Chapter 5- Refuge

The next morning I woke up, unaware of where I was and not knowing what I was doing there. All I knew was I was sore everywhere and I had a splitting headache. I sat there for what seemed like hours in pure agony, when everything came rushing back. It had been Charles... again.

As soon as I could gather the strength to stand I changed clothes, wrapped a scarf around my head and headed to the home of the only person I felt I could trust, that was in the area anyway.

“Esie? Is that you?” Tom asked as he opened the door and took in my probably horrific appearance.

I nodded. “Yes, it's me,”

“Well, what happened to you? You look.... like you were just trampled by a herd of wild buffalo or something,” he laughed a little and led me into his home. A woman walked out of the kitchen. Before she could see me she asked, “Who was that at the door Tom?” I assumed it was his wife from the way she was looking at him. Oh what I would give to have a husband that deserved to be looked at in the same way.

“My old friend. Esme... Evenson now is it Esie?” I nodded again. His wife approached me. “It's a pleasure to finally meet you. Thomas talks about you as if you were a godess.” she smiled before taking in my appearance. “Oh you poor thing. What happened?”

“That's the problem,” I said looking at my feet. “I don't remember,” truthfully I now recalled every single thing that had happened last night. “I think I fell down the stairs,” I quickly lied before they could assume Charles was involved. “Yes. I tripped on the rug at the top of the stairs, this morning when I woke up Charles wasn't at home, so I headed over here knowing. Or at the very least hoping I could get help,” I looked back up.

Tom looked at his wife. “Well. Of course you can Es,” he smiled. “You are still my best friend. Nothing can ever change that. Nothing I promise,” I smiled at him.

“You have no idea how much that means to me Thomas Bentley,” I told him as I received a hug from him then a handshake from his wife.

“Oh. How rude of me,” Tom shook his head. “Esie, I'd like you to meet my wife Abigail,” he smiled.

“It's very nice to meet you Abigail,” I smiled.

“It's very nice to meet you too Esme,” she smiled right back at me. “Now, what do you say we take a look at your injuries and see if we can help?” she asked. I nodded and began to unwrap my scarf. Tom's jaw dropped. “What?” I asked

“Esie, I think you need to go to the hospital for that. Your entire face.... it's purple and swollen, a-and cut up,” he stuttered. The last time he'd seen me looking as awful as he'd just described. We had been 16 and I'd climbed that silly tree.....

“Don't be silly Tom, I can't look that bad,” I laughed. That was a mistake. My entire face felt like it was on fire.

“Esme?” Abigail put a hand on mine. “What really happened?”

I broke down sobbing. “I-it w-w-was Ch-Charles,” I said through my tears. “He w-was drunk I-i didn't meet him at the d-door and he w-was angry at me for that,” I continued to sob uncontrollably. “I don't know what to do. Every time he gets drunk it gets worse and worse, I've tried calling the police. He caught me and beat me worse,” the tears were burning my face but I couldn't get them to stop.

“Oh... Esie, I had no idea,” Tom was awestruck. I could tell. He pulled me into another hug. A very, tight, comforting hug. “I'm so sorry this has happened to you,” he told me. “You don't deserve it at all. If there is one person in the planet who doesn't it's you,”

“Thank you Tom,” I smiled as he loosened his tight hug and looked at me. “Can we take you to the hospital?” he asked.

I nodded. Even though I knew there was only one doctor in the world I wanted to see, but I also knew he had moved not a month after treating my broken leg all those years ago. Carlisle Cullen.