Esme was a savior. She was as stunning as she was kind. She took me and my friends in when her children were against it. When Leah was too rough with me, she comforted me. When the pack ridiculed, she offered her shoulder. She loved me like a son and treated me with a kindness and understanding that my mother could not.
I was the good kid. I stayed when they left because she asked. They all went, honorable Carlisle , caring Edward, along with my Alpha, his Imprint and my Esme. I stayed behind to watch her home and, sadly to watch the years pass by.
I watched as my packmates aged and became parents, then elders, then memories. I had some company. I used to always have company. For years it was Leah, but then Leah...Leah left.
Leah and I phased for many decades, reveling in our unending youth, but each year, she faded a little more. She faded when Claire's heart, in her 97th year, gave out. She faded when Quil followed her. She faded when Seth finally imprinted, aged and passed.
She faded when Sam died and her heart cracked when Sam's children and grandchildren aged and died as well. Some of his descendents were lucky enough to escape La Push and those she never followed up on. She claimed she had no obligation to them, but I knew the truth. She didn't want to see them die either.
One day Leah didn't come down for lunch when I called. She always came when I called these days. She's nothing like she used to be, no bitterness, no anger, just a faded, broken Leah. I'm not mad at her, I'd be the same if I didn't have her to look after.
I call again. And again, and again. I stand, stirring the food in the pot for many minutes, calling her name, willing her to come down.
The food is burning, but I stand and stir. Neither of us likes to eat alone so I stir and wait and call. The minutes turn to hours and I still call.
It's night now and the sausages and eggs are charred, leathery versions of what they should be. I get out more food to cook...its dinner and she'd want dinner. I cook in Esme's beautiful kitchen as tears fall down my ever young face because now I know. I eat alone tonight. Forever?
It took months for me to be brave enough to go to her room and there I found 5 scribbled words.
I'm sorry, but I can't.
I curse her for leaving me. I hate her for reducing our lifetimes of friendship to a sentence. And so, I never look for her. I now phase in the mornings, because I know she's a late riser. It helps. Without that packmind confirmation, in my heart, she'll live eternally. I hope she lives still.
I am the leader of La Push now...and Forks for that matter. Treaties are no longer necessary. I rule the land alone in the place of my Alpha and Beta. There is no pack, I run alone.
They will return soon now, now that everyone is dead. I stayed for Esme, but my heart has grown cold towards her. I hate her, them, for what they've done. They created us, in a way. Without them, we would have been normal.
I return to Leah's room and curl up in her bed. When they come back, maybe I'll leave to find her. Maybe I won't. The truth may end me too.
Author's Note: This is my first upload here. I'd be interested to know your thoughts and criticisms. Thanks for reading!
Disclaimer: SM wrote Twilight.
