I'm not Stephenie Meyer.

EPOV

A car backfiring outside translates into gunshots in my dream as I jolt awake. The nightmares haven't stopped since I got back from my deployment. Relief washes over me and slows the pitter patter of my accelerated heart rate as I realize I'm no longer in the god forsaken desert. I never have to go back, I was out of the Marine Corps for good. Honorable discharge after being shot in the leg, in the same attack that took the life of my right hand man, Private Mike Newton.

Since then I had been an empty shell, the only emotions that ever made their way to me were negative. I had contemplated suicide, but for what? To be another Post Traumatic Stress Disorder inflicted Marine who took his own life? I didn't have the heart, or the guts. I couldn't destroy the lives of those around me that way. But God damn, the nightmares. When I do occasionally get to sleep, they're relentless. A broken record of screaming, foreign languages, bad food, unbearable heat, and gunshots. The gunshots never stop.

I decide that today is the day I take my parent's advice and obtain psychological help for my nightmares and stress. It's been a little over a year since the attack, and my leg still throbs at the thought of it. I would be dead if Newton hadn't jumped in front of me. Part of me believed that I didn't deserve to be here anymore, but Mike wouldn't die for nothing. I wouldn't let that happen.

My parents would be pleased to hear that I have finally decided to get help for myself. Our relationship had been contentious at best since I made the decision to enlist. My mother was in tears when I told her, I thought she would faint. My father looked as if his world was crashing around him. I know he wanted me to be a doctor like him someday. It's still an option, but I wanted to do something exciting for once, outside of my sheltered world. I wanted to live like I had no money, and see what others had to go through in their daily lives without the advantages I had been given.

No one took the news harder than my siblings, Alice and Emmett. I was the oldest, and they had always relied on me. Alice was a worry wart, for months leading up to my basic training she would wail every time she heard of a serviceman dying on the news. I could hear her broken sobs through the bedroom door as my deployment date approached, and it broke my heart. But I made a promise to my entire family to make it back in one piece, and Newton helped me keep that promise. I would honor his memory by getting myself out of this depression and doing something worthy with my life.

I finally rollover and glance at my alarm clock, it's only 4 in the morning. I'd have to wait until at least 9 to let my parents know that I was going to check myself into a facility for just a few days to kick start my therapy, which is what my father had been recommending for months. I wanted my relationship with my family to be normal again. I knew I didn't want to go through the VA, they were useless, all drugs and shaming. U.S. soldiers are supposed to be too manly to be bothered by the casualties on both sides of this pointless war.

I half limp into the bathroom to take a shower, and wash off the sweat from my nightmare. My leg is always at it's worst when I first wake up. I was going to physical therapy for a while, but it became tedious so I stopped going, guess I still was a spoiled rich kid after all. It was hard to bring myself to do anything these days, but I was determined to make that stop, today. I was already living in a new town, where my parents had moved while I was away on my second tour.

Forks wasn't bad, I would have been furious if I had to move here as a teenager. It was green and bland with nothing to do. But the solace was welcome now. I lived in a tiny apartment next to the only movie theater in town. The quiet was a relief, the rain kept it cool and it always smelled like camping trips with my grandfather as a kid.

As I got out of the shower my need for a hot cup of coffee throbbed behind my tired eyes. I wrapped a towel around my waist and made my way into the small kitchen to switch on the pot. It didn't take long for the smell to fill the apartment. I idly wondered if they would allow me to have coffee in the psychiatric ward, if they didn't I may have to check out early.

After I have my coffee, morning passes relatively quickly and I figure it's time to go talk to my parents and siblings about my intentions to check myself into a mental health facility for a few days. I take an exasperated breath as I climb into my silver Volvo that I got in high school. My Dad had insisted that he would buy me a new one, but I just wasn't comfortable with them helping me any more than they already were. I was milking my two years of no questions asked unemployment for those who get out of the military. I was planning on going back to school in about a year, probably in Seattle, close by, but before I could begin my life, I had to sort this shit out.

The road whipped behind me as I expertly navigated the twists and turns through the woods to my parent's house. Alice bounced out of the front door as soon as she saw my car, her boyfriend, Jasper, was standing at the threshold of the door grinning at her. Before I could even get out of the car, Emmett and his girlfriend, Rose were there to greet me also. Until I saw the enthusiasm on their faces I hadn't noticed how long ago my last visit was, at least 6 weeks.

I liked Jasper and Rose, but I didn't want people who weren't family to be butting in on this conversation, I maybe should have given a little warning, but you can't make preparations for a rash decision. I gave my obligatory hugs to my siblings before making my way into the house where my Mother embraced me and kissed my cheek. Her face dropped when she saw my expression. As I realized what I was about to do, my nerves started to get to me.

"Oh, honey, what's the matter?" she asked in her most nurturing voice. Right on cue my dad walks in and puts his hand on my shoulder briefly. "Son." he acknowledges me. The strain on our relationship still prevalent. Everyone is gathered around me now, and the pressure is almost too much to handle. "Can I talk to Mom and Dad, alone for a moment?" I ask as a courtesy. I liked Jasper and Rose, and I was glad to see my siblings happy. I yearned for a love of my own, but I couldn't focus on women and settling down in the state I was in. I needed to deserve someone good.

