Edward's POV
Well the year Hazel was one went by really fast. I couldn't believe how big my baby sister was getting
Every day she was picking up new words left and right and one time even followed me to school
Hayz was different from most one year olds though
Whenever I would come home from school she would always be waiting for me and would hug my leg until I would pick her up.
I always could tell what she was thinking…I knew when she was scared, tired, happy, sad, hungry, etc. It was weird but mama said it was part of our "sibling relationship"
June 24, 1908
Today was Hazy's second birthday it was also the day former President Grover Cleveland died
I didn't really know who he was since I am only seven but mum and papa said it was a big deal for the American people
We were American but Mum and papa were from England but they had US citizenship from when they crossed over from Ellis Island
I picked Hazel up from her small bed and held her close
"Edward!" she said and her face lit up
"Hazel!" I said and she giggled
"Do you know what today is?" I continued
"No what?" she asked
"You're birthday silly" I said
"What's dat?" she asked
"You're two years old today" I told her
She held up two fingers "Two?" she asked
"Yeah" I said kissing her nose and she laughed again
"Wat about you?" she asked
"I'm seven" I held up seven fingers and she widened her little eyes
"Seven?" she held up seven fingers on her hands
"Yeah" I said
"When will I be seben?" Hazel asked
"In five years" I said
Hazel considered this for a second
"Five" she held up five fingers
"You are smart Hayz" I said
"Yea but you're smarter den me" she said
I shrugged
"I should wait till you're seven then we can say that" I said
"When were you two Edward?" Hazel asked me
"Five years ago" I said
"Five" Hazel held up five fingers again
"Yeah now come on let's go eat breakfast" I said taking her down the hallway with me to our kitchen.
"Edward…come on you have to get ready for your last day of school" Mama said
"Oh shoot!" I had forgotten about that so I wouldn't get to be with Hazel on her birthday…she probably wouldn't remember anyway
I ran back to my room and Hazel looked puzzled as she sat on the floor of the kitchen
"And you my little birthday girl happy birthday Hazel" I heard mama say to Hazel as she picked her up
"Where's Edward?" Hazel asked
"He's going to school" Mama said
"What's dat mummy?" Hazel said and I found it funny how she picked up their English accent
"Where they learn…when you're a big girl you'll get to go there too" Mama said
I could picture Hazel just sitting there and shrugging while being amused at the same time
After I went to school and came back I saw mama sitting on the couch with her eyes closed I looked around for Hazel but then looked to the floor and saw her sitting on her knees staring up at me.
"Oh…OK I see how it is Hayz…I see you angle…fine you want to be that way fine" I pretended to walk away
Hazel shrieked before getting up and hugging my leg
"Alright fine" I said picking her up and she smirked knowing she got her way
"Hazel, Hazel, Hazel" I crooned and set her down on my bed when we got to my room
"How was your birthday Hayz?" I asked
"I dunno" Hazel said shrugging and I laughed and ruffled her hair
"No Edward…bad boy!" she said shaking her finger at me
"Hey I'm your older brother so I have full on permission to torture you whenever I want" I said
"NO! No! No!" Hazel said curling up into a ball on my bed
I ruffled her hair
"Alright it is your birthday Hayz I'll leave you alone" I said but she grabbed my hand and tried to pull me down to sit with her (which I did)
I held her in my lap on the floor and closed my eyes as I lay down
I felt the strong feeling to protect my sister if anything came to harm her…I would always be there for her I knew she was only two but let's say that in 10 years from now we were both in a dire situation
I would want her to be safe before I was
Hazel looked at me with her big blue eyes as if to know what I was thinking I held her closer to me and listened to her heartbeat that was one of my most comforting sounds in the world.
December 12, 1908
Today was the first day Mama let Hazel and I into town by ourselves since she knew I wouldn't let anything happen to Hazel and was smart enough to know what to do.
Before we left Mama handed me a quarter and said
"Watch out for your little sister Edward"
I looked at her as if to say "really?" but instead I replied
"You know I will mama" and she smiled at me We left for town and I held Hazel's hand the whole way there since she wanted to walk I looked down at my little sister who was admiring all the surroundings around us.
We stopped at the café to have lunch we had pickles and turkey after I handed them my quarter (which was just enough) we went on our way. I knew I really wasn't supposed to but I went to check out the gunsmith.
Hazel however was not allowed in the store since she was only two and a half. I knew I had to keep my promise to her but I knew she would know to stay put so I made her physically plant her feet next to the potted plant outside the store
"Repeat after me Hayz" I said
"Repeat after me Hayz" Hazel said and I nudged her
"I Hazel Lucy Masen will not move one inch until Edward comes out of the store"
"I Hazel Lucy Masen will not move one inch until Edward comes out of the store" Hazel repeated
"Good now stay here" I said and held my hand to stay as if she was a dog and she stayed for the most part as I knew.
"Hello young boy can I help you with anything?" the gunsmith said
"No thank you sir I'm just looking around" I said and looked out the window to check on Hazel who was still standing by the plant.
I became fascinated with one particular gun and was admiring it when I heard a woman scream…it was a loud bloodcurdling scream. I immediately dropped the gun and ran outside knowing it was Hazel.
She was standing there motionless in the middle of the street just as the royal Mandau family's carriage was about the plummet into her so naturally I slid…literally slid into the street and knocked my baby sister out of the way and was hit full on…that was when everything went black.
Hazel was crying and sitting beside my bed when I woke up Mama was using a compress to clean my face which was bleeding heavily. Hazel's little eye was swollen shut and her arms and legs were bruised a little bit.
"Is Eddie OK?" she asked mama and mama nodded
"He'll be OK Hazel don't worry" Mama assured her and I let out a deep breath feeling guilty that my sister was worrying about me.
Mama took me to the hospital when my bleeding in my head didn't stop. I required 9 stitches in my head and had suffered a concussion. I was seven years old.
My injuries healed over the course of about six months. I was fully recovered about a week and a half before my Eighth birthday and Hazel's Third Birthday