Unforgivable Lacerations

Chapter Forty-Seven

After having to have yet another bath just six hours after last night's- due to my reaction of vomit after a memory resurfacing in my unconsciousness, I sat next to Edward in his room as he told me what it was like in the '20s.

"It was certainly an experience, there were the suffragettes and suffragists, who were certainly determined and fierce, and then there was the music, jazz. As Carlisle was courting Esme, in all bluntness, I went to New Orleans sometimes when I hunted. The music was fantastic there. I would find myself sitting on the roofs of the bars, never daring to go in because I wouldn't have been able to control my blood lust." I continued to listen to Edward, imagining the music and the way he described the atmosphere. Edward turned his gaze from the posters on the wall to me, pausing momentarily as a knock sounded at the door. 

"Come in," Edward answered, not moving away from me to open the door for Esme who strode in without hesitation. 

"Good morning," Esme smiled.

"Morning," I answered in sync with Edward.

"I was wondering if you two wanted to come to the supermarket with the rest of the family," Esme started, while I sat confused. Why did it take the whole family? Esme, noticing my facial expression, quickly started to explain. "We have to show ourselves to the locals, Bella, otherwise they might become suspicious." 

"Well, I don't mind, whatever Bella, here, wants." Edward pointed to me with the same arm around my shoulders.

"Yeah, sounds good." I nodded, knowing it would be an eventful experience with the whole family together. 

"Good, good." A snippet of a concentrated frown formed on Esme before it vanished with her next question. "First, though, Bella, would you like something for breakfast?"

"Um, yes please, I'll come down, though, instead of making everyone come up and down the stairs," I guiltily replied, knowing I haven't been very mobile whilst being her; not that it was fully my fault. 

"Only if you want, dear."

*_*_*_*_*

"Now, children, if you get lost, go to the big man near the entrance," Emmett instructed when we all gathered outside the nearest supermarket. I chuckled at Emmett while rolling my eyes.

Among the swarm of adults and various children, rushing around with carts full of shopping bags as they skated to their cars, I seemed to blend in. Needless to have said, my attire was more appropriate for our outing than the sweats I wore behind closed doors. Like the brown haired mother beside me, I was dressed in baggy blue jeans. My jumper, though, belonged to Edward, who was more than content to offer his jumper as it hid my conspicuous thin torso, dropping down to mid thigh. Additionally, Alice had contributed her makeup skills with covering the laddering scars and dents on my face, making me feel more comfortable exiting the house like. 

With every silver lining, there was my cloud, which was the abnormalities that couldn't be fixed; the jeans felt like a balloon at my backside, as they sagged like the stereotypical skater at the park, whilst my things skimmed through the jeans easily- too easily- making me reminisce the days I would take minutes to roll them up my legs, lastly, though, the belt was just small enough, as it was tightened to the first hole with room for me to still breathe. It wasn't right. 

"Bye," Edward said for the both of us, guiding me to the side of the entrance where the red carts were housed. When we had left the family and found ourselves a cart, Edward turned to me, still striding down the aisle casually. "You want to get in?" he asked, nodding towards the cart in front of us. It was evidently meant to be a joke, as if he was going to go around the supermarket AWOL, bashing into aisles with me in it and laughing.