Ah, America! That last chapter was hard for me to write, simply because I had no idea what to write. Hopefully I'll get Carlisle in his element. Enjoy!
America proved to be better than I had imagined, the chance at freedom, the ability to worship what one wanted to without the fear of an oppressive king. I feared I was the only one who believed it. Medical school in America was different as well; the material was more challenging, the professors a little less lenient.
Nevertheless, I enjoyed the challenge, and made fast friends. I met many people, many women, but none captivated me.
I traveled America for several decades, finding a coven of vampires who shared my diet. Tanya, Kate, Irina, Carmen and Eleazar were the members of the Denali coven, a coven which I found myself envying. I continued to move around the country, finally finding my place in Columbus, Ohio in the year 1901.
The year was now 1911, and I had been living in this little town for almost ten years and my time was almost up.
I had just come in for the night shift, taking my coat and bag to my office before heading out to greet any patients. Mr. and Mrs. Williams were down the hall, welcoming their child into the world. I walked down to greet them, asking them if they needed anything.
Mr. Williams shook his head, reaching for my hand and shaking it, despite the temperature of my hand.
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I walked back to the desk, checking over several of the patient files, when someone knocked at the door. I turned, heading for the door and reaching for the handle. I opened the door, shocked to see a fist raised.
I realized he was only meaning to knock again, and immediately recognized the look of panic on his face.
"Can I help you Mister…"
"Platt, Andrew Platt. Please, my daughter fell, and I believe her leg is broken." He said hurriedly.
I nodded, following him out to their car. I barely noticed the grimace on her face, only concentrating on the task at hand.
"Dr…"
"Cullen." I said.
"Thank you, for seeing us this late." He said.
I nodded. "May I?" I turned to his daughter, arms outstretched, motioning to pick her up. She nodded, a beautiful blush creeping up her neck to her face. Her blood was fragrant, the warm scent caressing my senses.
I picked her up, resting her left side against me.
"How is your leg?" I asked.
She blushed again, nodding her head and grimacing at the pain. This young woman was remarkably brave, or she was still in shock.
I took her into the exam room, setting her on the table and allowing her to relax a little.
"Dr. Cullen."
"Please, call me Carlisle." I said, almost a little too quickly. She nodded.
I studied her face, her eyes, large and a beautiful emerald color; her perfect Roman nose and lips that formed an easy smile. For a sixteen year old girl, she was exceptional, strikingly beautiful.
"Well, Miss Platt, you seem to have done a number on yourself. May I ask what you did?" I asked.
She blushed again.
"I was climbing a tree…and it's Esme." She said; a slight grin on her lips.
I smiled in return. "Climbing a tree…Esme, you're very adventurous, aren't you?" I asked.
She nodded. "My parents were very unhappy. My mother says it's unladylike, and my father only wants to preserve me to marry me off. Of course, there's the little matter of it being an arranged marriage." She said.
I nodded. "It's just so frustrating. It seems like they don't care about me, like I'm merely a burden for them." She said.
"My father was much the same way." I said, startling myself. I never talked about my past with anyone; there were always too many questions.
"What about your mother?" She asked.
"My mother died in childbirth. It was my father and I growing up." I said.
A sad look crossed her face. "I'm sorry." She said.
"Don't apologize, it's alright." I said, not wanting to see such a saddened expression on her face. "I'll need to check the break. I apologize, this may hurt a little." I said, trying to be as gentle as possible.
She started.
"I'm sorry." I said.
"No, you didn't hurt me. Your hands, they're cold." She said.
I swallowed inadvertently. "Hospitals don't do much for temperature." I said, giving her a small smile.
"Well, you know what they say…" She said.
I raised my eyebrows.
"Cold hands, warm heart." She finished, smiling bashfully.
My long dead heart skipped a beat.
This was preposterous, but I felt as though something inside me had changed.
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'I wanna get free, I wanna get free, I wanna get free right into the sun.' – 'Get Free' The Vines
