Twin Souls: The Story Behind The Broken Roses

Chapter Six: July 12, 2014

Esme Panchek

Nature truly was at least a little bit healing... Or maybe that was the lack of prescription pain meds... Either way, one month into camp and Esme was actually starting to feel really good. She felt stronger, a little happier... She was still tired, but she was pretty sure she'd always feel that way.

Hell, she was pretty sure she'd spent more time outside over the past month than she had any other summer, she'd almost forgotten how tan she could get... and how disgustingly sweaty she'd get when it was hot out. But... The increases in her health weren't just being seen by her, at least not anymore.

"I gotta say, Panchek... I think this camp is making you look healthier." Penny sighed as she hopped over a tree root. Esme looked down at herself and nodded... Yeah, it was the first time she could stand up without immediately passing out in over two years, which was a real plus...

"Yeah... That's what happens when you leave a horrible, toxic homelife for a bit. Even a place like this can be considered a respite." She explained, and Penny grimaced at that. What had she been expecting? She should've known what was coming next.

"Hm... Never thought of it like that." Penny tripped over the next root she tried to step over, getting her foot caught under it as she fell in a way that made Esme wince. There was no way that didn't hurt. "Shit, ow." She gasped, rolling over onto her back. Esme bent a bit, holding out a hand to her... She'd tripped, she'd be fine.

"Penny!" Emma shoved Esme aside before kneeling at Penny's side. Ow... Also, she'd tripped, it wasn't like she was bleeding out, there was no reason for her to come rushing in like that. "Are you alright?" She asked, and Penny nodded, gripping at her ankle... Shit, that was already starting to swell a bit, there was no way it wasn't at least strained... Probably a bad sprain at worst, but either way she needed to get it checked.

"I'm fine, I just fell-." Penny grimaced and fell back down when she tried to stand... Yeah. Bad sprain. "Ow, holy fucking shit." Emma gripped at her calf and looked around the ankle... Well, she wasn't doing any of that right, but she still came to the same conclusion Esme had, so that was a miracle.

"You need to get that checked." Emma looked at her frantically, like she was on some fucking hospital television show... Why was she making this so melodramatic? They were in the woods, no one could see them, none of this mattered. "I can carry you-." She couldn't help the snort that came out of her mouth with that, she really tried not to let it out.

"Ha." Emma looked behind her with narrowed eyes. Oh. She hadn't meant to do that... Fuck.

"What?" Okay, well, if she was going to take that tone, then Esme wasn't going to be nice. She wasn't legally required to give anyone any sort of kindness.

"What?"

"Why did you make that noise? Do you not think I'm capable of helping her?" Emma asked, squinting at her like she was expecting her to instantly back down... But why would she? That was exactly what she was thinking right now.

"No, I don't." She said, and Emma looked shocked as she took a step back from her, like the mere idea that someone didn't believe in her was utterly unbelievable. God, was that what growing up with unlimited money and attention did to people? That seemed almost like a superpower, having people believe in you constantly.

"Why not?" She asked, and Esme snorted and shook her head. She'd met mosquitoes with more upper body strength than Emma had, unless she'd been holding out on them.

"Please, I've seen you strain to pick up your suitcase." That wasn't a lie. Half the time she had Tegan help her with her suitcase, it was a wonder she'd dragged it in on her own on the first day.