Roni

Close-up & friendly reminder :))

A/N: For the sake of the story, Alice has a slight blindspot when it came to this particular topic, due to the amount of outcomes and things leading up to it.

Esme had given you her number as soon as you had mentioned that you didn't have anyone to call in your darkest moments. This had come about after months of knowing each other. You'd made a joke without realizing, and it raised a few eyebrows.

And as realization, that you weren't truly joking, as immortal vampires who have been studying people and their speech patterns for years could most certainly tell when a joke had more truth than humor to it, dawned on Esme's face, you weren't sure if you should flee or remain frozen.

Esme simply reached out and held your face. She looked deep into your eyes and said, "I know." And from the way her voice wavered, and her eyes seemed to glaze over, the way her eyes reached your very soul, you could tell she knew what it was like to look at yourself in the mirror and be scared of the lifeless eyes staring back.

The mood in the room was heavy, and Jasper shifted uncomfortably. But the family was staying, if only to please Esme. But slowly, beginning with Esme, they all came close to hug you. Wrapping you up in their arms. Even cold vampire hugs felt nice.

It was a few months after this. On a particularly bad night, when the world seemed to smother your very spirit, that you began planning. It had started as a plan just to take a few sleeping pills to try to curb the insomnia caused by the thoughts roaring around your head, but a few weren't working. And the thoughts were getting louder. They deafened your good sense, and all you could think of was making them stop. Your own head was no longer a safe space. So you took one more, hoping it would be enough. And you waited.

But as you waited, the thoughts just kept screaming around your head. You wanted to tear open your own skull with your fingers just to get some peace.

And then you had a moment of clarity. If you downed the whole bottle of pills, you'd never have to hear these thoughts again. It would all be over, and your head would be forever silent.

But then you remembered Esme's gentle voice "You are worth so much, my love. Your life has meaning, you just have to find it."

You frantically scrambled for your phone in the dark, breaths coming quick and fast. You were afraid that if you didn't find it in time, you'd change your mind.

Your hand landed on it, and you quickly unlocked it and found the call function, dialing Esme's number.

She picked up within seconds "Darling?" her crystal voice was gentle, but filled with worry.

"Esme.. I'm scared." you choked out, clutching the phone for dear life. It was such a relief to hear Esme's soothing voice, but your head was still raging.

"Is there someone in your house, dear? Emmett and I are already in the car. We're coming."

"No. I'm scared of my thoughts, Esme. I'm scared of myself." Your head was still screaming as you laid on your side, the phone close to your ear.

Esme was silent for a moment. "Oh my love. I'm coming to rescue you. Just stay on the phone with me please. Stay with me. We're close to your house. Just breathe, and stay on the call."

You whispered an "Ok" that she'd certainly hear.

A few minutes later, Esme on the phone whispering soothing words the whole time, You're so strong my dear, I'm so proud. I love you. Thank you for calling me. You're doing so well, we're almost there., Their car pulled into the driveway.

The front door opened quickly. You'd given Esme a key recently for situations just as this one.

Esme hung up the phone and was in your room within seconds. "My sweet." she crawled into bed with you, kicking off her shoes and pulling you close. "I'm here now. You're safe. You're not alone. You are never alone, because I always carry a part of you in my heart. And I will love you forever, my dear. You are so important to me. Always know that your life is important. You are important to the world."

As tears fell down your cheeks, Esme held you. She let you cry onto her shirt as she rubbed your back soothingly. She stayed silent, knowing it was what you needed in the moment. To just know someone was there was enough.