She awoke the next day to the sound of rain tapping gently on her window sill.
She laid there as she rubbed her eyes fervently. She felt groggy and slightly achy. Esme realized that she was still wearing the dress from yesterday, as the events resurfaced into her mind. A wide smile formed on her lips as she remembered the handkerchief in her pocket. She took it out and held it close to her face. It smelled exactly like him, she felt delicious warmth go through her body at the thought of Carlisle.
She could still remember his voice. Clear and fresh in her mind as he said her name. She could feel her blood rush to her cheeks as she thought of it.
She started to get up slowly when she had accidentally knocked something over.
She looked down to find a pair of walking crutches lying next to her bed, with a note attached to it.
She looked at it confused. How did that get there?
She stretched out a hand and grabbed the note. It read,
"This should assist you while your leg heals.
I do hope you feel better today.
-Carlisle.
She laid back on the bed, holding the note close to her chest and screamed in happiness. Esme quickly grabbed her diary from underneath her pillow and secretly tucked the note into its pages.
She wasted no time as she quickly changed, and with her new walking crutches made her way slowly down the stairs.
"Mother?" She called out.
But there was no reply, the house seemed empty.
As she descended down the stairs, she realized walking with crutches seemed quite easy. It's like having 2 extra legs.
She made her way to the kitchen to find the table had been set for one.
She went to the sink to wash her hands when she found her mother's familiar handwriting on a piece of paper,
"Dear,
Your father and I have gone to the Sunday mass.
Help yourself to some food, there's still some cake on the table,
we will be back later tonight.
-Mother.
I guess it's just me, myself and I for today.
She sat and ate quietly. She was pondering on what she could do for the day.She had finished all her chores yesterday and she had already finished her book. What was there left to do? It was a Sunday after all. That was usually the last day of the week where she found herself with absolutely nothing to do.
She let out a sigh as she washed the dishes. The rain outside seemed to have stopped, but the dark clouds could still be seen looming in the distance.
After washing she stood there for a moment in deep thought. She took out the handkerchief that she had, still kept in her pocket. Supposing she wanted to visit Carlisle, would she? Could she even? No, I couldn't even if I wanted to. People talk too much, they immediately jump to assumptions. No I can't, mother wouldn't approve.
She went back up the stairs and made her way into her room. She stared at the ceiling, a silent debate commencing within her. She took out her leather-bound journal and took out his note. She stared at it for a long time. She couldn't quite describe it; she had the need to see him again. His eyes were so beautiful and yet so strange. She knew she couldn't forget him. His sweet and gentle ways and the deep mystery he held deep within. He was an enigma, an exquisite puzzle that she did not mind solving for the rest of her life. Then there was something in the way he looked at her. He seemed, lonely. As she remembered his gaze, she could feel deep sadness for him. It was as if she knew him.
Her thoughts were no longer making sense to her.
That man.
No.
Carlisle.
He had seemed to affect her deeply. But she couldn't understand it;their meeting was not brief, barely a few minutes. But those minutes seemed like a lifetime. . .
She spent a good deal of 5 hours debating with herself, trying to come up with a logical reaction and a reasonable decision. She knew she wouldn't win in this debate, because she was neither of those things.
The next thing she knew, she found herself walking on the familiar wet sidewalk en route to Dr. Peterson's office. She had heard from her mother yesterday evening that Carlisle was taking over temporarily since Dr. Peterson was away on a weekend leave.
She was shaking. She was so nervous, what could she possibly say to him aside from the fact that he had left his handkerchief behind? This is ludicrous.
Even though she knew the odds were against her, and there was a possible long talk of etiquette and morality from her mother, she strove on.
She was wearing a yellow floral dress that day, a very bright contrast from the depressing weather condition.
Finally after what seemed like hours of walking on one good leg and two crutches later, the office was in sight.
She started to cross the street, careful to avoid any oncoming vehicles. I'd like to get there in once piece. She thought to herself with wry humour.
She stood there and took in a breath as she squeezed the doorknob and pushed the door.
She took a peek inside. There was a very pretty young secretary sitting at a desk.
"Yes?" She said in a condescending tone.
Great! How warm and welcoming!
"Is Carlisle here?" She asked fighting her nervous stammering.
"No. He won't be back till 6pm this evening." The secretary replied flatly.
"T-Thank you."
She quickly closed the door and headed straight for home. Her cheeks were red with embarrassment as she furiously clawed her crutches on the concrete floor.
Is Carlisle here?
What 16 year old can be on a first name basis with a doctor?
I'm such an idiot. This is completely absurd.
She winced as she repeated the way she said his name in her head. She had never felt more embarrassed in her entire life. But if there was one thing that snobby secretary didn't know about Esme, it's that she doesn't easily give up.
Esme spent the rest of the day locked up in her room. She didn't come out till dinner time, and even then she was quiet as the wind.
She was lying on the bed as she stared out into the open window. Downstairs she could hear the clock strike 7.
She had made her final decision.
She quietly made her way down the stairs and towards the front door. She squeezed the handle and was about to open it, when her father stopped her.
"Esme, where are you going?" Her father asked, raising an eyebrow.
She froze, tension numbing her body.
"I-I thought I could go out for a walk." She cringed at how bad the lie was. She kept her head down, fearing that he might suspect something.
"Hmmm…alright, don't stay out too late." Her father replied as he exited to the living room.
