"Hello dearest." She calls when she hears the door open.
"Hello my love." He kisses her cheek in greeting.
She takes his hand and guides him to the table then dishes up the food. They enjoy their meal and chat about their day.
Once the washing up is done he takes her hand and leads her to the sofa. She sees him fidgeting and he tries to speak a few times but no words come. She gets up from beside him and carefully climbs onto his lap, she rest one hand over his heart and the other strokes through his hair.
"You don't have to tell me anything Patrick."
"No I want to be honest especially after you were so open with me these last few days. I was a doctor during the war, I was sent to a few places in Europe and eventually I was sent to Italy to help. There was so much blood and injuries we couldn't cure. Supplies were limited and we had to just deal with it as best we could. I started having nightmare so I forced myself to just take naps so I wouldn't fall into a deep sleep, with the lack of sleep and the endless screams of the injured I ended up being discharged and sent for treatment for war neurosis. I spent 5 months in Northfields psychiatric hospital, all I wanted was to return to normal life and be a doctor again so I forced myself to put it behind me and forget as best I could. They had a waiting list of patients so when I seemed well enough they discharged me. I came straight to Poplar and started work, I met Marianne and when she told me she was expecting I was so happy. I did my best to keep the bad memories away and hide my nightmares but I think she knew, I was too scared to speak of them and she was too scared to ask. I have been given a second chance and I want to be honest and open with you."
She hugs him tight when he has finished wanting to comfort him and a few tears fall. They sit holding each other for a while.
"Thank you for telling me Patrick I can't imagine the horrors you saw but I do know that you are strong. You reached breaking point but you got treatment and built a happy life. I'm proud of you."
He sobs and buries his face in her chest, she holds him close as he lets go.
Once he has calmed she gets them a cup of Horlicks each and takes him to their room. Putting the cups down she helps him get changed before changing herself. They drink their drinks then lie down.
"I'm here Patrick please wake me if you need me."
He nods and she turns so he can hold her close, she hums to him until he drifts off.
Amazingly he sleeps through the night with no nightmares. He opens his eyes and sees he is lying with his head over her heart and feels her arms holding him close. He listens to the soothing beat of her heart for a few minutes before he feels her moving.
"You started wriggling and I was worried it was a nightmare so I moved you. I always felt calm when I was listening to your heartbeat so I hoped it was work the opposite way." She explains.
He moves up the bed and kisses her.
"Thank you." He whispers against her lips.
He feels her smile before she kisses him back.