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The Falling

Summary:
In the action itself, she is weightless and free. The flight is not to be feared, only the impact. A story on the life of Esme Cullen. Image Hosted by ImageShack.us Banner By incredible Iris!

Notes:
I may submit this to the official site. What do you think?

37. Chapter 37

Rating 5/5   Word Count 524   Review this Chapter

Announce the fall,

“Charles,” I begin stiffly. “I’ve… I’ve reconsidered your proposal. My mother says, and I quite agree, that our marriage could greatly benefit both our families. I would be honored to marry you.” Wow. I have just become another trained puppy, just like my father. Mother will be so proud when I repeat my vows like the parrot I am, dressed as a doll in white… a veritable playground of toys, and just so easily manipulated.

“I’m so glad, Esme, my dear. When would you care to be wed?” he asks.

“As soon as possible.” If I’m going to hell, I’d like to do it fast. The agony will only be increased by a lengthy wait.

“Excellent. Absolutely lovely. Will two months from now, August 12th, a Sunday, suffice?”

He sounds as though he has it all planned out. Fantastic. There is truly no way for me to escape, is there? “That will do nicely.”

He grins and bends toward me. I stiffen. I do not want him to kiss me… but then he doesn’t, only takes my hand in his. His grip is stiff and flabby and sweaty and cold, a range of unpleasant opposites.

After a minute, he releases me, and I flee.

I run home, with no mind to who will see me. My skirts tangle, my feet sore from the speed at which I insist they trample the ground. But I am too busy running. I have to get home.

I’m not certain what I’m running away from. If I wanted to escape, it would make so much more sense if I ran away from my house toward the West, toward true freedom.

But what I’m running away from seems to be Charles. And that makes no sense at all. I don’t care for him, but I have nothing against him. He seems to be a perfectly reasonable, proper young man.

So why am I terrified of him?

It is an odd instinct. I despise it. However, I’m sure time will cure that. I can become accustomed to his presence… as his wife.

I shudder and run faster towards home. I have to get away from what I’ve just agreed to. I regret the decision already. It’s the wrong one for me, I’m certain. I am going to spend the rest of my life beside someone who disgusts me, dreaming of the one man I can never have.

If I could marry Carlisle, it would be a different story. I sigh. It would be wonderful, to start with. And I wouldn’t be running away. No, I’d be running towards him as fast as my feet could carry me. Even now, doubting he wants me, promised to someone else, if I knew how to find him, I would track him down.

But he is mobile as the wind. He might be anywhere in the world while I am bound to this tiny nothing of a town, waiting for someone who will never return.

Make it official so you really can’t escape,