Well, I
actually found that writing Esme POV was really hard to not make too
repetitive… I hope you guys find it beneficial! Here is chapter 20,
previously in Bella and Edward's POV, now in Esme's. This chapter
was asked by Twyfan.Chapter 20 Esme POV
I sighed exasperated and sunk ungracefully into the hard hospital chair. Carlisle had reminded us that we needed to keep up the human pretence which meant we couldn't all stay at Bella's side, watching her like a hawk. I know that she needed to rest, and Carlisle had assured me many times that she will wake up when she's ready. However, that doesn't soothe my nerves. Right now, we are all sitting in the hospital cafeteria, except for Edward who miraculously kept avoiding his 'human moments'. I would have sulked if I wasn't supposed to be the mother figure. I truly hated being seen as the sensible, sentimentalist all the time, but what can I say? I am a mother and we all wish for a break- it doesn't mean we would take that break if we were given the opportunity.
We
all stared, morose, in different directions- ignoring our food. To
pass the time, I practised finding particular voices and isolating
them; it helped to calm me and it got me concentrating on something
different. A particular voice aught my attention.
"Wait, just
let me call my family, they are anxious to see your eyes open." I
jumped up suddenly.
"Bella's awake." I explained and they
all rose fluidly to make our way back to her room. Something Edward
had said upset her as we could heard her heart beat getting faster
and stronger as we approached her.
"Calm down Bella." Edward
pleaded and I could feel Jasper's wave of calm spreading before
us.
"Bella, its okay honey." He soothed as he walked in and I
followed closely behind. As soon as I saw her awake I couldn't help
but feel the joy and pit overwhelm me at finally seeing her with some
life.
Oh Bella! How are you feeling?" I
asked anxiously. Her brow puckered as she frowned slightly.
"Fine."
She whispered and Jasper shook his head. My smile faltered as I
realised that not only was she still in pain, but she is also still
trying to be strong. Obviously, I admired her strength, but it was
unnatural. There is no way she could be happy with hoe she was forced
to mature.
"No need to be brave dear. Let me get you some more
pain medication." Carlisle said warmly, trying to make her
comfortable. While he gave her the medicine, nobody knew what to say
and Bella looked fearful. Carlisle cleared his throat significantly
and Bella closed her eyes. I wanted nothing more than to tell my
husband to leave her alone, but I knew that this conversation was
needed. Still, nobody spoke, so Carlisle began.
"Well, I
will tell you what we know and we will take it from there, okay?"
She nodded hesitantly.
"Five days ago- after you called Alice-
we rushed to your house to find you alone and in a critical state."
Her eyes snapped open in bewilderment as mine closed. I leaned
against my husband for support as I remembered the scene that had
greeted me when I barged through her front door.
"We brought you
here immediately and you went into surgery." He continued as the
memories fluttered around in my mind; the unbearable hours of waiting
while my children complained worriedly and I remained
tongue-tied.
"Your left arm is broken. You have four broken ribs
and a gun-shot wound on your upper-right thigh. There were
complications as one of your ribs punctured your lung." The gravity
of her injuries made me want to crawl into a hole and never come out.
I heard Bella gasp and I finally opened my eyes; breaking the flow of
visions in my head.
"When the nurse cleaned you up, we found
carvings at the base of your hairline." Nobody knew what the cuts
stood for; C.S.. Hopefully Bella will be able to explain. The
atmosphere suddenly shifted and I knew what we were about to talk
about.
"You were also hiding a significant amount of bruises."
I could detect the subtle hint of hurt in his voice; he wanted Bella
to trust him. I sighed. Trust
will take a while to build up. I looked at Bella expectantly; I
wanted the truth. She looked down.
"Who hurt you Bellsy?"
Emmett prompted but she just shook her head; still not making
eye-contact.
"Where's my dad?" She asked suddenly and I felt
a little pang. Carlisle stumbled into my side and it was my turn to
support him as I squeezed his arm. Carlisle had always considered
himself as Bella's father and she seemed very anxious about her
'real' father.
"I am sorry Bella, but we can't find him or
get a hold of him." Alice answered and it was true. was
no where to be found when his daughter was in a critical state.
However, Bella looked relieved which puzzled me.
"So
Bella, how about we play cards?" Rose said thoughtfully. After all,
she needs to recover. None of us were about to give up with her. She
will tell us the truth and she isn't going anywhere without us
until we find who has hurt her. However, we wouldn't make her
uncomfortable- yet.
"Sure." She smiled.
