A/N: Please Enjoy
He Sees Me
Chapter 2
I can't help but look at Edward when I awake. He is still sitting at my bedside, sleeping in that hard-backed chair. His head is at an angle, and I know he must be uncomfortable but he is here. I can hear voices outside my room, where everyone else has gathered. I shift around in my bed, trying to sit up, but everything hurts. I guess I groaned aloud because Edward pops up and the voices outside stop.
"Bella, how are you feeling?" Carlisle asks as he walks into the room. He heads straight for my chart, not surprisingly. He is the best doctor in the Pacific Northwest, and an amazing father figure. Something I've always wanted. "Carlisle, I'm fine."
Of course, it's a lie, and I don't miss the glance shared between Carlisle and Edward. Edward has yet to say anything, and I have yet to look him in the eye now that he is awake. I can't face him because it's too much. However, that doesn't stop him from expressing his opinion. "Bella, you are not fine!" I can hear the anguish in his voice, and I am a bit shocked at his exclamation. Still, I don't look at him.
Carlisle puts my chart down, and informs me that he'll get a nurse to administer more pain medication. He excuses himself, and I feel dread overtake me. Leaving me alone with Edward is the last thing I want now. It's also something I've always wanted since we first met. I can still remember when I met him during Junior year of high school. We ended up in the same English Literature class, and he sat next to me in the second row. From that point forward, we worked on all our projects together, studied together, and became the best of friends. We were only ever friends…
I look over at Edward, finally, to see him staring at me with an indecipherable look on his face. I used to be able to tell what each of his looks meant, but after not seeing him for six months it seems that I've lost my touch. Again, I'm not surprised.
"Bella, Bella…what, how?" I know what he's asking, but I don't think I'm ready to talk about it. I am so ashamed, and it's worse because Edward is here to see all my shame. With six months of not seeing my friends. I was able to hide that shame. Six months of emotional abuse, of not being good enough, of being afraid to do something wrong. Having my arm grabbed, or being shoved "accidentally", or just wondering when I was going to be hit was my paralyzing life for six dreadful months. I had no one to protect me, and it was all my doing.
I ostracized myself from Edward, his parents, Rose, Emmett, and everyone else. All because he wanted me to. Now, here I lay in this hospital bed with them all by my side. They're all here for me, because of me. Edward is here, and I know he wants answers. I can tell by the way his mouth opens and closes two more times before he speaks again.
"Bella, how long has this been going on?" His voice is so calm, which I do know is used to hide his underlying rage. "How long has James been hitting you?" I can't help but grimace before I respond with covered ire,
"This was the first time, but it doesn't matter. I guess now that everyone knows what I've been up to, he won't get the chance to do it again. Will he?" Edward's eye brows draw together, but he stays quiet. I can tell he's trying to understand what I meant by this being the first time, but I'm not lying. Until now, he had never hit me before. A shove or grabby hands were nothing. Impatience is nothing, but being pushed down a flight of stairs is everything it shouldn't be.
"I can't believe I wasn't there to protect you. This should have never happened to you, Bella. You didn't deserve this, you know," he grabs my hand again and a sad smile encompasses his face. "It's not your fault." I don't know what to say to him, but I don't need to say anything because tears start streaming down my face. Edward just whispers the sweetest platitudes until I calm down.
"We can talk later Bella, but I want you to rest my sweet girl."
He Sees Me
A/N: Please review and recommend