(DISCLAIMER: I do not own Twilight, New Moon, or Eclipse or any of it's characters.)
CHAPTER 2: WORRIES
carlisle. day 2, between midnight and 3 am.
"Do you think he'll ever get over leaving her?" Esme had asked me this nearly a thousand times, and I didn't know quite what to say. Tell her that I hope so, or that I didn't think so (which is what I truly believe). Edward was in love with Bella, he would never, ever forget her or find anyone comparable to her.
Of course, she knew what I really thought already, though it hadn't been said straight out. She knew me that well. She only asked for the small comfort that words could bring.
"I don't know. I hope so." She sat on the black sofa, her elbow on the armrest and chin on her palm. Her white skin and light attire was striking in contrast to the dark leather. I heard her sigh quietly from across the room and was compelled towards her, longing to ease her worries with my touch. She sat up as I approached, and glided over so I could sit beside her and leaned against my body, head on my shoulder.
"Maybe he'll go back to her. One day." It was a hope I had nurtured myself, from time to time, but I couldn't afford to be so optimistic. If and until he made that decision, we had to face the reality and try to work to repair the broken shards of our family that had been scattered once we left Forks. And if he did go back, who was to say that Bella hadn't moved on? That she would be open to taking us back into her life.
I just nodded in response.
carlisle. day 2, after work.
I couldn't believe what I had seen. It was impossible. Wholly impossible.
"Dad?" Alice was standing on the deck. I hadn't noticed her at first.
"Hmm?" I tried to be normal, to be usual self, but I could see by her facial expression, she wasn't buying it.
"You have to get back to the hospital. Curtain eight is..." She trailed off.
She knew too.
carlisle. day 2, before leaving the hospital.
I was already in my regular wear when I went to see Jane Doe, as I had told Dr. McGrath I would. I would have rather just gone home, spent time with Edward while he was around then stick around the hospital, which was definitely a switch from the previous night.
I wasn't genuinely curious to see any other patients no matter how extraordinary their cases might be.
When I reached the entryway to the ICU, I could see McGrath standing their, smiling like an idiot. She wasn't an unattractive woman, for a human, when she kept her sense at least. "Hey, you came." She said in a voice that gave the impression our relationship was much closer than it actually was. I just nodded. "Follow me." She might have sensed the dark mood I was in, because she actually got to the point a little quicker than I expected.
Curtain eight was near the end of the room, and as we walked she reviewed Jane Doe's chart. I paid enough attention that I could recall the information later, but not enough that I actually processed the words. "We still have her under mild sedation." I nodded and she proceeded to open the curtain.
esme. day 2, midday.
"How are you, dear?" I asked him quietly, entering the room that was left for him. It was empty aside from an old, rusted chair that sat in the corner facing a small window. Edward really hadn't spent enough time, nor had the effort or care in him to fill it.
"I don't know. I feel numb, and I feel pain. Which doesn't make sense when I say it.. But.."
"I know how you feel." I wrapped my arms around him in a hug, "It takes time, and then it never really goes away." I didn't want to tell him that one day all the hurt and the numbness would be gone, because it wouldn't. Not for me. Not for him. It's always there, like a burning hollow in your chest.
"Do you think she'll have a good life? That everything will turn out all right for her?" He didn't want to regret letting her go. He wanted her to be happy so he could know he did the right thing.
I tried to smother the thought before he could catch it, but I couldn't tell if he had heard me. "Yes. I do. She'll go to college or university, get a good job, get married, have children. You have nothing to worry about." I tried to smile reassuringly, but with him hearing the doubts in my head, it wouldn't mean much.
I worried that when he left her, he might have left her more hurt than he would have suspected. That she might never recover or move on. I saw how deeply in love she was with him, and I didn't think he ever caught on to the full extent of it.