I was pretty
surprised when Bella beat us all at cards. I mean, we all loved her,
but she was human! When the boys noticed that she was winning- they
really did try hard; so competitive… Bella was smiling and
obviously enjoying herself which warmed my heart. We played for about
an hour before Bella's face fell without warning. My mind
automatically jumped to the conclusion that she was in pain.
"It's
Marc." She whispered. "He is the one who hurts me. He-he" She
struggled to get the words out. "Marc abuses me and I want it to
stop." She was shaking from the effort of forming those words and
ears started to roll down her face. Oh my baby! Denial was resounding
in my head. She was abused by her father?! How dare that man
even call himself that?! Carlisle who had left to attend to a patient
heard Bella's confession and came immediately.
"Bella, are you
ready to talk?" It was probably not his most tactful moments, but
she may change her mind. She nodded before crying;
"Please just
listen to me and don't hate me." Her words seemed ridiculous to
me- I could never hate her.
"Never." Edward confirmed my
feelings and Bella seemed to steady herself emotionally before she
started.
I felt physically sick when she describes the night
her adoptive mother left. What she must have gone through… She was
five years old for crying out loud! How could someone be so, be so-
heartless?! You could probably see the steam coming out from my
ears.
"And so we moved here." She shuddered. "Where he has
abused my daily ever since. But of course, I can't give him all the
credit." She let out a short, hard laugh. At this point, I was
slightly worried for her. She was bitter, sarcastic. All
understandable emotions, but I couldn't let them take over her
smile. "Jessica and Lauren probably gave me a
quarter of my injuries and Tyler too from time to time. The rest of
the school just watched." Her little body was trembling with rage
and despair. As much as I wanted to go and harm those idiotic humans,
I was more concerned about Bella. She was fluctuating between the
strong, butter Bella and the vulnerable, sad Bella. Edward rose to
give my daughter a hug which she accepted. However, that little
improvement did not lift my mood. This
wasn't supposed to happen. Bella
was supposed
to live a happy, normal life. She was supposed
to have loving, gentle parents. She
was supposed
to be with us.
All
I could do was stare at my daughter. I did my best to block out all
the scars and bruises; trying to see the real her. I needed to
reassure myself that my Bella was still alive in there. That there
was something worth saving. Bella started to shrink within herself
and I swiftly looked around the room for the source of her
discomfort. I found Edward glaring in her direction, but his eyes
were glazed. He wasn't glaring at
her. Edward's expression suddenly changed as he snapped
out of his daze and looked at Bella apologetically.
"Bella,
you don't deserve anything you have been through. You deserve
friends. We are here and will always be. We will never hate you
only what happened to you. We all love you." Sincerity rang through
the room at Edward's words. He reached for Bella's hand ever so
slowly and for once, she relaxed at his touch. It took her a few
minutes to clam down completely. Just as she seemed content, a male
nurse entered the room with her dinner. She became as stiff as a
board and her eyes widened in panic. Jasper took the tray from the
nurse.
"thank you very much." He said curtly and practically
threw the man out. As quickly as it came, the tension left Bella's
body as soon as the door closed. I felt Carlisle's stance change
and I looked into his eyes to find discomfort and pain.
"Bella,"
He started reluctantly.
"Please don't Carlisle. Please don't
ask." Bella's face held understanding and pain.
"You know I
have to." My husband said regretfully and I could feel uneasiness
crawling though me. What was Carlisle talking about?
"Do you
want them to-" He trailed off while looking at the family.
"No,
please don't leave me!" She exclaimed loudly, taking me by
surprise; she hadn't shown how attached she was to us- to fully at
least, and it helped that much more to know she needed us as we
needed her.
"You all love me?" She squeaked out
uncertainly.
"Of course." If I had to remind her a hundred
times, I will.
"No matter what?" I had to lip read as no sound
left her mouth.
"No matter what." We all chorused confidently.
She closed her eyes once again and leaned back for support. She gave
one, short nod.
"Okay." She mumbled.
Bella, has Marc ever
hurt you in any other ways than violent abuse?" Carlisle asked
warily and I felt my heart drop. No! No, it couldn't be… I felt
Carlisle's arm tighten around my waist as I slumped against
him.
"Yes." And my world came crumbling down.
Phew! Well that certainly wasn't my best piece of writing… Sorry if I disappointed anybody out there! I find Esme very hard to write. I believe that she is a character who is often overlooked and that actually, she is more than it seems, but I didn't know how to portray it… Anyway, thanks for reading!
