He stepped out of the shadows and the first thing she noticed as he did was his handsome features and crooked smile. Bowing, he let his eyes stay locked with hers. “Sorry if I startled you, ma’am, I’m Edward. Edward Masen.”

She didn’t speak right away because she had felt the breath go out of her when she saw him in the light. Yes, he was handsome, but there was something else she saw in his eyes that she hadn’t seen in that of any of the other young men she had met. His eyes showed her that he had one of the kindest souls she had ever seen…almost as kind and pure as that of her angel doctor.

When she finally did gather her wits enough to speak, she blushed brightly at the fact that she sounded, well, somewhat breathless. “H…hello, Mr. Masen, I’m El…”

He interrupted her, “Elizabeth Ward. I know.” He gave her another crooked smile and she couldn’t help but smile back as she pondered how he knew her name.

 She was no longer Lizzy Ward, the gangly eight year old that looked like a drown rat, covered in blood and mud that she had been that day long ago.

 She had grown up into quite a beauty since that day nine years before when she had gotten lost at the country fair, but more than that, it was her carefree attitude and easy smile that endeared her to almost everyone she met.

 She enjoyed those things, but she missed the freedom that childhood afforded her.

 They took her to these gatherings so she could have a good time, but they never pushed her to attach herself to any of the young men they met.

 She didn’t care for any of them, at least not till Edward Cullen came along.

 Barely able to breath with all the bodies packed into every room, she made her way out onto the balcony and down the steps into the garden.

It had been such a relief to get out of the stifling air inside and though she knew her mother would give her a look of disapproval if she learned of her escape, however brief, she just needed to get away for a moment. She was tired of hearing the young gentlemen tell her how pretty she was, how they would like to come calling, how she should give them a chance. 

 None of them had caught her interest like her angel doctor had…even if she had only been eight years old when she’d seen him the one time.

Walking through the gardens, she gracefully held the embroidered train of her gown up so it wouldn’t be ruined by her walk along the gravel path. She had been to the Cooper’s before and she had fallen in love with their gardens. They were vast and well designed with well placed statues located throughout. 

 The cold white marble reminded her of her angel doctor, of Carlisle Cullen.

Standing in front of the statue now that she was alone, she reached out and ran her fingers along the cold figure’s cheek, still remembering that Dr. Cullen’s flesh had felt very similar to this piece of cold stone. 

 “I’m afraid he probably isn’t equipped to enjoy that much.”

 “Who’s there?!”

 Edward Cullen.”

 His eyes showed her that he had one of the kindest souls she had ever seen…almost as kind and pure as that of her angel doctor.

 “H…hello, Mr. Cullen, I’m El…”

 He gave her another crooked smile and she couldn’t help but smile back as she pondered how he knew her name.