"Yes Dad." She replied, a heavy weight lifting off her shoulders.
The streets held a very different atmosphere when evening came. The wind was colder and the skies grew darker, especially after a storm. The trees were large and ominous; they seemed like silent creatures of the dark,ready to pounce on the innocent and the defenceless. She never liked wandering out during the night, but on this evening she made an exception.
She scurried her way through the sidewalk and instantaneously made her way across the street.
It's past 7. He couldn't still be there could he?
She gathered her courage and opened the door. She saw that the secretary's desk was empty. A sigh of relief escaped her lips. She entered the office and gingerly walked inside, the floorboards creaking with each step. The office was dark and seemed empty, except for the light that was in Dr. Peterson's office.
"Hello?" her voice came out as a whisper.
Her breath seemed to constrict in her throat as she drew nearer to the door.
There was a slight opening in the door, she stepped closer and took a glimpse.
She could see him, his back facing the door. He seemed to be reading something.
She was about to raise a hand to knock, when she accidentally lost her balance and fell with a thud on the floor.
"Esme?" Carlisle spoke, a puzzled expression on his face as he opened the door.
"I-I'm sorry I-" She stammered as she tried to get up,
"It's alright." He replied as he smiled gently.
She swore she could hear her heart pound loudly into her chest, as he took her by the waist and gently helped her to her feet.
She could hear the telephone in his office ring.
"Won't you step inside?" He motioned for her to come in.
She watched as he spoke on the telephone. Esme made herself comfortable in one of the chairs as she watched him speak. In reality she had no idea what he was talking about, but she didn't care. She loved the way the expressions that played delicately on his beautiful features and the way his eyes glimmered when he smiled.
"Esme? Esme?"
She was snapped out of her thoughts. She found him sitting across from her, his eyes silently studying her.
She was about to tell him about the handkerchief when she switched her question in mid-sentence.
"How long will you be taking over for Dr. Peterson?"
"Well. . ." He spoke as he stood up and walked to an old bookshelf. Esme noticed there was a box on his desk. There was this feeling at the pit of her stomach.
"I'm leaving tonight."
She could feel the disappointment drop onto her head like a ton of bricks.
"That's so soon." The words slipped out of her mouth before she could stop them.
He turned to look at her. Again there was that brief flash of sadness in his eyes.
"Won't you come back?" She asked, trying to sound brave.
He walked towards her and knelt by her side.
"I'm afraid I can't." He replied, looking at her intently.
Her heart was breaking. She had the eerie notion that he knew what she was feeling.
"My dear Esme,you are so young, I'm sure with a face like yours, you could break any man's heart." He replied with a gentle smile.
"Will I see you again?" She asked looking down as a tear escaped the corner of her eye.
"If time is kind." He replied.
He softly lifted her chin and ran a gentle thumb across her cheek. She couldn't find the strength to meet his eyes.
"You left this, when you were in the house." She said in a small voice, as she showed him the handkerchief.
"Keep it." He replied.
"I may come back and need it someday."
Their eyes met.
She looked at him, a smile slowly finding its way onto her lips.
"Promise me, you won't lose it."
"I promise." She said.
He led her through the office and out the front door. He was about to say something when she stopped him.
"Will you walk me to the sidewalk? Please?" She looked at him with those pleading brown eyes.
He couldn't say no.
He slowly led her across the street as she fidgeted with her crutches. The wind was blowing, a gentle breeze around them. They walked in silence;the murky street lamp was their only light in the darkness. They were beginning to reach a turn in the sidewalk,
"This is as far as I can go." He said quietly.
"Goodbye. . ." She whispered, her voice breaking her resolve.
He looked at her through the darkness.
"Close your eyes." He said softly.
She looked at him, trying to decipher what he had just said.
"It's alright, I promise."
She took one last glance at him to see if he was teasing her, but the expression on his face was serious.
She closed her eyes.
He looked at her, and took a step closer. His face was barely inches from hers; he could feel her warm breath against his face. He leaned in and gently kissed the corner of her mouth.
She stood there frozen. Time seemed non-existent, as the world around her came to a sudden halt.
She felt his lips brushed against her skin so softly.
Then suddenly a cold wind brushed past her. She opened her eyes, and found herself alone on the sidewalk.
He was gone.
She wrote in her diary later that night.
"September.
Dearest diary,
I found him tonight, only to know he was leaving tomorrow. I can't understand why, but I feel this immeasurable sadness for him and this strange longing to be with him. I should even be chastised for thinking such thoughts. But I cannot tell my heart what to feel. Tonight when he looked at me, he seemed so strange. It was as if he wanted to tell me something. I had asked him to walk with me to the sidewalk when he stopped me, he had asked me to close my eyes and so I did. Never in my life did I expect to be kissed, let alone by someone I had just met. But if I could go back to one moment in my life, I would go back to this night.
I can't explain him, especially the way he disappeared after he kissed me.
But I feel like I know him. His face carries this sense of all-consuming mystery.
But what secrets could he keep beneath those benign eyes?
I know he's leaving, but there won't be a day that my heart will not find him."
A/N: Hey guys! Here's an update for ya, I hope ya like it :) I'm thinking that this won't probably be as long as Barefoot In The Dark. But I hope you like it anyway :) keep em' reviews coming, they make me feel warm and fuzzy :D And a big thanks to my new beta reader Jucy Sam :3
God Bless and stay tuned for a new update :D