I was studying a surgical procedure at my favourite favourite desk in the Library, on the outskirts of London. I was doing the same old thing studying techniques on how to save peoples lives, which was my true key to happiness. The library was my second home, and the only home where I could actually find happiness, and peace. It was a nice escape from my home, which is anything but a 'home' in the emotional sence.
I'm not trying to be modest but for my age I am quite smart… And by that I mean book smart, in the science, maths and history section. If you dumped me in a random street in London I would most likely trip over my own feet and end up in a scary dark alley way.
I was studying the technique of a coronary bypass graft. And making notes as I watched the live stream video from Hopkins medical school in America. The nice librarian took pity on me being here and alone all the time and offered my her laptop to use. It was a nice gesture and although I never look for a pity party I really wanted to watch this video so I borrowed it from her.
I was profusely jotting down notes as the surgical procedure came to a close. When I got a distinct feeling that I was being watched. I got this feeling often as many people came up to me and told me that it was weird, and unhealthy that I spent so much time studding different surgical procedures at such a young age. But it is my passion and I honesty cant wait till I'm old enough to find a career in it- as I'm only fourteen.
They finally closed up Jane Dow a 52 year old cardiac patient, and I still had the feeling that I was being watched. So I quickly concluded my notes on the surgery and turned around to see who was watching me. I was shocked when I saw an extremely pale man reading my notes on the surgery with awe.
"Your incredibly talented. These notes are absolutely wonderful, your incredably observant and you even know all the correct medical terms." The man spoke to me. To be honest with you I am really not a people person, I'm shy and usually quite scared of people.
"Thank you sir." I muttered, I was wondering who this man was and why he was talking to me. I fixed the cardigan that I was wearing just to make sure he didn't see any of my injuries.
"I'm Dr Carlisle Cullen, I work up at the small Devonshire hospital." What, an actual doctor thought my work was good?
"I'm Jodie Brennan." He offered out his hand and I shook it. He noticed the bruise marks in the shape of large hands around my wrist. He chose to ignore them. What I couldn't help but notice was his hands were so cold, it was unnatural. I new people with diabetes, eating disorders and other medical conditions were more likely to have cold hands, but his were cold and fell like I was shaking hands with a marble stone.
"Nice to meet you Miss Brennan, you are quite talented for your age. May I ask how old you are?" Dr Cullen politely questioned me.
"I'm fourteen Dr Cullen. Please call me Jodie." He smiled at me and pulled up a chair and placed it next to mine.
"You may call me Carlisle if you choose but that is up to you. Your quite talented for your age, you are going to have a bright future ahead of you." Dr Cullen spoke.
"Thank you Dr Carlisle." I was quite proud of myself, I didn't usually feel that way.
"Do you mind if I take a look at your notes?" A real doctor wanted to look at my notes?
"Of corse you can look at them!" I said maybe a little to eager than it was meant to be. I reached over the desk to get them, to pass it to him. When my cardigan fell of my shoulders, exposing my back to Dr Cullen. He would be able to see all the cuts on my back, all the purple and black bruises and hand marks. He would too like my foster parents think that I was a good for nothing failure.
I turned to look at him with nothing but fear of rejection in my eyes.
This girl was literally a child prodigy, she was so smart and exceptionally talented for her age. Esme was on the way to meet me in the library to go dress she too would find this child fascinating, and I could explain her brilliance to Esme while we were choosing her a new dress. More she would choose the dress, and then I would purchase it. Only the best for My Esme.
"Do you mind if I take a look at your notes?" Her eyes lit up, she was obviously shocked and extremely excited. I had to admit that I was also very excited to look at her work.
