This chapter is quite a bit shorter but I hope it answers some of your questions.

Disclaimer: The original characters and plot are the property of the author, Stephanie Meyer.

Esme's POV

It was dark, that's all there was—darkness. The numbing feeling of being alone in the dark, but I wasn't alone. I could remember what happened. All the people, all the confusion. The brief but vivid pictures flashed by…

Carlisle was helping me fight Chelsea. There was a call from Rosalie from across the clearing.

"Go, Carlisle," I told him.

"But, Esme," he protested.

"No, she needs you more. Now GO!" I told him again. He ran off and I was left alone with Chelsea. I lunged at her, but I missed, dammit!

"Oh, your poor family." She started taunting me. "I wonder what will happen when your dear family is torn apart. I wonder what Isabella will do without her dear Edward." I froze. What was she saying? Would we lose? And lose everyone as well?

Before I knew it she had me pinned to the ground. I was trying to fight her off but I had never really been a fighter. She was biting me all over—my face, my arms, my back, my legs. It stung, like a billion needles. Then she was gone. I was left on the ground, withering in pain.

… The rest was just black, with short, sudden scenes that I could remember. Being in the car, getting out…

The pain started again and there was no more black. I opened my eyes, or so I thought. White, that's what I saw; white. Was I in heaven? Was Carlisle right? Even if we were damned to being vampires for the rest of eternity without a soul, did we still go to heaven when we died? But the pain was still there. There wasn't supposed to be any pain in heaven, was there? I rolled my head to the side. Oh, that's why. My face had been in a pillow. That's why I could only see white. Wait! Pillow? What—

"Esme? Esme, darling, I need you to let go," said a voice, it was Carlisle's voice! I mustn't be in heaven then. But he said let go—let go of what?

Then his face came into focus.

Oh, I slowly loosened my grip and he took my hand and started rubbing something on it. It smelled awful, then I remembered the pain. It had been coming from my hands, but it was gone now.

After he was done, he let go of my hand, gently kissed me forehead, and walked toward the door. I cried out in protest. My angel couldn't leave me! He turned around and walked back over and sat on the edge of the bed. He took up my hand again and started making small circles on the back with his thumb. I relaxed and closed my eyes, content.

"Esme darling, I'm sorry I did this to you. This never should have happened."

I opened my eyes, alarmed. What was he talking about? He never did anything to me. He never would. He was not making any sense. I looked at his face; his expression was full of sorrow and guilt. I wanted to get closer to him and tell him everything was all right, that he never did anything to me. I tried to roll over on my back but the pain came again, shooting up my spine. I cried out again, in pain.

Carlisle's gentle hands were instantly comforting me, rubbing my shoulders ever so carefully. "Please don't try to move, sweetheart. You will just hurt more."

Oh, but I had to hold and comfort Carlisle. He didn't understand and unless I got over the pain and moved so I could tell him it wasn't his fault, he would hold this guilt for the rest of eternity.

I slowly tried to move again, knowing what to expect, and bit my lip, hard, to prevent me from crying out again when the pain came. Carlisle noticed that I was trying to move again and tried to get me to lie down.

"Oh, please don't do this, Esme," he said sorrowfully, letting go of my hand and gently pushing me back down upon the bed.

Oh! He didn't understand. How could I tell him? Oh, really Esme, you really are silly! Just use your mouth!

I tried to open my mouth but nothing came out. Why couldn't I speak? It felt like I hadn't spoken a word in years.