Disclaimer : Neither the song nor the characters belong to me. They belong to their respective owners. The song used in this story is titled "Picking Up The Pieces" by Paloma Faith, which I know British people knew it since she's British too.
Hope you like it! Enjoy!
"Mr. Carson, shall we walk back together? " she asked him seeing his sad face while walking pass her.
He didn't respond he just moved to let her walk on the right side. She wanted to ask him what happened but it wouldn't be good to push at this time. They walked in silence among the worn path leading to the was about to speak when she heard him spoke to her.
"She told me that I was a better man and she could've love me" Elsie knew it was Alice he was talking about. But she couldn't reply him as if her voice is stuck on her throat. She couldn't deny that she was jealous and she didn't have the right to be. The reason that their friendship couldn't move to another stage is because it's shadowed by his past love, Alice.
Do you think of her?
When your with me
Repeat the memories you made together
Whose face do you see?
Do you wish I was?
A bit more like her
Am I too loud? I play the clown to cover up all this doubts.
Charles knew that he should look to the future but he really love Alice and he would have forgiven her mistakes and her,running away with Grigg. She's dead now and the only thing he could was mourn even if it's late. Since Alice, he swore to himself that he wouldn't fall in love with any woman. Elsie was his bestfriend, the only friend he got. Although it wouldn't change anything at all, he might as well thank her for it. When he didn't get any respond from her. He just continued,
"But she's already dead" This time her head turn to look at him.
"I'm sorry, Mr. Carson" She looked at him with great sympathy.
Perfect heart, she's flawless
She's the other woman shinning in her splendour
You were lost
Now she's gone
And I'm picking up the pieces
I watch you cry but you don't see
That I'm the one by your side
Cause she's gone in her shadow
Is it me you see
Cause all that's left is you and I
And I'm picking up the pieces, she left behind
She knew they couldn't risk their work nor their friendship but by all the gods, she loves him. There she had said it, she loves him greatly. She sometimes cried at night longing for his soothing arms and words but she knew it would never happen.
They got to the abbey that both didn't noticed. They quickly change to their uniforms and get on with their work. Charles was sitting at his desk looking at the empty seat in front him when suddenly it wasn't empty anymore. He saw Alice sitting there, smiling at him.
This days, when he was alone he always saw her with him just like the old times. He remembered the day they both went to take a solo picture so that they could exchange photo. How happy they are if they got together.
I found a photograph, behind the TV
You look so happy, are you missin'?
The way it used to be
And I have changed this around more often lately
It's clear that we and this four walls
Still known as hers and yours
Elsie notice the change in Charles since they got back from the train station. She sometimes catches him smiling at his side but there was no one with him. She longs to hold him and let him cry. She knew that this would happen, if only she could admit it to him. If only the man would forget the blasted Alice, she didn't want to be unkind but he hates seeing Charles like that.
The next day Elsie decided to confront Charles about his behavior before anyone notice it.
"Charles, what is going on? " she was on the verge of tears. Her heart was breaking seeing him like that.
"Isn't she beautiful" Charles sorrowfully said staring into the frame which held Alice's picture. She gave it to him as a present before.
Elsie let her tears pour down. He didn't even looked at her, she didn't know what to do. The others might've already noticed it. She walk to the door,giving another glance at Charles and finally stalked down her sitting room where she cried and cried until a maid call her.
Perfect heart, she's flawless
She's the other woman
Shining in her splendour
You were lost
Now she's gone
And I'm picking up the pieces
I watch you cry but you don't see
That I'm the one by your side
Cause she's gone in her shadow
Is it me you see
Cause all that's left is you and I
And I'm picking up the pieces, she left behind
Charles knew he should let her go. He sense Elsie walked inside and asked her what's going on. He didn't answer her, he didn't even realize what he said to her. The last he knew was when she walked out of the room and glanced back at him with crying face. His heart leaped at Elsie, he knew he love her. He finally admitted it, he love Elsie Hughes. He put the frame on a box and buried all Alice's memories.
Are we liars in denial
Are we smoke without the fire
Tell me please is this worth it I deserve it
Later that evening after the the servants had gone up. He heard the back door open and heard her footsteps walked out in the freezy night.
He followed her out of the house and into the garden. There, his Elsie, crying her eyes out. His heart ached with her heart wrenching sob.
He walked at her and assist her to stand up. He pulled her into his warm embrace, he felt her snuggle into him and sobbed at his shoulders.
When she stopped crying, he pulled her away just enough to look at her.
"I love you, Elsie" He declared holding her face in both of her hands.
Elsie gave another sob "I love you too,Charles" she cried. He pulled her into searing kiss both are crying for their lost of time, grief,for their love for each other, and for their future. No other words are needed to be spoken. The kiss shows more than words can say.
'Cause she's gone
And I'm picking up the pieces
I watch you cry but you don't see
That I'm the one by your side
'Cause she's gone
In her shadow is it me you see
Cause all thats left is you and I
And I'm picking up the pieces
She left behind
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