Chapter 10- Flight

------------------------------------Tom's POV------------------------------------------------------------------- I led Esme into the living room and placed my hands on her shoulders. “Esie what is it? What did he do to you?” she looked at me and smiled slightly.

“He didn't touch me. Yet. I'm worried that he will though,” she looked down. “He.... he drinks too often. He'll end up hurting me, but it isn't me I'm worried about Tom,” she looked back up at me.

“I understand, what do we need to do?” I asked her. “We need to get 你 away from him, away from here,”

She looked away. “How can I do that? To my family... to all the people here who know me and care about me.” I did my best to smile.

“Esme. If he is going to hurt 你 like this 你 have to leave. At least until 你 have this baby, if he hurts it in any way 你 will never forgive yourself. I know 你 that well.”
---------------------------------Esme's POV--------------------------------------------------------------
I looked back up at my best friend. “Alright. But... where am I going to go? I don't want to have this baby in a town full of strangers. I want to have people I know there to support me, I-” I started to cry.
“Tom, I'm scared,” I buried my head in his shoulder and continued to sob uncontrollably.

He hugged me tighter. “Oh. Esie, I know you're afraid. He's done horrible things to you. I would think there was something wrong with 你 if 你 weren't....” I could tell he was deep in thought 由 how distant his voice sounded.

“How are we ever going to pull this off though Tom? He's going to look for me. How will I get far enough away? I don't have any money 或者 anything, all I have is the two suitcases I brought with me,” pulled out of the hug and looked at him.

“Hm... well, Lily has been wanting to see you,” he smiled. “It's been quite a few years,” he looked at me to see my reaction to his suggestion

“Tom. That would be wonderful! Where does she live?” I asked him. My prospects were brightening quite a bit.

“She still lives in Wisconsin. Ashland, Wisconsin,” he told me. “We'll call her in the morning. 你 can sleep here, it's far too late for 你 to be out,” Tom sat me down on an armchair. “I'm going to get Abigail and get the guest room ready. Abigail will be able to help you. I promise she will Es,” he smiled and walked up the stairs leaving me to sit there alone.

I curled up in a ball on the chair and continued to sob. I had never been this afraid in my entire life. I didn't know why I was so scared. It wasn't exactly natural to have this amount of any emotion, I had kept it all bottled up for so long and suddenly as I was sitting there it had burst. There was nothing I could do about it. The fear completely overwhelmed me, even when I heard Abigail calling me, I couldn't respond.

“Esme?” she asked gently sitting on the arm of the chair. I looked up at her and continued to sob. She helped me stand up and walk over to the sofa. She sat me down and put an arm around my shoulders. “Oh 你 poor thing,” she 说 sympathetically as she tried to comfort me.

“Abby. I don't know what happened to me. I just.... can't focus my emotions at all. It's like.... everything just exploded,” I bit my lip and looked at the wall. “I don't know if I can do this.” I cried.

“Esme. If anyone can handle this kind of stress 或者 this situation 你 can,”she told me. “You are the strongest person I've ever met. 你 can handle anything,” she sounded so confident.

“I am? I.... I don't think anyone except 你 and Tom have cared about me as much as 你 have shown in the past few months,” I smiled and wiped my tears on the sleeve of my dress. “I can never thank 你 enough,” she smiled back at me.

“Esme. How could we not? It isn't possible not to care immensely for someone like you. If there is ever anything else we can do for you. Just ask. 你 don't know how much of an honor it has been to be your friend and to have been able to stand with 你 through such a hard time in your life.” she hugged me. “I'm so happy that it may finally be getting better for you, I can never understand what a trial this has been for 你 Esme. I suppose not many people on this planet can. But I am glad that 你 have entrusted Tom and I to help you.”

“Thank 你 Abigail. I don't think I could have asked for better 老友记 than 你 and Tom. Will 你 come visit, and help me with the baby?” I asked.

“Of course. I'd be honored.” she beamed. Just then Tom walked down the stairs. “Esme. 你 can come upstairs now,” he told me. I nodded and stood up. Abby walked with me over to the stairs and walked up them still standing 下一个 to me. I walked into the room they led me to and stopped in the doorway. “Thank 你 again. For everything,” I smiled and walked into the room, praying that sleep would come easily. Yet knowing that it wouldn't.