It had been almost a week since the kiss and she'd hardly seen him, it had been her own doing of course. She'd seen his footsteps, heard his Irish brogue, saw him chatting to the other nurses but even the hint of a conversation sent her light headed and she would retreat to the opposite end of the ward.
But today she hadn't escaped, the soft white sheets flowing through her fingers as she laid down new bedding and his smooth voice interrupted her thoughts.
"I wish I knew how to lay a bed properly, my ma would faint with shock?" He'd missed her, missed talking about they're unusual lives, but she'd not been around, he feared he'd lost her.
"I can teach you if you like." Sybil responded, not looking up, she didn't know if her heart could take one look at him.
"Thought you were avoiding me?" he questioned, this was going to be harder than he thought.
"Of course not" Her head shaking slightly and turning towards him as she continued to lay the bed sheets down perfectly.
"But you haven't come up with an answer yet, have you?" He knew he was being pushy, maybe too pushy but he had to know. He'd waited long enough hadn't he? She had to know by now what was in her heart.
"Not yet I'm afraid…"
Then she dared to look up, to meet his eyes and her resistance softened. His voice had sounded harsh but his expression was a different story. There was softness in his eyes, warmth to his smile and his love for her was evident before them both.
"… I know you want to play your part in Ireland's troubles, and I respect that, but I just can't think about it all until the war is over, it won't be long now, so we wait…"
The truth of it was she was scared. When the war ended her life would change either way. This work was only ever a temporary deal, and so was his. When the war ended they would both have to make tough decisions that would change their world forever. She knew how she felt in her heart but was she prepared for the challenges of being with the gentry brought to her?
"I'd wait forever" Tom proudly declared : no matter what happened, no matter where he was, his search was over. Either he would spend his life alone or with her.
"I'm not asking for forever, just a few more weeks" was Sybil's reply, hope and frustration in one sentence.
11th November 1918
Just a few more weeks had been strangely prophetic as just days later Sybil and Tom stood side by side sharing a moment's silence that signalled the end of the war in Europe. The announcement had come hours earlier as the hospital erupted with cheers of hope and relief….
In that moment she'd wanted him there, she'd searched high and low interrupted by crowds of celebrating staff who blocked her pathway to happiness. Her heart beating the whole time, her stomach full of butterflies as she turned around every blonde man in a white coat who filled the corridors. It was only later at a staff party that she'd felt his presence, his eyes burning into her and the touch of his hand on her elbow pulling her away.
"You look very fine" he shyly muttered as they entered a quiet empty room, thrilled to see her out of her nurses uniform and in her best clothes, she really was beautiful.
"Where have you been all day" she inquired whilst nervously swirling her drink in her hand, being alone with Tom send jolts of electricity up her spine, knowing that anything could happen on this night, the world was now full of possibilities.
"Nowhere… just been busy" he smirked, enjoying her obvious honesty of wondering where he'd been.
"What are you going to do now? Is your course over?" she softly questioned, she was surprised he'd even heard her voice as it meekly filled the silence of the room.
"Yes, it was only ever to help cover the men who had gone to fight, the rest of my course will continue in Ireland…, I'd love you to come with me" his expression pleading and hopeful.
Sybil returned the smile, if anything hers was bigger, brighter than his. "Really, do you mean it?" It had always been there, always been an offer but now he was finally asking again, laying out his heart for her to either keep or break.
"I envy you, I feel so flat after the rush and the bustle of the last two years, they were sighing for the old days at dinner, but all I could do was think about how much more I want from life now than I did then…"
She looked deep into her eyes, her mouth began to form the words yes I do, I do want to go with you, I do want to spend every day and night in your arms if only it was that simple, if only she didn't have a family to take care of.
"Does this mean that you've made up your mind, at last" Was this finally the moment?, was she about to say yes?, end his torture….
She raised her gloved hand to his cheek as his eyes closed to the touch. "Not quite, but almost…" was her response before she walked away….
So as they stood there, remembering the pain and suffering of four painful years, the people they had treated, the loss of war, Sybil and Tom considered their future. There was no class here, no divide but things would now go back to the way they had been before. As the matron signalled the end of the silence Tom searched for Sybil's hand and wrapped his fingers around hers, an unspoken gesture of unity across the divide.