8 ~Going home

"Ok, just sign theese here document's and then you can go home."

"Ok!" Esmene replied with a big smile. Today she was in a good mood. She started her day with french toast that Alex had bought from a nearby restaurant. Yum! The butler she grew up around when she lived at her 'family's home' always said, "A sweet and tasty breakfast is an excellent way to start the day. I believe it sets the mood." Esmene always agreed with this. Now she was being discharged from the hospital and she had a place to go. 'Freedom!'

As she sat down on a nearby chair and began to fill out the form the receptionist had given her, she had an eerie feeling that someone was watching. Looking around, she didn't see anyone suspicious and dismissed it as her imagination.

Soon Alex returned from the restroom and said, "You almost ready to go?"

"Almost! Just give me a few minutes."

"Ok, how about I go and bring the car out front? I don't want you walking anymore than you have to." he said.

"If you want."

"Alright, I'll be back in a jif then!"

A few minutes later Esmene handed in the form and was released from the hospital. As she was walking through the automatic doors on her crutches, she saw a looking man secretly taking pictures with his camera in a car parked out front. He wasn't very good at being hidden or secretive about it.

"What the hell?" Intending to confront him, she started walking toward his car but he quickly sped off and was gone in an instant. "What a creep."

"Esmene, where were you going?" Alex said.

Not expecting him, she nearly jumped out of her skin.

"Oh...um...nowhere. I was just looking for you."

"Ok..." Alex had actually witnessed what had just happened. He suspected it was either some perv or someone spying on Esmene. Her 'family' was known for doing so. 'In this day and age, money buys you power, and power brings whatever you want.' he thought. Protecting Esmene might be harder than he had initially thought.

"Well, anyways. The car is over here, let's go. Gently putting one of his hands on her back and the other by his side, Alex guided her over to where his blue Nissan was parked.

The sudden contact made Esmen shiver. "You cold?" Alex asked. Offering his jacket, she refused telling him it was just a muscle spasm.

As they got into the car, Esmene noticed Alex had a beautiful gold locket on a chain hanging from the rear-view mirror. It looked to be old and handmade.

"You like it?" Alexander had caught her looking at it out of his perifial.

"Yes, it is beautiful."

"It was my mothers, there is a picture of her inside."

"Oh." Esmene knew Alex's mother had died when he was young, so she didn't want to continue the conversation. She was afraid it would upset or bother him. "Do you mind if I take a nap on the way there? I'm feeling a little tired."

"Of course, go ahead. I will wake you up when we arrive."

"Ok." Leaning the cars chair back, Esmene closed her eyes and quickly drifted off.

The whole car ride, Alexander was smiling. He truly felt like god had just given her to him. He knew it sounded weird but he didn't care. All those years, and now he had his chance. But he had to take it slow. He didn't want her to scare her. If he told her how he felt about her now, she would run away for sure. He had to give it some time. But he wasn't sure how long he would last.

Arriving at the apartment, Alex removed his keys from the ignition and looked over at the girl sleeping peacefully beside him. 'She is still such a beauty.' The more he looked at her, the harder it was for him to hold back. He never had this issue before, only Esmene could did this to him. Infact, he had never even set his eyes on another girl before. They were only for Esmene.

Reaching his hand out, he subconsciously ran his hand through her soft brown shoulder length curly hair. Realizing what he hand done, he hastily removed his hand and sighed.

'Esmene, just what have you done to me?'