[h2]Esme[/h2]
Esme continued to focus on slowing her breathing and on the calm and quiet around her, opening herself up to everything the night had to offer. Other than hearing the nocturnal animals wandering around nearby, Sarah’s breathing, and the sound of bugs, it was quiet, peacefully quiet. With everyone asleep, save for Bobby and Cason, and most of her pent-up emotions now released, she felt she could breathe a little better. Even with the slight burn still within her chest. It felt like this was the calmest she had felt on the property in days, at least while she was awake. Having no one but animals and bugs around her was doing her some good. It wasn’t long before all that changed. Cason had walked out of the house and was making his way to her. Esme tilted her head forward, her chin resting on her chest. ”Of course he’d be the first to find me out here.” she breathed. She did not attempt to open her eyes and looked up at Cason, even after he approached the fence line. At his tease, a slight smirk tugged at the corner of her lips. What a way to break the silence as soon as he shows up. 

“You come with jokes. Ha, ha, you’re funny.” she said sarcastically as he got closer. It wasn’t until he dropped down beside her did she open her eyes and look at him. Esme listened as he spoke, and she shook her head softly and decided to answer his questions in a different order. “No, he didn’t take off on foot. Yes, he’s still sleeping.” she half sighed. “I’d be in that bed too if my dreams hadn’t gotten the best of me, and I needed to go….” she trailed off, looking at the house. “Talk to her. No, I had to….” She then brought her gaze to Sarah and then back to Cason. “As for if I’m good….. Am I good?” She gave a breathless laugh and looked past Cason. “If I were good, I wouldn’t be out here beating the hell out of these mannequins to the point where I can barely lift my arms. Hell, I decapitated one. I’m too mentally tired to process all their emotions, let alone my own. It’s too much right now. And I can’t tell Duke that right now with everything he already has weighing on his mind.” Releasing a heavy sigh from her lips, she looked down at her right hand, which was still wrapped around her staff.

Now, realizing she had a death grip on it and her knuckles had gone white. With some effort, she released her grip on the staff, then shifted and forced her legs out from under her, stretching them out in front of her before crossing them. She then pulled her hands into her lap and looked out over the lot. “Anyway, enough about my problems. What are you doing out here? I know I didn’t wake you or scare you like I did Bobby when I kicked that chair into the wall earlier. I figured you’d be with Nat, not wanting to leave her side after everything.” As Esme waited for his response, she absentmindedly played with the charms on her bracelet, her fingers lingering on one in particular that brought her comfort, one that Duke had given her years ago. Though when he gave it to her, it was a necklace. After all this time and adding to a bracelet, she was surprised it had survived all the hell she had been through. She had even managed to get out of the Asylum with it, which was one of the worst times of her life.