"Why? Why?! Why, Nana Carson?!"
"Oh, love, what is it? What's happened? Come here, sweetheart."
"Why?! Why?!" Sybbie scream-cried.
She had heard her running down the stairs. It had been relatively quiet in the kitchen for a short while now and so it was easier than usual to hear the light, but still very identifiable footsteps hurrying down the steps and into the hall.
Sybbie came careening around the corner, into Elsie's sitting room. She knew the path from the nursery by heart. She had made the trip so very many times to visit either Elsie or Charles, when he had come by the abbey for a visit.
"What, sweetheart? Come here, love."
The sad soul ran head-long into her Nana's arms.
"Why?" There it was again. Her cries of 'why?'.
Elsie had a feeling, but she wasn't entirely sure so she asked, again…
"What is it, pet? Why what?"
"Why? Why did my mumma leave? Why did she go? She didn't even wait to see me grow up a bit."
"Why, Nana? Why?"
Elsie could barely breathe. She knew it was coming. It was just a matter of time. She just didn't know when.
She grabbed Sybbie - or maybe Sybbie grabbed her - hard to tell which, and they just clung to each other for what seemed an eternity. Sybbie's sobs soaked Elsie's dress. No matter. Wet clothing was irrelevant right now.
How could she answer? What should she say? Was it her place? Did it matter? Tom wouldn't mind. More than likely, he and Sybbie had already gone through this together.
"Oh, love….I don't know. It wasn't her choice, that I'm sure of. Had it been up to her, she'd be here hugging you right this very minute."
"But, why? Who thought that it was okay? Who decided to do that? No one asked me. No one asked me if it was okay. Why? Why is she gone, Nana? Why?"
"Oh, love…"
And so there they sat, huddled together, in each other's arms, holding on for dear life, both grieving the beautiful child, daughter, mother, wife and friend now gone. The sweetest spirit under the abbey's roof.
There was no sense to be made of it. Not today. Maybe never. And so they just cried.
And Charles watched it all from the doorway, his heart in shreds.
Why, indeed?