- 1961 -
Monotonous rhythmic beeping filled the room that otherwise held deathly silence. Within these scarcely decorated walls were two women, each hand in hand. A blonde whose physique would lead one to be misled on the accounts of her age laid in a vaguely uncomfortable hospital bed; her eyes somewhat sunken, her skin looser than she'd prefer. In this bed laid one Betty McRae, whose prowess that she would often boast of in her creeping age about the factories she once worked at, was now lost to her.
"Do you need anything?" Asked the redhead in the chair beside Betty. Dark circles under her eyes suggested her tendency to sleep restlessly these days.
"I have everything I need," answered Betty, a weary but happy smile on her face. She squeezed Kate's hand in reassurance as the latter looked to the floor with an expression of worry.
Save for your health, thought Kate with melancholy. She was one of the last few to frequently visit Betty in the hospital. Initially, many of the factory girls they'd once been familiar with would come by with flowers and other various gifts. But as time went on and Betty's recovery didn't seem to be nearing the horizon, they would visit less and less frequently until they settled on simply sending the irregular get-well-soon card, or asking how Betty was doing through Kate.
Kate was always there for Betty, though. She would spend the evenings with her after her shifts as a receptionist until visiting hours were over and nurses would shoo her away. She would read as Betty rested or reminisce about days during the war together, or simply enjoy each other's company.
"Vera sends her love. I saw her just today at the convenience store, can you believe?" Kate sighed with a smile and looked to her hands. "She invited me to a dinner she's having for friends from the factory. Isn't she sweet? I told her I appreciated the invitation but…"
Betty looked to Kate with some sadness. Ever since she'd been hospitalized Kate had closed herself off from the world. And while she loved Kate and wouldn't trade anything to be with her, Betty didn't want to keep her from living. "You should go."
Kate returned her gaze towards Betty and haphazardly smiled. She reached her hand out from her lap towards Betty's before rising from her seat to embrace her. "Thank you, Betty… I'll be back tomorrow," she searched Betty's worn face and fear took her without her knowing entirely why. She hastily added, "I love you."
And with Betty's reciprocation, Kate made her way out of the hospital towards the house they once both inhabited together.