It was the middle of November.
The nights grew longer as each day passed without a moment's thought.
The whisper of winter was near. Everywhere you looked; the streets were covered in dead leaves that fell from ancient trees, as the winds grew colder with a bone-deep chill.
The faint scent of snow was in the air as the dark clouds loomed over the small town in a hazed embrace.
The day was quiet, only the sound of the wind could be heard from outside.
She had just finished breakfast as she went upstairs and headed to her bedroom.
Her schedule for the cast removal was scheduled at 8 sharp.
She was looking for a dress to wear as she looked through the clothes in her old wooden closet.
Esme didn't quite know what she wanted to wear till she saw that familiar yellow dress again.
The dress she wore the last time she had seen him.
She quickly put it on and walked to her white dressing table. As she sat down she took a glance at her reflection as she did several times in the past, her mind deep in thought.
She felt like there was something missing.
She never really stopped to consider whether she was beautiful or not. That didn't really matter to her. As long as she had eyes, nose and a mouth, she was happy.
But then her mind wandered to that night in Dr Peterson's office. The way Carlisle had looked at her, the way he had said those words.
"With a face like yours, surely you can break any man's heart."
Even the thought of it, made the blood rush to her cheeks.
Somehow he made her feel, beautiful.
A smile escaped her lips as she thought of him. She only admitted this to herself as she sat there, she missed him.
"Dearest Diary,
I know how foolish it must be for me to think of a stranger this way. But there's something about him that affects me so much. I barely know him, a complete and an utter stranger, and yet I feel like I know him better than I know myself. I sound absurd yes, I know. But it's like the night time, even though it's darkness you are sure of the dawn that would soon follow. If there was only a way I can see him again. If there was only a way I could speak to h-"
"Esme? Esme! We're going to be late, we have to go dear."
Her mother's voice echoed like a banshee as she called out to her daughter.
Esme quickly closed her journal and hid it together with the handkerchief underneath her pillow as she ran out of her room and down the stairs at full speed.
"Sorry Mama, I—I…was . . . reading." She replied gingerly as she took a pause to catch her breath at the foot of the stairs.
"Alright dear, but I do wish you would stop running, it's very unladylike."
"Yes, mother."
She replied quietly.
Both her parents and Esme took a leisure walk that day to Dr Peterson's office.
It was one of those idyllic days where nothing seemed to go wrong. Her father and mother were walking behind her as they exchanged stories and jokes. A smile formed on her face as she caught a glimpse of her father kissing her mother on the cheek.
I wonder what married life would be like for me someday.
Her parents had walked ahead of her when she froze in her steps.
It was the sidewalk where he had kissed her.
She stared at it as the memory replayed in her mind, fresh and clear. If she closed her eyes, she could still feel his lips against her skin so softly.
"Esme? Sweetie, where are you?" Her father called out to her.
"Coming!" She called out as she ran up to join them. She kept her face hidden low beneath her caramel hair to disguise the blush in her cheeks.
Dr Peterson's office was reasonably small and smelled like tobacco most of the time, with his large books scattered on his desk. The walls were painted a cream white and were sensibly decorated. The only speck in his office was that narcissistic condescending secretary of his named Vivian.
Esme would cringe at how ingratiating she could be.
She was about 5"6, black hair and blue eyes and wore too much face powder which made her look older than she really was, she was only 22.
As they entered, Vivian was there to greet them as she ushered them in to Dr Peterson's office.
Esme sat on his examining table as the old doctor rummaged through his drawers for his medical scissors.
"Esme." Her mother said as she whispered into her daughter's ear.
"Your father and I will need to buy upholstery; will you be able to make it home by yourself?"
"Of course, I'll see you later then Mama." Esme replied with a small smile.
"See you later, sweetie." Her father said as he placed a gentle kiss on her forehead. She watched them as they both exited the room.
She could hear Dr Peterson mumble under his breath as he scratched the crown of his head in frustration.
"Do you need any help Dr Peterson?"
"No, it's quite alright." He replied blankly as he searched the other drawer.
"Aha! There's the little critter."
He walked over to where Esme was and gently started to cut off the layers of the cast.
"You're very lucky. Not a single stich." The old doctor said as he proceeded with the cutting.
"Yes, I know." She replied as she remembered Carlisle sitting in the chair across from Dr Peterson's desk, talking to her, his eyes staring into hers intently.
An idea was forming into her mind.
"You know Dr Peterson, it was such a shame Dr Carlisle couldn't stay long." She said as her eyes narrowed on the floor.
"Who? Ah yes, the young Dr Carlisle. Smart boy, that one." He replied as he concentrated on his work.
"Dr Peterson?" She spoke, the words barely finding their way into her mouth.
"Yes?" The doctor replied, as he looked at her through his heavyly rimmed glasses.
"I'm afraid Dr Carlisle left something quite important when he visited my house, when he fixed my leg."
"Is that so my dear?" A puzzled expression came upon the doctor's face.
"Yes, and I think he may need it someday." Her heartbeat was accelerating.
"Well, if that's the case, you should give it to me child. I shall mail it to him myself."
That was notthe answer she was hoping for.
"Oh no, Dr Peterson. I should do it myself, he did leave it in my house, and I should take responsibility for it."
She held in her breath for the answer.
"Very well then. You can get his forwarding address from Vivian." Dr Peterson replied as he removed the final layer of cast.
Esme swore her heart was about to erupt with euphoria.
"Thank you, Dr Peterson."
"Not at all, child. Off you go now then." He replied as he shuffled back into his seat.
