‘Everyone here is marvellous.’
Mrs Gold nodded. ‘Well then, what about you? Mr Gold tells me our house is intact, thankfully, though he says it reeks of smoke and it’s damp from the water the fire brigade used. I assume yours is the same. Would you like to go home, or would you rather come and stay with us?’
‘I don’t know.’ I was bewildered by everything that had happened. I couldn’t imagine going home without Nelly but I didn’t think moving in with the Golds would help either.
‘Anything you need, Elsie. Just ask and I will do my best.’
I looked at Mrs Gold curiously. Her hair was a mess and her face was still dirty despite her efforts, but I still had the impression she was someone who could make things happen.
‘I want to carry on with the book,’ I said in a hurry. ‘I want everyone in the hospital to write messages and memories. I want them to make sure they say the things they might not get a chance to say otherwise.’
Mrs Gold put her hand on mine and nodded.
‘If Nelly …’ I began. Then I stopped, because I didn’t want to say the words. ‘Nelly has been a good friend to me. She was by my side when Billy was killed and she’s never really left. I want to tell her how grateful I am and now I’ll have the chance.’ I breathed in, feeling my throat scratch from soot and smoke. ‘But other people won’t get that chance to say the things they want to say – just like Billy and I didn’t. I can help them.’
‘I think that sounds like an important task,’ Mrs Gold said gently. ‘But for now, I think you should go and see Nelly.’
I nodded slowly.
‘You’re not working today, are you?’ she said.
‘No, Matron has given my shift to someone else.’
‘Good. Come home after you’ve seen Nelly. You need sleep.’
‘And a wash,’ I said looking in dismay at my mucky clothes.
Mrs Gold sighed. ‘I think these clothes are just fit for the bin.’
‘It doesn’t matter.’
‘No, you’re right, it doesn’t.’ She smiled at me. ‘Come along. Pop your head in on Nelly because I think it’s important you see her …’
The words “just in case” hung heavily in the air and Mrs Gold took a deep breath. ‘Then come home. Albert will be worrying about us. You can come back and see Nelly again later.’
‘All right,’ I said, feeling a rush of affection and gratitude towards her. She was a good person. ‘Thank you.’
We both stood up and Mrs Gold kissed me on the cheek and headed off towards the hospital entrance.
Much more slowly, I walked down the corridor to ward 2. The matron was there, but she wasn’t familiar to me. She looked at me when I entered.
‘Can I help? Visiting hours aren’t until three o’clock.’
‘I’m Nurse Watson from ward 7.’
She looked at me up and down, taking in my ragged appearance. ‘I’m Nelly’s friend,’ I said hurriedly before she sent me away. ‘Nelly Malone. The doctor said I could see her.’
Matron’s expression cleared and she nodded. ‘Of course,’ she said. ‘This way.’
I knew where Nelly was, but I followed her anyway, once more grateful that someone else was in charge.
‘No more than five minutes,’ Matron said, opening the door to the side room. She checked the watch pinned to her tunic. ‘I’m timing you.’
Left alone, I stood still by the door, looking at Nelly where she lay on the bed. Only the slight rise and fall of her chest told me she was alive. She had a white mask over her face covering one eye completely, and leaving only one part of one cheek and her other eye exposed. It made her look other-worldly, like a ghost or a spirit. She had a tube in her mouth and a noisy machine helping her breathe and a drip sending fluids into her arm. Her body was completely bandaged, except for one forearm and one hand, which lay still on the sheet. I breathed in sharply, assessing her with a nurse’s eye though I wished I hadn’t. This wasn’t good. Poor Nelly was in a bad way and I was astonished – but glad – she had survived.
I took a moment to compose myself and then stepped towards her. ‘Well, isn’t this typical,’ I said in a jovial voice. ‘Nelly Malone causing trouble for everyone again. You’ve got doctors running round all over the place looking after you, and I’ve heard your Percy is frantic. I’m sure he’ll be in to see you soon.’
I looked at her. The eye that I could see stayed shut.
