seemed to go on forever at this time of day, and it seemed like she was the only one left in the world. But that was all right, if she was the last person on earth, all she needed was her imagination to keep her company.
She wandered to the lone tree that stood in the middle of the grassland and sat down, leaning back against the rough bark. She looked out onto the landscape, her parents' voices echoing in her head.
"A young lady should not be outside getting dirty, she should be inside, tending to the house." Her mother always seemed to say.
"What good will it do to dwell on daydreams?" Her father always asked her. "A sensible young woman should be focusing on the tasks at hand, not losing herself in frivolous daydreams."
Esme sighed, feeling a strange urge to disappear completely. She stood and looked up at the large tree, its branches looked sturdy enough.
Without a second thought, she grabbed hold of a branch and hoisted herself up, not caring about the consequences she would face when she got home.
With each branch she climbed, she felt more and more free. Esme hadn't had much fun in the short sixteen years she had been on earth, and she savoured every enjoyable moment like it was a drug keeping her alive.
Higher and higher she went, until she could climb no more. She perched on the highest branch that could accompany her weight and sat back, looking out onto the land around her.
Now, she could see much more than the never-ending grass – she could see the river in the distance, the sun reflecting off the water so it looked not only blue, but yellow, orange, and red as well. She could also see the trees that lined the field, ranging from short and tall, bushy and lanky.
"Miss Platt?" The voice startled her, and she grabbed hold of another branch to aide her balance. She looked down to see one of her father's helpers looking up at her, his hand above his brow to shield his eyes from the sun as he looked up. He smirked when he saw that he startled her. "Sorry, but don't you think your parents would have a fit if they saw you up there?"
"I'm sure they would Liam," she sighed at the boy. He was a few years younger than her, but he was already taller. His hair was matted down under his newsboy cap, his shirt untucked at the back and his hands and face smeared with dirt. "But, they're not here, are they?"
"No, they're not." He nodded, agreeing. "But I could just as well go fetch them, couldn't I?"
Her eyes narrowed. "I hardly think you would do that to a friend."
Liam shrugged and gave a goofy grin. "You never know." He turned slightly as if going to venture back to the house.
"All right, all right, I'm coming down." She said in annoyance. "Thank you so much for ruining my fun." She added sarcastically.
"It was my pleasure." He bowed his head teasingly.
She stood shakily, the branch swaying slightly. She eased herself down one branch at a time until she was almost touching the ground...and then she stepped on a branch that was too small, and it snapped under the weight, sending her hurtling towards the ground. She didn't even have time to scream before she hit the ground. She heard a sickening snap before pain shot from her ankle to her knee, her leg lying in an odd position under her body.
"Esme!" Liam shouted, running over to her. He kneeled down at her side, blocking her view of the field as she slipped into darkness.
When she woke, she was seated in the car beside her mother who was frantically dabbing her forehead with a wet cloth.
"What...?" Esme asked, feeling disoriented. Her leg hurt badly, and her hand shot out to clutch her shin, only making it hurt more.
"You broke your leg, darling." Her father sighed. "What were you doing climbing trees?"
Esme opened her mouth to explain, but realized that her reason would not earn her any less scolding. "I'm not sure." She said instead.
Her parent's sighed in frustration.
"Where are we going?" She asked.
"The town doctor is away, so we're going to the hospital in Columbus." Her mother explained. "We'll be there shortly."
"How long was I unconscious for?" She asked, wondering how much time it had taken Liam to bring her up to the house while the housekeeper called for a doctor.
"About ten minutes," her father answered.
The rest of the car ride was silent, save for Esme's occasional gasps of pain.
About half an hour later, they arrived at the hospital in Columbus. The sun had dipped past the horizon, and only offered them a faint light as they made their way through the front doors and seated themselves in the waiting room.
The hospital wasn't busy this time of night, and the only people in the room besides Esme and her family were an old man, and a young boy with his family.
A young nurse walked around the corner, glancing down at her clip board before turning her attention on Esme, smiling slightly.
"Miss Platt, Doctor Reese will see you now," she said, turning slightly in the direction of the double doors at the end of the room.
Just as Esme was about to get up, a man ran around the corner, carrying a little girl in his arms, her face was a strange shade of blue. Hearing his approach, the nurse turned to face him, asking him what had happened.
"Sophie was playing with her toys when she accidently swallowed her doll's hairbrush." He said frantically. The girl looked to be crying, but no noise was coming out. Esme was frozen where she stood, unable to tear her gaze from the little girl.
"I'm sorry," the nurse apologized to Esme. "You'll have to wait a little longer. This problem is more severe."
The man and his daughter were quickly ushered through the doors, disappearing out of sight. Esme sighed and sat back down.
She hoped the little girl would be all right. It pained her to think that she would not make it, that she would pass because of lack of oxygen. Esme shuddered – no child deserved that.
Her leg throbbed as the minutes passed, and she started to worry that no one would ever tend to her leg. What if all the doctors were busy and she would be forced to wait the entire night? It was foolish to think that, but Esme's mind was in a state of worry at the moment, and she couldn't help the negative tone of her thoughts.
Finally, just when Esme was about to give up hope, she heard footsteps padding softly across the carpet. She looked up as a doctor walked around the corner, and she could have sworn that her heart skipped a beat.