-1Chapter 1

One Last Time

It was just like any other fall day in the year of 1918, but I had no idea that this season would change my life forever. "Hello, Edward." I said as I dusted the Mason house. I was a maid for the them.

"Hello, Viola." Edward replied.

"Lovely day, isn't it?" I asked him.

"Yes, I'm going over to Estella's." he told me. Estella was his perfect girlfriend, but not for long.

"Sounds good," I said as I forced a smile on my face. "I'll be sure to tell Ms. Mason." He smiled back at me and then left. I, like many other girls, was in love with Edward Mason. I tried to prevent myself from loving him, because all of his relationships turned out badly, I didn't want to be another girl who either gets her heart broken, or breaks Edward's. I was cleaning the house when the children outside were jumping rope to a song about the flu.

I had a little bird

Its name was Enza

I opened the window

And in-flu-enza

"Hello, Edward." I called out when I heard the door open.

"Hi." he replied, looking down at his feet.

"What's the matter?" I asked, putting down the bread that I was slicing.

"Estella has the flu." he replied.

"I'm sure she'll get better." I reassured him.

"I doubt that. Carlisle wouldn't ever let me see her. She'll probably be dead by tomorrow." I never saw him so upset or sad. It hurt me just to look at him.

"It's okay." I said. "She'll get over it."

"No, she won't. I was going to give her this." he said, handing me a small box. I looked inside it, and there was a ring.

"I'm so sorry." I said, handing him Estella's ring. He just nodded his head and looked away. "I promise that I'll do everything I can to help her." I said as I grabbed my thin sweater. "Do you mind if I leave now, or would you like me to prepare supper first?"

"I'm sure I can fix something up."

"I'll be off then." I said as I headed for the door. So, Edward didn't propose to me, but I couldn't just let him sulk there. I had to give him some hope. "Carlisle?" I asked when I walked through the doors of Estella's house.

"I'm over here." he replied. "Who's there?"

"Viola." I replied.

"You didn't bring Edward, did you?" he asked, cautiously.

"No, it's just me."

"Good." he said. I just looked at him, confused. "Her mother and father just died. It won't be long before she goes to."

"Trust me, she will stay alive as long as I'm here." I said. I couldn't do this to Edward. I grabbed a towel, soaked it in cool water, then placed it on her head. I continued doing this for about an hour until Carlisle said something.

"I'm going over to the Masons to see how Edward and Elizabeth are holding up. Edward's been through so much. First his father and now Estella."

"I'll stay here." I informed him.

"How's Edward?" I heard Estella croak.

"He's doing just fine. He'll be even better when you get over this cold." I told her.

"But why doesn't he visit me?" she asked.

"Carlisle doesn't want him to get, too." I said. "It's not Edward's fault. He actually wanted to propose to you." After that, she had this far off look in her eyes. I just sat next to her and kept patting her face with the cool water.

"You should get some rest, too. Carlisle will be back soon." Estella whispered to me. I took her advice and slowly fell asleep beside her. When I woke up I found myself in my bed.

"Estella." I whispered to myself. I ran out of my room, but overcome by dizziness, I collapsed onto the floor.

"Viola, are you okay?" Carlisle asked me when I was back on my bed. I noticed that Edward was in the corner of my tiny room.

"I'm fine." I said. "What about Estella?"

"She passed away last night while you were sleeping." Carlisle said.

"Oh, Edward, I'm so sorry. If only I stayed awake." I hated myself now. I failed. "How did I get here?" I asked.

"Edward carried you over late last night when I finally allowed him to see Estella." This made things even worse. How could I do this?

"You better get your rest, Viola, I think that you might also have the flu. I have to check on Elizabeth now." Carlisle said as he left my room. Edward slowly inched closer.

"I'm so sorry, Edward." I mumbled. "I really did try."

"I know, she told me." he replied. My pale face lit up. At least I was able to keep her alive long enough so she could talk to him one last time. "She said that you stayed up with her all night. She told me everything that you talked about and what you told her. She also said to try to keep you alive because you risked your life to save her for me. That has to count for something, right?" he asked.

"No, it's just part of my job." I replied. I couldn't tell him that I loved him. It just wasn't right. I was a servant and he lived in a mansion.

"That's not part of your job. Why did you do it?" he asked.

"I wanted you two to be happy." I said. "It sounds lame, but I couldn't look you in the eyes every day without trying to do anything to help Estella."

"Well, now she's dead, and you'll probably pass away, too." I started to protest but I knew that I would only make things worse.