Oblivion

Chapter Two: Death Is A Friend

The first thing she feels is the dull pain in her right arm. And then a dull pain in her cheeks. The pain increases until it becomes almost unbearable. Her mouth opens and a scream escapes on its own accord before she can stop it. Her eyes squeeze shut as sharp pains enter different parts of her body.
"Doctor, she's screaming!"
She feels her hands clench into fists and her eyes are forced open. The doctor shines a bright light into them before letting her skin go.
"Should we sedate her?" the nurse asks in a panicked tone.
"No. Up the morphine dosage and try to get her talking." he orders. The nurse messes with the iv drip and Esme can feel the medication make its way through her body, cooling the pain.
Her screams stop and her breathing turns back to normal as the doctors and nurses begin to leave. One nurse stays, wiping the sweat from Esme's forehead with a towel.
"Miss Esme, I am nurse Keith. Can you tell me where you are?" he asks. She shakes her head, not knowing anything other than the fact that she is dead.
"That's alright. You've had some serious blows to your head so your memory is impaired. You're in the ICU of London Bridge Hospital. You were admitted by your husband, Charles Evenson a few weeks ago after you tried to commit suicide after giving birth to your still born child. Is any of this coming back to you? I know it's a lot to process-"
"I tried to kill myself?" Esme asks. She tried to move her hair from her face but something tugs her arm back to the bed. She looks down at her wrists which are hand cuffed to the bed.
"We need to keep those on. This isn't the first time you've tried to kill yourself. Your sister Lillian found you in your living room." he says sadly.
"My living room? How did I try to kill myself?" she asks.
"You shot yourself at the top of your stairs and tumbled down. You're lucky to be alive, miss Evenson." he says, standing up.
She chuckles darkly, feeling trapped in a nightmare.
"Lucky. Yes, that's me. The lucky one." she says bitterly. And then she remembers. She can't believe she forgot, she doesn't know how she could have possibly forgotten.
"Where is Carlisle?" she asks before the nurse can leave.
"I'm sorry? I don't know a Carlisle. Is he in this hospital?" he asks.
"I don't know. I don't know where he is." she says sadly. She doesn't know where any of her family is.
I glance at the wall beside me and gasp at my own reflection that stares back at me from the mirror that hangs on the wall. My fingers reach up as far as they can with the restraints, trying to touch the scar on my cheek from where the bullet ripped through my skin.
"Oh...oh...my skin." she whimpers out, staring at the monster that is supposed to be her. Carlisle would be horrified if he saw her like this. Would he still love her like he did? Would her children still accept her as their mother? Surely not. Who would love an ugly monster like herself?
There is a knock on the door and the nurse quickly answers it, whispering to whoever is on the other side. Suddenly, the nurse is pushed out of the way and a young woman in scrubs walks in, her caramel colored hair tied back in a braid.
"Esme, you're awake." she says with a smile. She walks to the bed and hugs Esme who can only sit there.
"Who are you?" Esme asks. The young girl pulls back, looking sad.
"I'm sorry. I didn't mean to upset you. I just-"
"It's alright. I'm your sister, Lillian." she says kindly. Now that Esme hears it, she can see the resemblance. They share the same smile and the same color hair. Lillian is a bit more petite than she is though, her body looking like Alice's. Esme can tell that Lillian is the prettier sister. It is painfully obvious, especially now with her scar. Tears from in Esme's eyes and she can do nothing as they fall down her cheeks.
"What's wrong Esme?" she asks, wiping away her tears, careful not to touch Esme's scar.
"Look at me. Look what i've done to myself. How can anyone look at me again?" she asks.
"Charles will love you no matter what. He should be here by now. I called him when I found out you were awake and-"
She kept talking but her words no longer registered in my mind. Charles is coming. He is coming to the hospital to see her. Esme knows that she has to be strong. She is no longer the weak fragile woman that she was. Carlisle helped her become stronger both mentally and physically. He would be so upset with her if he knew she let Charles touch her again.
"What're you thinking?" Lillian asks, brushing her hair away from her face.
"I miss him." Esme whispers, knowing Lillian has no idea who she is talking about.
"Were we the type of sister that were just sisters? Or were we best friends?" Esme asks, wanting to change the subject. Lillian smiles, no doubt thinking of memories they shared.
"We were friends. We have always been each other's best friend." she says proudly.
"I'm glad. You seem like a great sister, Lillian." Esme says.
"Lil." she says.
"What?" Esme asks.
"That's what you call me. Lil. I call you Essie."
The nickname breaks her heart into a million pieces. Only one person called her Essie. This hell is the most cruel place she has been.
"You look sad." Lil says.
"I wish they would take these off. I feel like an animal." Esme says, wiggling her wrists, making the chains rattle.
"I can take care of that." Lillian says, standing up. She walks outside for a moment and walks back in with a doctor who unlocks the cuffs, freeing her arms. Esme smiles in thanks as she rubs her wrists which are slightly red.
"When will I be able to go home?" I ask.
"Not for a few days at least. The therapist you've been seeing needs to meet with you and give the all clear." Lillian says. The door opens and the man of my nightmares walks in with a smile on his face and flowers in his hand.
"Hey babe." he says, walking toward me.
"Miss me?" he asks. He leans down to place a kiss on my lips but I turn away.
"No." I tell him.
"Sorry. She probably just doesn't remember you." Lillian says, taking the flowers from his hand and putting them in a vase.
"I remember him. But I still don't miss him." she says angrily. Charles glares at her and Lillian shifts her weight, feeling uncomfortable.
"I'll leave you two alone. I have a patient to check on." she says, walking out. Charles grabs her wrist, squeezing it.
"Don't touch me." Esme sneers, glaring at him.
"Have you forgotten the rules, my dear Esme?" Charles asks, leaning toward her. Esme can feel her strength slipping as the fragile woman she was begins to show through. He forces his rough chapped lips against hers and for some reason, she lets him.
"You're still the weak piece of shit you were before this crap happened." he says with a laugh.
"And you're still the dad excuse for a husband. What's new?" she asks bitterly. He smacks her face, making her wound reopen, filling her mouth with blood.
"Have you forgotten? You're my wife. You don't speak that way to me. And you will do as I say or i'll kill you." he hisses. Esme smirks, the blood staining her teeth and dripping from her mouth, making her look crazy.
"Have you forgotten already, you stupid man?" she asks, laughing.
"I welcome death."