Everyone but my Mom and Dad silently exit the room, and I hear Alice mumble something under her breath. She wasn't good at minding her own business. "What's going on?" My Dad finally asks, prompting me to spill what has written worry across my face. "I've decided to take your advice," I begin "I am leaving from here to the hospital to check myself in to the mental health center." My dad's face softens in relief as my mother's hardens in despair.

"I didn't realize it had gotten so bad for you." My mother cries. She had been supportive of the idea in the past but didn't want to think of her son as being so broken. "Why can't you just begin therapy, why a hospital?" she nearly shouts. My father tenderly places his arms around her to comfort her.

"Mom, it's not the end of the world. I just think it will be a good idea to clear my head for a few days before I start seeing my therapist regularly. I'm going to be okay, I thought this is what you wanted." I stop myself temporarily from saying anymore, her reaction angered me in a way. Something I needed to work on the most. "I will be there voluntarily and will only stay a short while, I just wanted to let you guys know. This is a good thing." I reasoned as she meekly nodded in agreement.

"I'm glad you've finally come around to this, Edward." My Dad agrees. "Please let us know as soon as you're out. They have great continued out patient therapy programs both group and individual that I think would benefit you." he said as Dr. Cullen. It was often hard for him to separate his family from his patients. I gave my mother a hug and my dad a nod as I turned to leave. Alice assaulted me outside the door of the foyer where the conversation had taken place.

"What's that all about is everything okay?" she asks with desperation in her eyes. "I'm fine sis, just wanted to let Mom and Dad know I'd be going away for a few days." I answer with as little information as possible, with Rosalie and Jasper still in the room. I glance at them so Alice knows I don't want to speak in front of them. She reaches up to hug me, "I'm sure Mom and Dad will tell you later. Love you." I whisper. I slap Emmett on the back on the way out.

The drive to the hospital takes less time than I wanted, the closer the time to check in came, the more I wasn't looking forward to it. Yesterday I wouldn't have even considered this but I was at my breaking point. "You can leave anytime you want to." I whisper words of encouragement to myself. Without anything else to do I manage to force myself out of the car and into the hospital.

I awkwardly walk up to the front desk once I manage to find the psych ward. I'm second guessing myself, but I've come too far to turn back now. The stout middle aged redhead behind the glass finally acknowledges me. "Visitor?" she asks with a sweet smile that puts me at ease. "Um, no...actually." I stammer. "I'd like to admit...myself. Temporarily. Just for a few days, you see..." I begin to justify my strange actions as she holds her hand up.

"You don't have to explain yourself. I'm not the therapist." she attempts to joke, I give her a chuckle to humor her. She hands me the paper work I need to fill out. "Just so you know you are voluntarily doing this, you have the right to leave at any time given that you are not an immediate harm to yourself or others." she tells me formally. I nod, barely listening as I relay my information on paper.

I take a seat, and after a few moments a doctor comes out to greet me. "Hello, Edward. I'm Dr. Copes, you'll be under my care during your time here. Let's head inside and I'll show you your room, and go over your information. We'll have a group therapy session in the morning. You missed it today. And you and I will have our individual session in a couple hours after you're settled in, does that sound agreeable to you?" She asks.

"Yes." I answer. I don't know how I can disagree with someone after I just put myself at their mercy. The military was good for at least one thing, and that was understanding when someone was above you. I personally would have rather gotten the therapy session over with first, and not gone to group at all, but I'm not who knows best.

As she walks me through the corridor into the main room I take in my surroundings. Several people sitting around a couch, some look like normal everyday people you'd pass in a grocery store, some don't. I hear a shrill scream coming from the other side of the hall.

"NO!" A woman shouts. "I won't do it again I promise, I don't need to be here please don't make me stay here. PLEASE!" She cries. Whoever she was, she had it a lot worse than me, and I was beginning to think I didn't belong here. I caught a glimpse of the crying girl. She was beautiful. Long brown hair, milky skin marred by several bruises and scrapes. She was slightly too thin. I was compelled to go over to her, I wanted to ensure her that this would be a good place for her. She caught me looking at her, and our mutual gaze halted her just long enough for a nurse to sedate her. She collapsed in the nurses arms, and they put her in a wheel chair.

"Mr. Cullen, sorry about that, I hope it doesn't scare you off. Your room is right over here." Dr. Cope interrupted my thoughts, completely unsurprised by the girl. I nodded and headed into the small room, it was about as comfortable as a barrack. Great.

I put the few things I was allowed to have away and sat on the stiff bed. I tried to zone out, but all I could think about was that strange girl. I had so much pity for her, she looked battered, and broken. I had to find out what happened to her.

A/N: Just so there's no confusion. This story will not entirely or even mostly take place in an institution. I hate to beg for reviews, it's not my style. But I'm curious if I should continue with this one. It's been so long since I wrote a fic! But it's Summer and I have nothing to do. Will be another chapter out tomorrow. Peace and Love

-Aces.