Bad Dream
They were surrounded, everyone from Nonnatus House; Trixie, Phyllis, Barbara, Fred and all the nuns. Standing on the steps outside the house. It was dark and stormy, the middle of the night. She was lying dirty in the road, pushed and left. There was shouting, mad shouting and heavy rage. The rain was screaming at them tormenting them. There were outcries and yells, insults and reckless unkindness. Patsy was standing in front of her, standing on the steps shouting at them, they were calling her every name under the sun and telling them to leave. She started to cry, large and harsh sobs, she wanted the warm security of the house and the comfort of Patsy, but it was cold and she lay freezing, abused and wet in the road. Patsy bent down to her and tried to ease in some comfort but nothing worked and the door was shut behind them, they were abandoned and pushed out of a place they loved, just for being themselves.
The banging of the window woke her up, out of her nightmare, into the safety of the warm bed. Her head was swamped in beads of sweat, she lay panting and afraid beside a very much asleep Patsy. She leant into her and cried, a soft, real cry that woke Patsy up.
"Deels, what's the matter?" She whispered into the night, holding her love close to her heart. She could feel the tears on her pyjamas, soaking into the soft, stripy material.
"We were tossed out. We were on the street because they found out." Patsy instantly understood what Delia had dreamt, they had always had the occasional nightmare about it but Delia was always the worst affected.
"It's okay sweetheart don't worry. It's just me here, just us, we're safe." Delia snuggled down into Patsy's arms, they were safe and warm here together, in their little cottage. It was theirs to live in and call home and close the doors at night.
The tears stopped quickly, but Delia's heart still pounded, she couldn't help reliving every moment or every dream. It was so real to her, all the pain of being apart. All the worry from them being found out had come flooding back, it terrorised her and tormented her. Patsy was always a comfort and always helped, but it reminded her of all theta time they had been apart, all that separation, it had scarred her.
"Do you feel any better now?" Patsy asked after a while of comfort, the sky was still dark, but they had come past the worst and Patsy's smell and soft touch helped to ease her sorrow. She remembered getting the house and moving in, a bleak reminder of the flat they had once owned. The kind kisses to her forehead and light touches to her hair always helped. She held Patsy's hand and fell asleep in her arms. When morning came, the light shone through the windows, illuminating the night's events and shining on their enclosed hands and fragile hearts.