𝐒𝐨𝐥𝐚𝐜𝐞

WHISPERS. SHE COULD HEAR THE WHISPERS ECHOING as she roused from her heavy slumber. She was first aware of the coolness of the air and it's loamy fragrance. The bed she was lying upon was lumpy as if she were on a layer of earth and rocks. Her clothes felt as damp as a flower in the dew of the dawn. The thin white dress she wore was drenched in sweat. She half wondered if she was still dreaming, as she sat up to take in the shafts of light that burst through the window. Now that she was awake, Mary could see no sign of another person. As far as she could tell she was alone with the birds who made their carefree song from the windowsill, and in that sweet melody she felt more alone. She couldn't think of a name that belonged to her or a single person she knew. Any face her subconscious offered had as much recognition as a total stranger. She wouldn't know her own family if they walked right in front of her, if she even had one that is.

"Fuck..." She murmured, pulling down the left side of her dress.

A small amount of blood soaked into the fabric, radiating outward. Mary stripped away a the small bandage to show a small scar on her never-seen-the-sun white skin.

"God, love are you alright?" Mary lifted her head to spy Elizabeth Gray standing at the door of her hospital room.

"Pol..." She breathed a sigh of relief, remembering the face of the older woman.

"Lord, you gave us all a fright." Polly fussed, pulling the bed sheet around the girl.

"Grace?" Mary suddenly interrupted.

There was silence. And Mary knew by the look on  Polly's face that's Grace didn't survive.

"I'm so sorry sweetheart. Sh...Sh, it's alright." Polly hushed the young girl as small tears leaked out of her eyes and bled down her cheeks.

"O my god...Thomas...Charlie...Finn?" Mary rushed out as her face glistened with tears.

"Tommy hasn't been good. Charlie doesn't know anything has happened, although he calls out for his mum at night. Finn... Finn's been a wreck, love. He's come by everyday, he couldn't sleep, couldn't eat. He was so worried for you. We convinced him to go home and get some rest." Polly told her as she fixed the young girls hair.

"I need to see him..." She told Pol. Her eyes wide and glazed with unleashed tears.

She didn't know why she was crying so much. Perhaps it was relief. Perhaps it was fear. Crying is how she understood herself best. When she cried she knew who she really was. It's her strength and her weakness. However, she wished she could turn her tears off, she did. Or perhaps just save it until she was alone, but she wasn't wired like that. Her emotions swirled like ocean currents, deep and strong...

Forever wishing to be released.