"Of corse you can look at them!" she said with so much enthusiasm, I gave a bit of a chuckle. She reached over the desk to grab the notes and the back of her cardigan fell down exposing the beaten up surface of her back to me. It was obviously abuse. I had noticed hand marks around her right wrist when we shook hands, but I had hoped that she had tripped over and someone had grabbed her hand before she hit the floor. But I had hoped wrong. When Jodie had noticed that the back of her cardigan had fallen she turned to face me with fear, and sadness in her eyes. She didn't say anything but just broke down in tears. She was silently crying her heart out, metaphorically. I took a strange liking to this girl, and I never usually did that with humans, or my patients since I had cared for Edward, and Esme. I hugged Jodie l and held her tight in my arms. She hugged me back, and let the tears stream out of her eyes.
I saw Esme walk up the stairs and rush over to me, and Jodie the girl in my arms.
"Whats going on Carlisle who is the girl?" Esme whispered too low for human ears.
"I just saw her watching a live surgery on her laptop and I came over and introduced my self, she is very intelligent for her age." I explained to Esme, much to quite for Jodie to hear.
"Thats lovely darling, but I'm more concerned about the fact that she is crying and clinging on to you for dear life." Esme asked me, of corse my darling Esme would ask me that.
"I think she's being abused." I whispered to Esme. Esme gasped, I could tell that her motherly instincts were taking over.
"Hello Sweetheart." Esme said to Jodie. Jodie sniffle, and wiped her tears away. She looked extremly embarrassed.
"Hello, I'm so sorry for crying that was extremely unprofessional of me." Jodie said and looked at me apologetically and a obviously embarrassed facial expression.
"Jodie there is no need to be professional, your only fourteen." I told her.
"I'm Esme, Carlisle's wife." Esme introduced her self to Jodie.
"I'm Jodie Brennan. Pleased to meet you." Esme reached over and gently hugged Jodie, she slightly hugged back, obviously a bit taken aback.
"Jodie, I saw the marks on you back. Abuse is a serious thing Jodie, I think you need to talk to someone about this." I tried explaining to her.
"No it's my fault Dr Cullen, I'm just not good enough. I disappoint my parents."
"Your parents did this to you?" Esme questioned with a horrid look on you face.
"Yes, my foster parents." There were horrible people in the foster system.
"Jodie it isn't your fault. You may think it is because that is what they tell you, but not one ever deserves to be physically abused." Esme told Jodie. My beautiful Esme. She reached over and held Jodie's hand.
"Thank you Mrs Cullen." My Esme laughed a bit.
"Please just call me Esme." Jodie gave Esme's hand a suspicious look, but then smiled.
"Jodie you don't have to go back to that foster family you know Jodie. There are other families you can live with." I told Jodie.
"If I go back into the system, who knows how long I will have to wait before someone is willing to foster me. And they could be worse that the family I live with now." Jodie explained.
"You could come and live with us." Esme said. I looked at her shocked, the kids wouldn't react well to that- Rose and Edward probably wouldn't react well. I knew it was the right thing to do though, there was no way I could let little Jodie go back to her current living situation.
"I wouldn't want to impose." Jodie said to Esme, although I could see the hope on her face.
"You wouldn't be Jodie. We have other kids, who we have adopted. We could foster you just for the time being- if thats okay with you?"
"Yes, yes, that would be wonderful. But are you sure your other children would be okay with that?" Jodie asked Esme.
"I'm sure that they will understand darling." Esme told Jodie.
"Thank you so much." Jodie said, and kissed Esme on the cheek. Esme had always wanted a child. Although she had kids at home, they were different. They had already grown up, they didn't need us as parents as much as a fourteen year old would.
"You can come with us now If you like?" Esme told Jodie.
"We can call in child services and they can sort out your old foster family." I explained to Jodie.
"Okay, thank you. I would like that very much. You are very kind to me."
Esme and I packed up Jodie's notes, and things in to her bag. It said on the front of the tote bag 'Meh the element of apathy'. I thought that was quite humorous, I was also empressed that she knew the table of periodic elements.
"I just have to return this computer to the librarian." She stood up and picked up the laptop and walked it over to the librarian slowly as if trying not to trip over on the way. Jodie gave the computer to the librarian and hurried back over to Esme and I. She stumbled on the way, she was obviously very clumsy.