Sorry it took a little while to update! I still love you all! (most of all my other half, violet!) And if Annabella is reading this, I was trying to get to know you on the lexicon some time ago, but i guess you didn't like me, so I'd like to try to become friends if that's okay? PM me if you're reading this!

Disclaimer: No, yada yada, I don't own Twilight/New Moon.

"I was born as Esme Anne Platt in 1895. When I was growing up, I had a good childhood, and I loved anything and everything." I paused to look at Bella. She was still looking interested, so I continued. "I loved the flowers, the birds, the animals, I loved to climb trees, and swing on the swing that was attached to our tree. Oh, I loved a lot." I paused again to look at Bella. She had that knowing smile on her face, and nodded her head wisely.

"Well, one day when I was 16," I continued. "I was swinging on the tree swing, and humming my favorite tune: a song that my mother used to sing before she put us to bed when we were little. I was looking up at the sky when I saw a bird resting on its nest, and singing along." I laughed, remembering how the bird looked at me curiously and started to chirp along. "'Well, hello, blue bird,' I'd said. I stopped my swing and decided that I had wanted a closer look at this beautiful creature." Bella flushed, and I smiled at her.

"I asked the blue bird if I could come up, and it twittered excitedly. I took that as an invitation, and began to climb my tree. I was half way up, and everything was perfect. I concentrated on my foot holes, and hand holds, and it was fairly easy. When I got all the way up, I sat on a sturdy branch, just one away from the magnificent bird. A few minutes later, the bird's companion joined him, and they began to chirp back and forth to each other, and then they sat down beside each other in the nest, still chirping to the other.

"I looked up at the clouds (they were always white and puffy) against the blue sky, and thought: I want to have a companion too. Everybody seems so happy with theirs. Ruby and Rose (twins) had married already. Cecile was going to be wed in a few weeks, so why wasn't I?" Bella scrunched her face up, and looked questioning. She looked pretty like that too. But no time for that, I must continue. "Well was there something wrong with me? I wondered. No. I scoffed at the idea.

"But time flew by, and by the time I realized it, the sun was setting. My father wouldn't be happy if I delayed dinner. I began my descent much too quickly and slipped, but luckily I caught myself on a branch. I went slower after that, but not slow enough. I was too worried about washing up, that I didn't see that there wasn't a foot hold there, and I lost my grip on my the branch, and fell backwards, tumbling all the way down. I tried to find purchase on another limb, anything, but I ended up hitting every one on the way down. I was in so much pain, and I couldn't stand up. I had no breath left in me, I had scratches everywhere, and everything hurt too much to move. But the thing that hurt the most was my leg. I will always remember the white, hot lightning and the sickening crack I heard as my leg snapped in two when I tried to stand."

Bella's face was horrified. "Oh my gosh," she said. "I know how you feel." She tapped her cast on her leg, and a knowing look crossed her face, then one of fury took its place. She was obviously remembering her incident with James. I patted her knee, and smiled. "I'm sorry," she said looking up. "I didn't mean to cut you off. Please continue."

I smiled again, and said, "It's alright." Then I continued. "My father heard my cry, and came out with a shot gun, thinking someone was hurting me. But when he saw me by the swing, crying, he came over, puzzled, to see what was wrong. I was crying so much by the time he got there, I couldn't speak. He got down on his knees and asked me what was wrong. When I didn't answer after the second time, he dropped the gun, and picked me up, and into the house. When we were in proper light, he saw the cuts and scrapes on my body, and set me down on the first piece of furniture he found. Luckily for me it was their bed."

Bella giggled, and then blushed furiously. "I'm sorry Esme! I did it again! I'm ruining it." She hung her head. I lifter her face and said, "Bella, dear. You did not interrupt me. It's fine. But are you sure you're not getting bored?"

She looked surprised. "Bored? I'm fascinated!" She blushed again. I laughed quietly, and said, "Good. I'm glad. So you want to hear the rest, then?"

"Oh, yes." She nodded her head eagerly, so I went on.

"Okay. Now when my father got me on the cot and saw all of my injuries, he called mother in the room, and told her to call the doctor. Mother came in with a wet rag, and began dabbing my face first. She told us that the doctor was away and that we needed to go to a hospital. So we all loaded up in the car and headed to the nearest hospital. On the way there, my mother asked me what happened. I had stopped crying by then, and told her in between sobs that I had fallen out of the tree. She gave me a look, and told me I shouldn't have been doing that. Then she asked why I was crying so hard. I told her I had just fallen out of a tree, and asked her if she was oblivious. She got mad and said 'No, I'm not, but it's only a couple scratches.'" I laughed at the memory, and Bella did too, only to blush right after. She sure does do that a lot, I thought.

"So," I continued, "when I felt like I could talk again (I had started crying again) I told them my leg was hurting badly, and I was in really intense pain. My father told me I had probably broken it, and then the rest of the car ride was silent, save for my violent sobs. When we finally made it to the hospital, it was after dark, and my parents took me to the Emergency wing. When the nurse took me to a room, my parent stayed in the waiting room, and I was grateful for the silence. The nurse told me my doctor will be right in, and to please hold for a minute. I said okay, and as soon as she left, he came in, looking strikingly beautiful." I paused and remembered the busy, but attractive face as he waltzed right in.

"Carlisle," said Bella with a grin on her face.

"Yes," I sighed. "And it was love at first sight. He introduced himself as 'Dr. Cullen' but told me to call him Carlisle. I remember blushing like mad when he said that, and him laughing quietly. He asked me what I was here for, and I told him I had fallen out of a tree. I blushed again, and he checked my leg. I winced when he touched it, I remember that. But soon, he wrapped it up, and washed my cuts. When he was done with everything, he told me I was free to go home. I didn't want to, but I had to free up the room for the next lucky patient to get Dr. Carlisle Cullen.

"I never forgot that day, and it still plays fresh as if it were yesterday from time to time." I sighed, and looked at the picture, Bella was holding it still, and looking down at it warmly. She looked back up at me with tears in her eyes.

"Do you think that will be me and Edward one day?" she asked quietly.

"Oh, Bella. Of course it will. One day.." I pulled her into a hug, and she shivered slightly at the coolness of my skin. She was warm, and it felt nice to touch her, although I could only barely touch her. She was so fragile, and I didn't want to crush her bones to dust.

"Will you continue?" she asked after we broke our embrace.

"Yes. And I don't know how much you'll like the next part, because I know I didn't." Painful images popped in my head, and I tried to suppress them.

"I will listen, and promise not to interrupt." Her face was eager, and I continued to tell the tale of my life.