As she stepped out of the office, she knew what she had to do next.
Esme took a glance at Vivian who was lazily thumbing through a book and took a pause before she approached her.
This is it. I swear that woman could be the 3 headed Cerberus or the Minotaur in the labyrinth.
As Esme began to approach her, she thought of the old Greek myth about a certain beast depicted as part man and part eagle who told riddles and would devour the unlucky souls who failed to solve its conundrum.
Esme gathered her strength and cleared her throat.
"Vivian?"
"Yes?" She replied with an arched eyebrow.
"Dr—Dr Peterson told me that I could get Dr Carlisle's forwarding address from you." The words felt as if they were stuck in her throat.
Vivian let out a laugh.
"What does a child like you want from a man such as Dr. Carlisle." It was a statement rather than a question.
Esme stood there, thinking hard.
"Well, he left something at the house when he came over to fix my leg. Mother told me to get the address so she can return it to him personally."
Vivian looked at her with a smile that made Esme uncomfortable.
"What a sly lie you are, Esme."
"I-I"
"What could he possibly see in you? You are nothing but a child." She spat out the last words with venom.
Esme could feel her face redden.
"Oh, I'm sorry. Did I hit a nerve?" Vivian teased.
"I'll tell you what a man like Dr Carlisle would want. He would like a woman, a woman with beauty and endowments youwill never possess. You're just a waif, an ingénue. It would even be amusing to think that you'll look that way forever." Vivian said as she stood up and arched her back. She looked at Esme with a smirk.
Esme stood there, silently quivering. Helpless anger filled her. She fixed her eyes on the floor.
"Alright, fine. You can have his address."
She walked over a wooden file cabinet and took out a piece of paper, and handed it to her.
Esme took it but Vivian gripped the larger part of the paper. Their eyes meeting like daggers.
"I don't expect you to thank me bu-"
"Then don't." Esme replied, cutting her off.
Esme reached a breaking point. She grabbed the piece of paper as she smacked the secretary hard across the face as it propelled her hard onto the ground. Vivian glanced up at her, holding her burning cheek, she couldn't believe what just happened.
"What's going on here?" Dr Peterson said as he gave a quick look from inside his office.
"It's okay, Dr Peterson, Vivian fell." Esme said quietly, as she threw Vivian a quick glance.
"Oh! Vivian you should be more careful next time." Dr Peterson said out loud before he closed his door.
Esme bolted out of the office and ran across the street. The wind was in her hair as she stormed her way home. That felt good. She thought to herself. Mirth lighted her face as she ran with all speed across the open plains. She was finally going to speak with him again. Delicious warmth pulsated in her body as she sailed towards home with all speed.
Finally she reached her house. The house was still empty when she arrived, but she barely noticed it anyhow. She ran up the stairs and headed straight to her bedroom. She shut the door closed and remained there for the rest of the afternoon.
It was 5 minutes past midnight.
She hadn't eaten, but she felt no hunger. She felt tired, yet she was wide awake.
She spent hours upon hours of constructing the perfect letter to, Carlisle.
Her bedroom floor was filled with scattered crumples of paper. She was on her bed, on her stomach using her enormous math textbook as a firm base to the letter she was writing.
After several hours and 3 more sheets of paper crumpled later, she was finished.
She quickly placed it in an envelope and signed the address.
"St. Joseph hospital.
442 3rd Avenue.
New York City.
Room: 401. Dr Carlisle."
Esme realized for the first time that she didn't even know his last name.
She read it once more to make sure she had gotten the address right.
The house was completely submerged in darkness, the only light that could be seen was from her bedroom window. She quietly tiptoed out of her room. She took a pause and scurried to her parents bedroom door and listened, she could hear the snoring from the inside. Dead asleep. She thought to herself triumphantly, as she made her way down the stairs.
Now the only thing standing in her way was the front door. She squeezed the doorknob and slowly pushed it open, she cringed as the old door made a squeaking noise.
Good thing the mail box was conveniently attached to their house, right next to their front door. She opened the door another 5 inches wider. Esme slid her entire arm out and felt her way through the mouth of the mail box.
Another 3 minutes later, she finally got the letter in.
Yes!
Esme laid on her bed that night. There was a frenzied excitement in her stomach. It was a long while before she fell asleep.
She waited a good 2 days before she received a reply.
It was early morning. Esme could hear footsteps out on the front door. She took a peek through her window and saw the mailman; he had just left their front porch. She was still dressed in her night gown as she ran down the stairs barefoot and grabbed the letter from inside the mail box.
She wasted no time in getting back inside the house as she climbed the stairs and went back to her room, shutting the door behind her close. She sat on her bed, she was brimming with excitement.
She stared at the envelope.
She was confused.
It was her letter.
There was a stamp on it that read. "Return to sender."Esme felt her heart breaking.
She flipped it over to find a note stapled to it.
Curious, she tore it off the envelope and read its contents.
"Dear Mrs/Mr
Dr Carlisle has left St. Joseph hospital 2 weeks ago.
He has been reassigned to Forks, Washington. I'm sorry to
inform you that he has left no current forwarding address.
Best of wishes,
Paul Turner M.D"
Esme sunk back into her bed, the heaviness of disappointment seething into her heart.
Carlisle, how shall I ever find you?
A/N: Whew! another chapter just for you guys :)) Thank you for all your lovely reviews! they mean a lot to me :) stay tuned for an update, God Bless and keep reading! Another big shoutout of thanks to my beta reader Jucy Sam :) she's awesome XD