A/N – (I don't own twilight or the characters in any way. All credit goes to Stephanie Meyers)

He's coming home.

Esme's P.O.V.

"I've been drafted..." Those three words echoed in my ears as I stared at the wall in front of me. Charles had been drafted out to war exactly one year today.

"They want me to be gone by tomorrow morning..." I remembered it all; his face, his eyes, his posture, his lips. He was so angry yet so...scared.

I tightened my grip on the thin piece of paper I held in my shaking hands.

I had been free for a year, one whole year. My life was...normal, I was becoming the Esme I remembered. The bruises were faded and my heart was repairing itself. And now, after 12 whole months spent in absolute bliss, my heart had shattered once again. My dreams had been destroyed by the cruel truth of reality and I could feel myself falling into the cold hands of my spiralling despair. I was to be ruined again. Ruined and played with by the one man I had prayed not to see again.

Esme,

I'm delighted to inform you that I'm coming home at last. The days have been long, lonely and cold without my dear wife.

It's been so long. I can't describe what it was like without you to warm my bed.

Don't worry my love, for my tortured heart is waiting to be healed.

Waiting for you,

Charles.

Xxx

The letter was worn in my hands from being read so many times. I was able to recite every word he had dared to write.

A year with no word from him, nothing, and now, as my hopes were lifted again, they were dashed. He was coming home. This man whom I knew nothing of was coming home. And, through all of this, what was I to do?

He was a stranger to me. I didn't know him, I had never known him, nor did I intend to get to know him. When he struck me, it was better to think of him as the stranger I knew him to be, rather than the man I was tied to. He was cold, distant, and cruel but still, I was forced to love him.

"Mrs. Evenson?" Maggie's voice alerted me to the silent tears running down my face. Her concerned face was all I could make out through the blurriness I was suffering.

"Maggie?" My voice was strangled with the determination not to sob. She couldn't see me like this.

"What's wrong?"

I shook my head, wiping my eyes so I could see her clearly.

"Oh my dear, nothing's wrong. I'm just so...overwhelmed." I breathed in shakily before exhaling just as unevenly. "Charles is coming home."

I let my own words sink in. Charles was coming home. He was coming home. My mind seemed to go into a frenzy as I let the truth take me into her arms.

"That's wonderful news. Oh, Esme, I'm so happy for you!" She walked over to me, her apron over her dress, enveloping me into a tight hug. "You must be so relieved."

I sought comfort in my house maid. Her strong arms were the only things that kept me standing.

"Indeed, I am. It's been hell not knowing what would happen to him," I lied.

"You should inform your parents," she commented.

"I shall, you're right. They'll be ecstatic."

She let me go, her eyes watering like mine. Her lined face glowing as she smiled at me.

"Go on then," she laughed.

"Maggie, it's half past six in the evening, I doubt they'll want visitors now."

"Go!" She pushed.

I sighed, smiling at her. "Fine." I threw my hands down by my sides, walking over to where my coat hung limply over the stair banister.

"But if I come back, I did say..."

"Esme." She folded her hands over her chest. "They'll want to know, trust me."

And I knew she was right, she always was. Thing is, I didn't want to inform my parents. We weren't exactly on good terms with one another. It was more or less right to say they hated me now, their shameful, good for nothing daughter. I was a disgrace to them because I couldn't protect myself from the monster I lived with.

The walk was short. My parents only lived about 10 minutes away from me. The cold air swirled around me dishevelling my caramel curls as they flew around my face. I caught my reflection in the house windows as I walked up to the door. I looked haunted. My eyes were grey with defeat and my face, although healed from physical abuse was now twisted in unnamed agony.

The green door opened suddenly and I jumped from the sudden intrusion my thoughts had suffered.

"Esme?" My Father's voice filled the tension I felt. His features were confused, questioning to why I was here.

"Father," I replied.

We stared at each other, our identical eyes scanning each other.

"What do you want?" His tone was uninviting, of course. He didn't want me stirring up any more trouble than I already had.

"Please can I come inside?"

The evening breeze was chilly and it had picked up in speed. I was sure there was a storm brewing.

"Whatever you need to say can be said here." I felt moisture building up in my eyes. His words stung more than what I would've wished.

"James, let her in." My mother's face peered over my father's shoulder as she too looked at me.

Reluctantly my father moved out the way, stalking back into the hallway behind him.

"Esme, come here." My mother's arms were outstretched and relief washed over me.

"Mother," I whispered. She smiled slightly and I wrapped my arms around her fame as she did the same to me.

"What's happened?"

I took a sharp intake of breath as she questioned my sudden appearance.

"I have good news," I answered.

"And what's that?"

I pulled away from my mother so I would see her reaction.

"Charles is coming home."

Fear flashed in her eyes for a second before she composed herself again.

"That's wonderful news, Esme." She hugged me again, but a single tear escaped my eye. My father didn't miss it and his displeased expression became a deeper frown as he watched his unthankful daughter loose her resolve.

"He's planned to arrive at noon tomorrow."

She stroked my hair as my father walked away.

"I can't express how relieved I am for you, dear."

I grimaced. "I'm sure you can't," I whispered sarcastically.

She frowned, but rubbed my arm in support. "You have another chance, Esme. Things will be better."

And I knew of what she was speaking of. She was talking of the shameful abuse I suffered at the hands of my husband, the shameful abuse she refused – along with my father – to stop.

"Come with me tomorrow," I whimpered.

"Of course I will." She squeezed me once more before letting me go.

The walk home took longer than the walk there and my sleep was disrupted with vivid nightmares I knew would become reality.

Charles was coming home. He was coming back, alive. My body was to be destroyed again and my mind was to be ruined.

I let the darkness of the night disguise my tears as I sobbed into my pillow. Anguished screams bubbled from my throat as I thought of the freedom I was to lose. How could god do this to me? Was I that bad of a person? Did I really need punishing for having prosperities and hope?

Was it right to feel this towards my husband, or was it sick, twisted? I had so much hope for my future, for my life. And now, as the sun rose in the horizon, it signalled the end of my freedom. For today, I was to be captured and damned and there was no way out.

A/N – Just a little something I came up with. Exams have really filled up my spare time so sorry about being so slow in updating current stories. I will update though, so don't worry.

If you enjoyed this, Please Review! I'm thinking about writing the scene in the train station, where Esme is unfortunately, reunited with Charles.