Having stood outside the white door longer than she normally would have done on knowing her wife was in the room that followed, Caroline entered hesitantly. The words her mother had uttered moments before still ringing in her ears 'Alan and I will be waiting just out here. We're not going anywhere love.' She was a grown woman, newlywed with two strapping sons and yet when it came down to it her mum still knew how to best comfort her.

The door closed abruptly behind her leaving the blonde haired woman standing in the brightly lit room with its numerous bits of equipment places strategically around. Her eyes were fixed solely on the bed that lay central to the left wall. Its occupant's body had been neatly covered in a white linen sheet with both arms resting on top.

'Oh Kate, my darling' uttered Caroline. Taking a seat on the black chair that had been placed next to the bed; she took hold of her wife's hand. The skin was still warm to touch, the nails still perfectly painted as they had been for their wedding ceremony the day before. Her large bump where their daughter had lain had now been replaced with a bulge that was far smaller. 'What are we going to do with you, hey? I only asked for a pint of milk' she tried to joke, although the tone of her voice stayed raw and painful. Then she remembered. She remembered the small life that had entered the world 'You're a mum, Kate. She's so beautiful just like you. They've taken her to the baby unit to be looked after but they said she's doing well. I know how much you wanted to be a mum, more than anything in this world. We could all see the need and desperation in your eyes and now she's here and you're not. It's not meant to be like this!'

The headmistress wept loudly, each tear drop dripping down his cheeks and onto her young wife's hand. Caroline clung onto Kate as if her life depended on it. 'It should be me lying there, not you! I should have taken the boys whilst you got the milk...'

Time dragged in that bright and cold, lifeless room. Each minute seemed like an hour, and then the hours like a lifetime. As much as she stared at her new wife, Caroline knew she wasn't going to come back. The injuries she had received were 'catastrophic' and she had been 'lucky to survive as long as she did.' None of it bought her any comfort though. None of it. 'I best get back to that naughty little daughter of ours... I will always love you, Kate. You were the love of my life'


'I wanted to say goodbye, in person, Kate' whispered Celia as she sat where her daughter had also sat previously. Touching the body of her new daughter-in-law was a step too far though. Instead she sat on the edge of her chair and looked McKenzie over; taking in the sight of the body that her daughter had fallen so deeply in love with. 'I want to thank you for everything you have done for our Caroline. I'm sorry I didn't see eye-to-eye with your relationship. I wish we had of had more time to get to know one another'