There was a silence, which Sister Monica Joan broke as she walked straight to the cupboard which the cake tin lived in, followed by a young girl who waited in the sitting room. Trixie just waited for either the girl or Sister Monica Joan to speak, but neither of them did.
'Hello, can I help you sweetie?' Trixie asked in her usual polite, calming voice.
'I came for the milk magnesia, for my mother' the little girl replied. She wore a knee length dress, which looked as though it had once had a pink flower print on it. Her hair fell to her shoulders, but looked unhealthy, and Trixie immediately thought of the neglect case she had coped with a few years ago.
'Of course, what's your name?'
'Lori Beckster, I'm Susie Beckster's daughter, she said the the old nurse visited this morning'
'Would you like to follow me?'
Trixie left the comb on the armchair, and beckoned the girl to follow her into the clinical room. As they walked up the stairs, Trixie unexpectedly felt the little girl take her hand to help her up the stairs. She must have been only five years old, and she was incredibly skinny, and only went up to just below Trixie's waist. Her hand was enclosed in crust and blood, which sent shivers down Trixie's spine. She tried to ignore it and just helped the little girl up the stairs and into the clinical room.
Once Lori had the medicine, Trixie had expected the girl to leave and go home, but the girl just stood in the doorway, staring at the staircase.
'Could you walk me home, miss?' asked Lori, glaring up at Nurse Franklin.
'Ur, um,' Trixie struggled for words. 'Where do you live?'
'Lisbon Buildings'
Trixie closed her eyes and sighed. She gave a weak smile at the girl and nodded.
'Let me just grab my overcoat. Wait there.'
Trixie rushed into the Dining room and told everyone where she was heading. Charles wasn't so keen on the idea, and attempted to stop her, but Trixie was having none of it.
They reached Lisbon Building at nearly twenty five past ten, and the streets were overwhelmingly loud with complete silence.
'Thank you, miss. It was nice to be with a nice grown up like you for once'
Before Trixie was able to ask the girl what she meant by 'nice grown up', Lori had started to run up the staircase, which twisted every sixth stair. She caught Lori's gaze for just a moment. They exchanged smiles, and the girl waved before darting up to the top floor.
Trixie waited to hear a door shut, before heading back to Nonnatus House.
It was just her, and the silence of the streets of Poplar.