The Forgotten Two
Nellie stopped at the door letting her eyes drift to the dried blood in the shop floor. The locket fell from her lose grip clanking as it hit ground. Sweeney could only watch her every move hoping something would soon fill his troubled mind to comfort her. Sliding down the door frame she let her tired body sit helpless on the floor never pulling away the harsh stare as
if replaying it over and over agian in her mind. Trying to rectafy the matter at hand.
Sweeney propped his back to the counter joining Nellie in her sorrows. "She was right." Nellie huffed out causing Sweeney to lift his head. "Emily was right, And now shes paying for it when it should have been me." Nellie said looking about the floor. "Nellie, What are you talking about?" Sweeney asked above a whisper.
"I put both of our life's in danger by letting you back into mine." she said looking up to him. "But I didn't care, I didn't care when i should have." She said looking away shaking her head. "Nellie just need to get some sleep.." Sweeney said trying his best to ignore the hurtful comment.
"Your..your right. I'm sorry I'm not thinking straght, If it haven't of been for you god knows what could have happen." Nellie said grabbing Sweeny's helping hand to pull herself from the cold floor. "I'll clean all this up and everything will be better in the mourning, pet." He said leading her up the stairs.
Morning had soon rose with peeks of sun drifting into her eyes. Sitting up every so slowly Nellie then noticed the dried spots of blood about her body reminding her all over again. Stepping lightly to the mirror to have a look at herself, She then noticed how much Emily had bleed the night before. Touching the Various places she must have smeared either in her sleep or in the moment of panic. Her eyes were heavy which made her usual fair color ghost white. Grabbing a bowl of warm water she washed her face clean as if the blood itself was staining her very soul. She didn't have time, She needed to know if her very reason for being had been strong enough to make it through the night. Bolting down the stairs still very unput together she headed for the door just as someone had knocked.
Opening it she felt the breath in her lungs leave check eye of the mans badge. "Morning Miss, Your nabors across the street noticed some disturbances last night and I was wondering if you could help me clear a few things up." He said standing at the door. "Yes, We had robbery last night but the the two men had gotten away after shooting my daughter which I am on the way to check on so if you could please excuse me." She said closing the door behind her swiftly moving around the officer.
"Sorry to here that mam but you should really think about filing a report so this doesn't happen to anyone else." He said hot on her heels. "Yes, that's sounds reasonable but I'll have to do it later." She said over her shoulder. "But miss I think.." "I don't care what you think. Granted this could happen to someone else right now I'm the one who is dealing with a child that could have bleed to death in the night. good day officer." Nellie said quickly turning in the cops face. Brushing it off the officer adjusted his hat looking about to see if he was told off by a very upset woman.
Knocking on the door, Dr. Sanders knew it could only be one person. Opening the door he greeted Nellie with a smile. "Eleanor, come in." The good doctor said letting her pass by him. "How is she? Can I see her?" Nellie rushed him with questions. "Yes. You can see her but Eleanor.." The doctor didn't get a chance to finished before Nellie had let herself into the room Emily was in. Her eyes immediately grazed over her daughter. Emily's color was sickening as she breathed harshly.
"She hasn't woke up from the ordeal yet and quite frankly I can't tell you when she will. She lost a lot of blood." said coming into the room. Sitting on the bed next to Emily Nellie grabbed her daughters cold hand squeezing it tight. "Em?" She called softly to her as her eyes began to tear up. "You should take her home. In these cases I've learned the more familiar voices she hears, the chance is better for her to wake up." He said with a deep sigh.
"Try to stay with her as much as possable. Take turns looking over her with your husban." He said laying a hand on Nellies shoulder. "Were not married. He's just her father." Nellie said feeling that the good doctor wouldn't judge her for such sins. "He would still look after you both Eleanor. I seen the worry in his face last night. Things may seem hard now but with time she will heal, and so will you." He said looking her in the eyes before leaving her alone with Emily.
It had been three days. The season getting colder with every passing day. Nellie could never figure why her life seem to work this way. With the winter brought death and despair but she prayed against this, Thanking god that she could have one more day with her Emily. Sitting at her bed side by candle light she drank down the last bit of gin in her glass whipping her eyes free of any sleeping feeling. Flipping on to the next page in the book she was reading aloud to Emily.
Sweeney had been keeping an eye on the both of them. Giving good fight to make Nellie rest but she refused in hopes of being the first person Emily would see once she awoke. If she ever did. Sweeney shook the uneasy feeling away from his thoughts. Everything seemed to slow down ever so quickly, The pie shop had not been open sense the night of the robbery and Sweeney found his revenge didn't matter as it once had.
Pouring herself another glass of gin Nellie paused to look over her sleeping child.
"This is my fifth glass Em but you could stop me. Wake up Emily. Stop this, You can't bare to see me like this. So stop me, Emily!" She didn't yell out loudly, Just firm enough to make Emily annoyed. But she didn't stop her. She laid there as she had been for three days. Nellie look down in disappointment, She couldn't keep this up. Ether her daughter would have to wake or they would both end up in the grave. Nellie downed the harsh drink before rambling on to Emily about stories of her life before her.
Sweeney had finished up for the night locking the shop door before making his way down stairs. He stood in Emily's doorway as he did every night watching them both sleep. Making his way into her room he capped the half empty gin bottle before lifting Nellie's tired body from the chair. "Come on, love." He said to her as her grunts refused otherwise. Laying Nellie down in her own bed he closed the door behind him before making his way back over to Emily's room. Pulling the covers back atop her He tucked her in for the first time, Watching her features breath carelessly away. Sitting down in the chair he leaned forward to prop himself near her